AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL COUNCIL

(AMC) EXAM [BRIEF OVERVIEW]

WHAT IS AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL
COUNCIL (AMC)?
 WHAT IS AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL
COUNCIL (AMC)?
AMC is a national standard independent working
body which is aimed to assess, International
Medical Graduates (IMGs), and also undertakes
accreditation of the medical schools and
specialist medical colleges. The AMC is concerned
with conducting only the exams to assess
whether the applicants are eligible to enter
Australia or not. The AMC has no role in
processing applications for registration or in
granting registration, which is a function of
the Medical Board of Australia.
 Application Assessment Authority
Examination Administering Authority
Application Assessment Examination Administering
Authority Authority
This body actually works with the
Board of Examiners on the
structure and standard of the
AMC exam. It is also aimed to
maintain the record of those
candidates who are eligible for
the Computer Adaptive Test (CAT)
exam. The main functions of this
body are: To Schedule
This body of the AMC is candidates for the CAT
concerned with assessing all the MCQ examination
applications for 3 main pathways To arrange for
of AMC and is aimed examination invigilators in
to: Ensure that all the Australia and New Zealand
applications are complete To work with an
and accurate and that the overseas vendor for all
supporting documents are CAT (Computer Adaptive
complying with the AMC Test) MCQ examinations
requirements, and examination venues.
To identify and verify To oversee the
the primary medical integrated multidisciplinary
qualification of the structured clinical
applicants via ECFMG assessment, which
International Credentials, consists of a 16-
ECFMG= Educational component multi-station
Commission for Foreign assessment.
Medical Graduates To maintain and
update clinical candidate
records
To schedule
candidates for the clinical
examination
To arranges the
examination venues
To coordinate the
release of AMC certificates
 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT ASSESSMENT PATHWAYS FOR AMC?
The main concern of the AMC is to assess the knowledge, clinical
skills, and the Professional behavior of the qualified non-Australian
medical practitioners or medical graduates, who are seeking
registration to practice medicines in the Australia.
The three main assessment pathway of the AMC are:
Competent Authority Pathway
Standard Pathway
Specialist Pathway
All the three assessment pathways are aimed to assess all the
overseas applicants for the AMC eligibility and whether they must
be awarded registration or not.
 Competent Authority Pathway

Competent Authority Pathway

Who is eligible? Overseas trained non-specialists, specialists, and the general practitioners are
eligible to apply to this pathway.
Who is not eligible? International Medical Graduates (IMGs) directly cannot apply to this pathway.
Pre-requisite: To apply under this pathway you must have completed your training under one of the
AMC-designated competent assigned authority. The AMC-designated authorities are mentioned
below:
General Medical Council (United Kingdomfor 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.

Medical Board Registration: Once eligible for this pathway, AMC issues an Advanced Standing
Certificate, which enables you to apply to the Medical Board of Australia for limited registration.
Once granted limited registration, you undertake 12 months supervised practice with an accredited
provider. If you satisfactorily complete the supervised practice period, the AMC issues your AMC
Certificate, which enables you to apply to the Medical Board of Australia for general registration.
 Standard Pathway

Who is eligible? International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who are seeking a registration with
Australian Medical Board of Examiners can apply under this pathway.

Who is not eligible? Specialists and general practitioners are eligible for this pathway.

Pre-requisite: A primary qualification in medicine and surgery (MBBS) awarded by a training

institution listed in the current International Medical Education Directory (IMED) of the Foundation
for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER).

Medical Board Registration: Once you have successfully completed the assessment requirements,
you will be issued with the AMC Certificate, which you need to apply for general registration with
the Medical Board of Australia.

The Standard Pathway also comprises of two different processing ways to be eligible to apply for
Medical Board registration. These two processes are:
 Workplace Based
AMC Examination
Assessment
This process is concerned
Assessment by the AMC CAT-
with: Assessment only
exam as well by the workplace
by the examination
based assessment of the
Assessment by
clinical knowledge and skills
Computer Adaptive Test
under the supervision of the AMC
(CAT), and AMC clinical
accredited authority Only
exam
limited candidates are
Concerned with the
assessed through this
assessment of the non-
pathway
specialist candidates
 Specialist Pathway
Who is eligible? Following candidates or applicants are eligible for the specialist
pathway:
Non-Australian trained specialists applying for assessment of comparability to the
standard of a specialist trained in that specialty in Australia (specialist recognition)
Foreigners who are trained specialists wishing to apply for an area of need
position in Australia
Foreigners trained specialists or specialists-in-training wishing to undertake a
short period of specialist or advanced training in Australia.
Pre-requisites: here are the pre-requisites to be eligible for this pathway:
A primary qualification in medicine and surgery (MBBS) from a training institution
listed in the current International Medical Education Directory (IMED) of the
Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research
(FAIMER).
Specialists applying for an assessment of their comparability for specialist
recognition or for an assessment of their suitability for an area of need position
must also have satisfied all the training and examination requirements to practice
in their field of specialty in their country of training.
 WHAT IS SPECIALIST RECOGNITION?
The specialist recognition system is devised by the
AMC:

To assess your application and required documentation

to determine your eligibility to apply, and
To allow relevant specialist medical college to
assess your comparability against the criteria for
an Australian-trained specialist in the same field of
specialty practice and to report the results of its
assessment to the AMC

 WHAT IS AREA OF NEED SPECIALIST PATHWAY?

This system is also devised by the AMC:

To assess your application and required documentation to

determine your eligibility to apply, and
To allow specialist medical college assessment for
your qualifications and relevant experience against the specified
requirements of a particular area of a need position.
SPECIALISTS IN TRAINING:
This includes both fully qualified specialists and specialists-in-
training who are applying for specified training positions or
programs in Australia. The AMCs only role is to verify your medical
qualification/s through the ECFMG International Credentials
Services (EICS).