Accreditation of new WBA Providers

The workplace based assessment (WBA) pathway is an alternative to the AMC clinical exam component of the assessment pathway for international medical graduates. A WBA program is a structured program (generally with a duration of 12 months, but no less than six months) of on-the-job assessment. It tests if the candidate has adequate and the appropriate set of clinical skills and the professional qualities to practice safely within the Australian healthcare environment and cultural setting. Successful candidates are awarded the AMC Certificate which provides a qualification for general registration.  

As the accreditation authority for medicine, the AMC develops standards for WBA programs and certifies providers to conduct workplace-based assessment programs against the accreditation standards. 

The AMC uses accreditation standards to assess WBA programs for accreditation and to monitor programs and providers to ensure that they continue to meet the standards. 

The standards for WBA programs cover: 

• the context (governance, expertise and resources) of the WBA program provider 
• independence in decision making 
• selection of candidates for the WBA program 
• assessment methods, plans, blueprints and standards 
• reporting and recording assessment results 
• selection and training of assessors 
• review and evaluation of programs. 

Note that WBA candidates must be able to be assessed in the performance of work across a range of clinical areas. If the program is proposing to take candidates with an employment contract in a single post/setting, additional arrangements may need to be made for the candidate to work and be assessed in the full range of clinical areas. To support this, a health service may apply for accreditation individually, or as part of an arrangement with other local hospitals and/or general practices. 

Steps for seeking accreditation as a WBA provider