Am I eligible to work in Australia?

The Australian medical education sets high standards and the Australian Medical Council together with the specialist medical colleges ensures that every doctor working in Australia has undergone equivalent training.

There are several pathways to registration in Australia and you must confirm your eligibility for one of these prior to applying for positions:

Competent Authority Pathway:

If you have a primary degree from the UK, Canada, USA, Ireland or New Zealand or the equivalent licensing exams (such as the PLAB I and II, NZREX, USMLE) AND have completed a full year of supervised practice in this country so you eligible for full registration with that licensing authority, you will be eligible for "Advanced Standing" with the AMC and conditional registration.

Specialist Pathway:

If you have completed a specialist training program in another country or are within 2 years of completion of an accredited specialist training program you are eligible to have your qualifications assessed by the equivalent Australian College. They will then determine what (if any) additional requirements they wish you to undertake to gain fellowship in Australia. You will be eligible for registration as a specialist, conditional (AON) specialist or specialist in training.

AMC standard pathway:

If you do not fall into either of these categories you may be eligible for working in New Zealand or you must complete the AMC part I exam (MCQ) in order to be eligible for registration in Australia. Once you have a position you may then be eligible for general registration following a workplace based assessment process (which varies between states and territories) or by completing the AMC Part II clinical exam.

Plexus Medical Recruitment is an ethical company and strongly supports the "Commonwealth of Nations Code of Practice for the International Recruitment of Health Workers."

All pathways start with the assessment by the Australian Medical Council (AMC). The AMC will assess the following:

• Identity
• Basic Medical Qualification (EICS verification)
• Ensure that all required documentation has been provided English Proficiency  - if you do not come from an English speaking country then you are required to show proficiency in English by a pass in the IELTS exam. More information can be found in FAQ 1.

Assessment by the Specialist Colleges

After the AMC assessment, your application will be passed on to the relevant specialist college for assessment of your specialist training.

Each college has developed its own set of guidelines about the assessment of OTDs and each case is assessed on an individual basis. Generally the college assessment will ensure that the training you have undergone is of an equivalent standard to the training of your Australian contemporaries. If you are applying through the AON pathway, however, this process is more focused on the qualifications and skills needed for the specific post you have applied for. The AON pathway is not a direct route to fellowship in Australia.

Am I eligible to work in New Zealand?

If you have worked for 36 out of the past 48 months in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honk Kong, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, UK or USA or have recognised specialist qualifications you may be eligible for registration in New Zealand.

Please contact us to discuss your individual situation. We will be able to outline the best pathway for you and will guide you every step of the way.