International GP Recruitment

The Specialist pathwayis for overseas-trained specialist GPs who wish to be assessed for comparability to the standard of an Australian-trained specialist GP.

Australia is the only country in the world with two GP colleges. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine (ACRRM).

Both colleges have a Specialist Pathway that recognises different international qualifications, so it is important to check the codified lists of both colleges to see if either or both recognise your qualification.

RACGP codified list                    ACRRM codified list

ACRRM require international GPs on their Specialist Pathway to work in a DPA / MMM4-7 location.

The RACGP require international GPs on their Specialist Pathway to work in a DPA / 1-7 location for substantially comparable GPs and a DPA / MMM2-7 location for partially comparable GPs.

Substantially Comparability = 12 month duration and no exams

IMGs who are recognised as being substantially comparable on either of the two specialist pathways are eligible to apply for fellowship (FACRRM or FRACGP) after 12 months of full-time work. Once achieved, doctors can then apply for vocational registration.

Partial Comparability = 24 month duration plus college exams

IMGs who are recognised as being partially comparable on either of the two specialist pathways are eligible to apply for fellowship (FACRRM or FRACGP) after they have completed 24 months of full-time work and passed the respective college exams. Once achieved, doctors can then apply for vocational registration.

Distribution Priority Area (DPA)

The Distribution Priority Area (DPA) classification identifies locations in Australia with a shortage of medical practitioners. 

International medical graduates are required to work in a DPA location for up to 10 years as part of the 10-year moratorium.   

Modified Monash Model (MMM)

The Modified Monash Model (MMM) is how the Department of Health define whether a location is a city, rural, remote or very remote. The model measures remoteness and population size on a scale of Modified Monash (MM) category MM1 (major city) to MM7 (very remote).

Government accredited GP training programs use the model to define where a GP in training must work.

Job Search

To view the latest jobs eligible for the Specialist Pathway, click HERE and select ‘RACGP PEP Specialist Stream and/or ACRRM Specialist Pathway

The Competent Authority Pathway (CAP)is intended for overseas-trained non-specialists, but it is also available to specialists, including general practitioners. It is a pathway to general registration and does not result directly in recognition or registration as a specialist in Australia.

The CAP recognises 5 ‘competent authorities.

Category A & B            United Kingdom: General Medical Council (GMC)

Category C                   Canada: Medical Council of Canada (LMCC)

Category D                  United States: Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)

Category E                   New Zealand: Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ)

 General Practitioners on the Competent Authority Pathway are required to sit and pass a Pre-Employment Screening Clinical Interview (PESCI) prior to applying for provisional medical registration with AHPRA. This pathway allows a GP to apply for general registration after a period of 12 months full-time work in Australia.

The pre-employment structured clinical interview (PESCI) is a fitness-for-task assessment and interview conducted by a panel of assessors, intended specifically for non-specialist International Medical Graduates (IMGs) applying for registration in Australia via the Standard or Competent Authority pathways.

You will require a job offer before being able to apply for a PESCI from any of the three accredited PESCI providers (RACGP, ACRRM or the Institute of Medical Education)

The Standard pathway is for IMGs who are not eligible for the Competent Authority pathway or the Specialist pathway.

IMGs who have a primary qualification in medicine and surgery awarded by a training institution recognised by both the Australian Medical Council and the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS) can apply for assessment under this pathway.

As with the Competent Authority Pathway, IMGs are required to sit and pass a Pre-Employment Screening Clinical Interview (PESCI) prior to apply for medical registration with AHPRA. Unlike the CAP, IMGs apply for Limited Registration with AHPRA.

The pre-employment structured clinical interview (PESCI) is a fitness-for-task assessment and interview conducted by a panel of assessors, intended specifically for non-specialist International Medical Graduates (IMGs) applying for registration in Australia via the Standard or Competent Authority pathways.

IMGs eligible for the Standard Pathway are required to pass the Australian Medical Council (AMC) Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) exam, also known as the AMC Part 1, and an approved English Test (OET, IELTS or PTE), prior to applying for a job in Australia.