AMC Exam for Overseas Doctors: Step by Step Guide to Working in Australia

An International Medical Graduate is any medical professional whose primary medical qualification was completed outside Australia or New Zealand [1]. Recognising yourself as an IMG helps you map the correct registration pathway and prepare the right evidence.

• Doctors trained outside Australia or New Zealand are considered IMGs under Medical Board definitions [1].
• Graduates from certain jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand may be eligible for alternate pathways assessed by the Medical Board, which can differ from the Standard Pathway that uses AMC exams [1].
• Australia has experienced a record influx of overseas trained doctors. In the first 10 months of the 2023 to 2024 financial year 4,699 overseas doctors were registered, almost double 2,991 in 2018 to 2019 [2].

Understanding your classification early helps you plan strategically and avoid avoidable delays, especially with verification and evidence gathering.

Before you begin the AMC examinations, several setup steps must be completed. These foundational elements set the stage for the rest of your journey.

• AMC candidate account setup: Create an AMC online account and begin your AMC portfolio. Initiate primary source verification of your qualification through ECFMG’s EPIC service as directed by the AMC and the Medical Board [1].
• Credential verification, EPIC: Primary source verification is compulsory. Delays commonly arise from university response times, so start early and ensure you nominate the AMC as recipient of the reports [1].
• Identity verification: Submit identity evidence electronically. AHPRA reports process improvements that reduced average international assessment time from 110 days in 2022 to 2023 to 87 days in 2023 to 2024 for IMG applications [3].
• English proficiency: You must meet the Medical Board’s English Language Skills Registration Standard. The standard provides four pathways, including a test pathway where accepted tests include IELTS and OET. Candidates commonly satisfy this via IELTS with 7.0 in each band or OET Grade B in each subtest, noting the Standard sets the authoritative rules and alternative education based pathways now exist [4]

Tip, confirm the current English pathways against the official standard before booking a test, since pathway options were broadened in late 2024 for implementation in 2025 [4].

The AMC assessment stage includes the MCQ examination and the Clinical examination. Passing both enables you to apply for provisional or limited registration, then commence supervised practice in Australia.

AMC MCQ Exam, Part 1

• Computer based assessment of 150 questions over 3.5 hours across adult medicine, surgery, paediatrics, women’s health, mental health, and population health, aligned to the graduating Australian medical student standard [5].
• Booking occurs through Pearson VUE sites in Australia and internationally. Prepare with Australian focused guidelines and question practice.

AMC Clinical Exam, Part 2

• Objective structured clinical stations, typically 16 total with 14 scored. Since 21 March 2024 the overall pass requirement is 9 out of 14 scored stations, updated from the previous 10 out of 14 standard [6], [5].
• Sessions run on site and by approved delivery modes published by the AMC. Align preparation to common Australian presentations and communication standards.

Provisional or limited registration

• After passing both examinations the AMC issues an AMC Certificate which enables you to seek provisional registration if you have not completed an internship equivalent, or limited registration for supervised practice where appropriate [1].
• AHPRA processing times for internationally qualified medical practitioner applications averaged 87 days in 2023 to 2024, so plan your evidence compilation and employment offer timelines accordingly [3].

Once your AMC assessments are complete and you hold registration to practise under supervision, you can explore hospital pathways or general practice pathways according to interest and context.

Hospital pathway

• Typical entry roles include Resident Medical Officer or Junior Medical Officer in public hospitals. These positions provide broad rotations and Australian clinical references, which support future specialty training applications.
• Australia continues to grapple with unevenly distributed doctor supply. Workforce commentary from RACGP and Department of Health highlights sustained shortages in regional and outer metropolitan settings, which opens suitable opportunities for IMGs who meet registration requirements [2], [7], [8].

General practice pathway

• Many IMGs enter primary care through Distribution Priority Areas, with supervision and structured programs leading toward general registration and later GP Fellowship via RACGP or ACRRM programs.
• Under expedited specialist and IMG workforce initiatives, AHPRA reports that 86 percent of doctors placed through the new expedited specialist pathway are practising in identified workforce shortage areas, indicating strong alignment between policy placement and community need [7].

Most IMGs should budget 2 to 3 years from first steps to general registration. The exact duration depends on exam scheduling, verification time, obtaining a supervised role, and completing required supervised practice.

Common delays and how to mitigate them:

• Primary source verification lags: University response times and document mismatch cause weeks of delay. Start EPIC immediately and track every credential milestone [1].
• Clinical exam availability: The Clinical calendar fills quickly. Monitor release windows and lock an early eligible date to minimise gaps between Part 1 and Part 2 [5], [6].
• Registration processing: Average IMG assessment time was 87 days in 2023 to 2024. Submit complete packs, align identity, English and AMC evidence, and confirm employer supervision plans to reduce rework [3].
• Employment search: Applications in regional or outer metropolitan sites often move faster than inner metropolitan. Secure written offers that specify supervision levels and orientation plans, then align AHPRA lodgement.

Keep organised logs, set monthly targets for verification, booking, and study tasks, and use peer groups or mentors to accelerate feedback loops. For structured study tactics, see our AKT timing guide, and if you are mapping primary care competencies, explore our KFP case packs for targeted practice.