International Medical Graduates

Moving to a new country can be daunting. It is not just about organising your requirements to start working, it is also about settling in to a new country and a new life.

The Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria (PMCV) has produced a comprehensive orientation manual, which you can access here. 

The three main pathways to registration in Australia are set out on the Australian Medical Council (AMC) website.

You can complete an online self-assessment check to work out which pathway is right for you.

Read more about the AMC Application procedures on the AMC website, including a booklet for IMGs on Applying to the AMC.

Holding the correct visa

You must have an Australian Visa or Australian Citizenship or Permanent Residency to be able to work in the medical field. Most IMGs need a Visa to practice in Australia.

If you are a general practitioner, specialist or hospital non-specialist, you can apply for a visa if you:

obtained your primary medical qualification in a country other than Australia, or

obtained your medical qualifications in Australia but you are not an Australian permanent resident.

Find out more information about visas available to doctors on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.

PMCV Match

If you wish to apply for the PMCV Match you are only eligible after gaining the AMC Certificate (this certificate is obtained after completing the AMC part one and two). Find out more about PMCV Match.

Applying directly to a hospital

It is possible to get a job by applying directly to a specific hospital that is willing to employ you, based on the following:

• Passing at least the AMC Part One (MCQ) Examination, which can lead to provisional registration with the Medical Board of Australia after getting a job offer
• Providing a professional resume/curriculum vitae
• Completing an interview process (these differ according to the hospital)
• Meeting the English Language Skills Registration Standard (PDF).

English requirements

To meet the English requirement you must:

• Have undertook and completed secondary and tertiary schooling in the following countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, UK or USA, or
• Complete either of the following up to a minimum passing standard:
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam (academic module), with a minimum passing score of 7 in each of the 4 components (listening/reading/writing/speaking), or
• Occupational English Test (OET) exam, with an overall pass with Grades A or B in each of the four components (listening/reading/writing/speaking).

The AMC encourages candidates to demonstrate their English language proficiency before undertaking the AMC Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) MCQ Examination. English language proficiency and a pass in the AMC MCQ Examination are both pre-requisites for medical registration through the Standard Pathway in Australia. 

There is a two-year time limit for validity of results from both the OET and the IELTS. All documents submitted to the AMC and state/territory medical boards must be valid within the two-year time period. 

There are a number of bridging course providers, as listed on the AMC website, including:

• The Victorian Medical Postgraduate Foundation
• Monash University
• The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

The Department of Health

If you have any IMG-related questions you should first contact the Victorian Department of Health in the first instance. Visit their website for more specific information.

Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA)

AHPRA is the government body responsible for implementing the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme across Australia. AHPRA supports the 10 National Health Practitioner Boards (including the Medical Board of Australia) in implementing the scheme.

Australian Medical Association (AMA)

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is the peak membership organisation representing the medical practitioners and medical students of Australia.

The AMA promotes and protects the professional interests of doctors and the health care needs of patients and communities. There is a federal AMA office, and each state and territory has its own branch, such as AMA Victoria. Membership includes membership of both the relevant state AMA and the federal AMA.

Australian Medical Council (AMC)

The AMC accredits medical professionals, under Australia’s Health Practitioner Regulation National Law. It develops accreditation standards, policies and procedures for medical programs of study based predominantly in Australia and New Zealand, and to assess IMGs for registration in Australia.

Medical Board of Australia

The Medical Board of Australia is responsible for the registration of medical practitioners and medical students, developing standards, codes and guidelines for the medical profession, assessing IMGs wishing to practise in Australia, approving accreditation standards and courses and investigating complaints.

The Board expects that IMGs who intend to practise in Australia and only have limited registration will progress towards general or specialist registration, requiring evidence of such progression each time the IMG applies for renewal.

Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria (PMCV)

The Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria (PMCV) aims to support doctors who are recent graduates or have just started working in Victoria, through education, training, welfare and career development.