Working as a doctor in Western Australia
Our workforce is extremely diverse and multicultural - just like our patients. And we often look beyond Australia to attract the best talent. We welcome the diversity and wealth of experience that overseas trained doctors bring to our health services
Here are the main things to be aware of if you are applying for a job in WA from overseas.
Assessment and Registration.
The Australian Medical Council (AMC), Medical Board of Australia (MBA) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the Specialist Medical Colleges work together to ensure that all medical practitioners working in Australia are suitably trained, qualified, registered and safe to practise.
The Medical Board of Australia has the legislated responsibility for regulation of the Medical Profession in Australia
Ahpra is the national agency that supports the Medical Board of Australia in day-to-day functions such as managing the registration of practitioners.
The AMC is an independent national standards and assessments body for medical education and training in Australia. The AMC is responsible for assessing the knowledge, clinical skills and professional attributes of overseas qualified medical practitioners seeking registration in Australia through the standard pathway (see below)
All International Medical Graduates (IMGs) will need to complete one of the following assessment pathways to be eligible for registration with the Medical Board of Australia.
- Standard pathway
- Competent Authority pathway
- Specialist pathway
- Short Term Training in a Medical Specialty pathway.
You may use the following initial self-assessment check and overview of the pathways to help you decide which pathway may be relevant to you.
Assessment pathways to registration (amc.org.au - opens in a new window)
Medical Board of Australia - International medical graduates (IMGs - Opens in a new window)
Pathways to registration with the Medical Board of Australia
| Pathway | Suitable for | Initial Assessments Undertaken by |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Pathway | For IMGs not eligible for the competent authority pathway or specialist pathway and seeking general registration (or limited registration to work under supervision) with the Medical Board of Australia | AMC |
| Short-Term Training in a Medical Specialty pathway | This pathway is for internationally qualified medical practitioners (specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs)) and SIMGs in training who would like to undertake up to 24 months of specialist or advanced training in Australia. | Relevant Specialist Medical College |
| Specialist Pathway | For overseas trained specialists seeking to practice in Australia | Relevant Specialist Medical College |
| Expedited Specialist Pathway | For specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs) with a specialist qualification the Medical Board has assessed as substantially equivalent, or based on similar competencies, to an approved Australian specialist qualification in the specialty – Expedited Specialist pathway: accepted qualifications list | Medical Board of Australia |
| Competent Authority Pathway | IMGs from select countries who are non-specialist or specialists and are seeking general registration with the Medical Board of Australia. This pathway is available to IMGs who have completed their training or assessment with the following approved competent authorities: • General Medical Council (United Kingdom - for the PLAB examination or for graduates of GMC-accredited medical courses in the United Kingdom) • Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) • Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates of the United States (USMLE) • Medical Council of New Zealand (NZREX) • Medical Council of Ireland (graduates of medical courses in Ireland accredited by the Medical Council of Ireland). • National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (COMLEX-USA) |
Medical Board of Australia |
Support Programs for International Doctors
We offer a variety of programs to support international doctors, including:
Observership Programs Gain valuable experience and insights into the Australian healthcare system.
Workplace-Based Assessment (WBA) Program Assess your clinical skills and knowledge in a real-world setting.
Specialist IMG Pathways: Tailored pathways for overseas trained specialists to achieve recognition and registration in Australia.
Our Health Services are here to support you as you embark on your medical career in Australia. Your skills and dedication are highly valued, and we look forward to welcoming you to our medical community!
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