Competent authority assessment pathway

Purpose

This pathway provides a streamlined registration assessment process for those IMGs applying for non-specialist positions who have completed and passed the training and examination process for registration through a ‘competent authority’. Competent authorities are those medical examining bodies whose assessment processes have been designated by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) as complying with assessment best practice principles and being consistent with the assessment processes implemented in Australia.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply under the competent authority pathway you must have undertaken the accredited process for registration in those countries endorsed by the AMC. To determine if your qualifications and experience meet eligibility requirements, visit the Competent authority pathway assessment page of the AMC website.

If you determine you are eligible you should then apply to the AMC for advanced standing toward the AMC Certificate. You can access the AMC’s advanced standing application pathway at www.amc.org.au.

If you are eligible to progress along the competent authority assessment pathway, you should do so.

Exemptions

Doctors seeking short term registration (five weeks or less) are exempt from applying for registration via the competent authority pathway.

New Applicants

If you are awarded advanced standing by the AMC and wish to work in Queensland you will be required to apply to the Medical Board of Queensland for special purpose registration using Application for Special Purpose Registration – Medical Practitioner/Deemed Specialist (Form M1SP) ( 208k). You must then undertake a minimum of 12 months supervised clinical practice in accordance with a Board-approved supervised practice plan.

There are five categories of special purpose registration which can be applied for via the competent authority pathway:

Postgraduate study or training - s132
Enables you to undertake Board-approved postgraduate study or training in medicine
Medical teaching or research – s134
Enables you to engage in medical teaching or research
Practice in area of need – s135
Enables you to practise in an identified area of need, i.e. an area or position designated by the Minister for Health as having insufficient registered medical practitioners to meet local demand.
Study or training to obtain a qualification in a specialty – s136
Enables applicants with a specialist qualifications obtained overseas to undertake study/training to obtain a prescribed qualification in a specialty.
Practice in the public interest – s137
Enables a person to practise the profession for a particular purpose if deemed to be in the public interest; for example an urgent need for specialised expertise.

You can apply for special purpose registration only if you already have an offer of employment in Queensland.

Please note that you must provide evidence of your AMC Advanced Standing as part of the supporting documentation included with your application.

Upon satisfactorily completing 12 months supervised clinical practice (evidenced by satisfactory supervisor assessment reports), you can then apply to the AMC for the full AMC Certificate and be eligible to apply to the Medical Board of Queensland for general registration.

This process is illustrated in the Competent Authority pathway diagram ( 18k) below.

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Competent Authority Pathway diagram

NOTE:
Transitional arrangements have been put in place for International Medical Graduates with current special purpose registration in Queensland. These applicants enter the pathway at Step 4.
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Existing Applicants

Transitional arrangements have been put in place for IMGs with current special purpose registration in Queensland. Applicants with more than 12 months Board-approved supervised clinical practice can enter the pathway at Step 5 in the diagram above.

IMPORTANT

While your applications for AMC recognition and general registration are pending you MUST maintain your current registration status, including renewal of registration if it falls due.
If you currently hold special purpose registration and your application for general registration is approved, your special purpose registration will cease. However, if you hold special purpose deemed specialist registration, your general registration is held concurrently with your deemed specialist registration.
It is strongly recommended that IMGs contact Medicare Australia to discuss the impact that permanent residency may have on their ability to access Medicare for billing purposes.
You must also ensure that your provider number/s remain current, especially when renewing or amending registration.

Looking for a Position

The Board has developed a Self Assessment Guide for General Practice ( 77k) to help you identify the type of position to which you are best suited.

If you are a qualified medical practitioner who meets the requirements for registration in Queensland and are looking for positions currently available in the public hospital system, you can make your search through Queensland Health's Currently Advertised Positions. You could also search Health Workforce Queensland or the Australian Association of Medical Recruitment Agencies (AAMRA) for other positions.
More information is available on our Working in Queensland page.

How to apply

To apply for registration under the Competent Authority pathway, you must complete the following and submit to the Board:

Application for Special Purpose Registration (Form M1SP) ( 208k)
Mandatory application requirements (including employer documents)
Eligibility for Current Special Purpose Registrants (Form 400) ( 377k) (Only after 12 months of supervised clinical practice in Queensland)

Other resources