The Australian Medical Council is an organisation whose work impacts across the lands of Australia and New Zealand.

The Australian Medical Council acknowledges the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the original Australians and the Māori People as the tangata whenua (Indigenous) Peoples of Aotearoa (New Zealand). We recognise them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.

We pay our respects to them and to their Elders, both past, present and emerging, and we recognise their enduring connection to the lands we live and work on, and honour their ongoing connection to those lands, its waters and sky.

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Overview of accreditation for 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. 

Accreditation standards for workplace based assessment programs

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. 

 

Access the Australian Medical Council Accreditation of Workplace Based Assessment Providers: Standards and Procedures.

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 organisations seeking accreditation as a WBA provider

An organisation wishing to apply for accreditation as a WBA provider must submit a Notice of Intent with the AMC. This notice allows AMC to schedule a review of the application and advise on application timelines. 

 

The Notice of Intent must be submitted at least 12 months in advance of the planned implementation of the program. 

Download the Notice of Intent form. 

Completed forms can be submitted via email to prevac@amc.org.au. 

Applicants must make a submission to the AMC detailing how the proposed program will meet the accreditation standards. 

The submission must be lodged at least six months in advance of the planned implementation of the program.  

The AMC Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee will assess the submission against the standards and make a recommendation to the AMC Directors on initial accreditation. AMC Directors make an accreditation decision based on this recommendation. 

The fee for a new WBA application is currently $2500 (excluding GST). There is also an annual monitoring fee for WBA programs of $1000 (excluding GST). 

Download the template for submitting a request for workplace–based assessment accreditation. 

Based on the recommendation of the Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee, the AMC will consider approval for initial accreditation. 

Following approval for initial accreditation, the WBA program may commence delivery. 

At completion of the program, candidate assessment results are considered by the AMC for endorsement of AMC Certificate for general registration. 

After considering the results of the first cohort, the AMC will consider the program for full accreditation. Accreditation may be granted for up to four years. 

The AMC will seek annual reports from the provider on how the program continues to meet the accreditation standards. 

Resources for applicants

Existing WBA providers offer experience that is valuable to new applicants. Therefore, applicants are advised to engage with established AMC-accredited WBA programs in advance of their submission. 

Review the list of current accredited WBA providers. 

The WBA Resource Guide provides relevant information and advice on how to set-up a WBA program. 

Access the WBA Resource Guide. 

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The Australian Medical Council is an organisation whose work impacts across the lands of Australia and New Zealand. The Australian Medical Council acknowledges the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the original Australians and the Māori People as the tangata whenua (Indigenous) Peoples of Aotearoa (New Zealand). We recognise them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands. We pay our respects to them and to their Elders, both past, present and emerging, and we recognise their enduring connection to these lands on which we live and work every day, and honour their ongoing connection to those lands, its waters and sky.
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