Australia’s health ministers have approved a new registration standard that sets the stage for significant reforms to the specialist international medical graduate (SIMG) process. Starting on 21 October 2024, a fast-track pathway will be available for eligible internationally qualified medical specialists to obtain specialist registration.

The new pathway allows internationally trained specialists coming from comparable healthcare systems to apply directly to the Medical Board of Australia and AHPRA instead of going through traditional specialist college assessments. Focusing on general practice, anaesthetics, obstetrics and gynaecology, and psychiatry in the first instance, it is expected this pathway would bring major reductions to the time it takes for qualified international specialists to start practicing in Australia.

Streamlined Path to Registration

The Expedited Specialist Pathway will be underpinned by robust qualifications assessments, where only well-credentialed specialists are approved. The entry point for suitably qualified medical specialists will be the Medical Board’s accepted qualifications list developed in collaboration with specialist colleges and the AMC.

Specialist GPs with one of the following qualifications can apply for registration from 21 October:

• Membership of the Irish College of General Practitioners (MICGP) 2009, and a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST);
• Fellowship of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (FRNZCGP) 2012
• Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (UK) 2007 and a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT)

Additional specialist qualifications, especially in anaesthetics, obstetrics, and psychiatry may be added to the accepted list in December 2024.

Safety and Oversight

In this expedited pathway, all IMGs would be subject to the same high standards for registration as other international applicants-including those relating to English language proficiency, recency of practice, and criminal history checks. New specialists would be further mandated to undergo six months of supervision by an Australian-registered specialist along with orientation to the healthcare system and cultural safety education.

All the decisions for registration will be done by a specific committee of the Medical Board including practising doctors and members of the community.

Response to Workforce Challenges

This fast-track pathway has been developed on the back of recommendations from the Kruk Review and forms part of a wider plan for the reform of health practitioner regulations. Given that Australia continues to wrestle with medical workforce distribution and shortages, particularly outside of the major cities, this pathway will also be likely to attract quality international talent and speed their assimilation into the healthcare system.

More information about the new Expedited Specialist Pathway is found on the website of the Medical Board of Australia.