Specialist assessment pathway
Purpose
To allow Overseas Trained Specialists (OTS) to:
- undertake training
- practise in a position and/or location which has been declared an area of need
- engage in medical teaching or research in a specialist capacity.
Eligibility
To be eligible to register through the Specialist pathway you must have provided your specialist qualifications from outside Australia or New Zealand to the Australian Medical Council (AMC) for assessment by the relevant specialist college in Australia. This assessment will consider whether your qualifications, skills and experience are suitable to the specific position you seek to fill. Please visit the AMC website for further details.
There are five categories of Special Purpose registration available for overseas trained specialists. Please refer to the table below to choose the category under which you should apply.
- Section 132 - Postgraduate study or training. Enables a specialist, or specialist-in-training, from another country to:
- undertake specified training (e.g. one year); or
- obtain experience (for up to three years) in Australia which would not otherwise be available in their country of training
- Section 134 & 143A - Medical teaching or research in a specialist capacity (deemed specialist). Enables applicants to engage in medical teaching or research as a specialist.
- Section 135 - Practice in Area of Need. Enables applicants to practise in an identified area of need. (i.e. a position designated by the Minister for Health where there is sufficient evidence that there insufficient medical practitioners to provide a service at a level that meets the need of the area)
- Section 135 & 143A – Practice in an Area of Need (deemed specialist). Enables applicants to practise in an identified area of need as a specialist.
- Section 136 - Study or training to obtain an Australian qualification in a specialty.Enables applicants with specialist qualifications obtained overseas to undertake study, training and employment relevant to the awarding of a prescribed qualification in a specialty in Queensland.
CRITERIA FOR SPECIALISTS-IN-TRAINING UNDERTAKING SPECIFIED TRAINING:
Overseas-trained specialists or specialists-in-training in another country who wish to undertake specified training in Queensland, will also require assessment by the relevant college to determine if the training position is suitable and appropriate for the applicant. (see Diagram 2 (
203KB))
An applicant for specified training must meet the following criteria:
- Be a recognised specialist or specialist-in-training in their country of training. Specialists-in-training comprise those who have passed specialist examinations and/or are no more than two years from completing specialist training in their country of training.
- Be undertaking training or obtaining experience, not available in their country of training, for a short period normally up to one year but in exceptional circumstances be extended to three years (e.g. exchange fellowships).
- Complete the Assessment Application for Specified Training (Form 108) (doc 222KB) to provide comprehensive documentation concerning the training program, the nominated supervisor and evidence that the training program is appropriate for the applicant, taking into consideration their prior training and expertise.
- Plan to return to their country of training at the end of training in Queensland.
It is not expected that the specified training will lead to the awarding of an Australian Specialist Fellowship.
Looking for a Position
If you are a qualified medical practitioner who meets the requirements for practice in an area of need 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 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 special purpose registration under the Specialist Pathway, you must complete the following and submit to the Board:
To assist in the understanding of the specialist pathway the Board has developed the following diagrams:
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