I don’t want to sit the AMC exams, what are my other options?

This is a FAQ BLOG and you can refer to our Getting Started as a General Practitioner in Australia blog here.

Need help understanding your pathway?

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Date Updated: 2026-06-25

To work in Australia, you need to be eligible for one of four pathways at the time you apply: Standard (AMC 1 minimum), Competent Authority (CAP – exams like PLAB, USMLE, NZREX plus the required experience), Specialist (Qualification NOT on the list), or Expedited (Qualification on the list).

The Standard Pathway is for IMGs who, at a minimum, have a medical qualification, passed the AMC Part 1 (MCQ) and meet the English Language Standard. In this pathway, you are required to sit AMC Part 1 (MCQ), then sit the AMC Part 2 (Clinical). If you do not wish to sit AMC Part 2, you can:

• Complete a Workplace based assessment (WBA) via one of the accredited WBA hospitals, or
• Complete an equivalent exam in the UK (PLAB).

If you do not want to sit the AMC Exams, then you will need to look at the other pathway options to find an alterntive pathway to Standard (which requires you to sit at least AMC Part 1).

Here is some information about the options:

• Competent Authority Pathway is for IMGs who have worked in a country recognised as competent by the Medical Board of Australia and have been assessed by a competent authority. Some examples are:
  • PLAB from the UK (since 1975), plus Foundation Year 1 or 12 months supervised Internship in the UK, or
  • UK medical program approved by the GMC, plus Foundation Year 1 or 12 months supervised Internship in the UK, or
  • LMCC – MCCQE I and II (between 1992 and October 2019), plus 12 months postgraduate education or residency training, or
  • LMCC – MCCQE I (since November 2019), plus 12 months postgraduate education or residency training and:
    • graduated from an accredited Canadian medical school, OR
    • have successfully completed the National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) examination
  • USMLE Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3 (since 1992), plus 2 years graduate medical education within a residency program, or
  • NBME Licensing exams Part I, II, and III (before 1992), plus 2 years graduate medical education within a residency program, or
  • NZREX from NZ, plus internship
  • Ireland basic medical education program and training approved by the MCI, plus internship
  • NBOME from the USA: COMLEX-USA Level 1, Level 2-Cognitive Evaluation, Level 2-Performance Evaluation and Level 3 (from 2005), plus 2 years graduate medical education within a residency program
  • You may also be eligible for offshore courses which you can read more about here.

• Specialist Pathway is for SIMGs with an international specialist medical qualification that is NOT on the accepted qualifications list, where you will need to apply for a comparability assessment with the relevant Australian college for your speciality.

• Expedited Specialist Pathway is for SIMGs with an international specialist medical qualification on the accepted qualifications list. If you qualify, then you can directly apply for an Specialist Registration with conditions.

If you’re not sure what you are eligible for, please contact our team at help@peoplemedical.com.au!

We Can Help You

Here at People Medical Consulting, we have a passion for guiding medical practitioners through their career pathways to Australia. We have extensive experience in assisting medical facilities in recruiting doctors from local and overseas who will best suit their requirements.

We provide Document Assistance for those requiring support for their PESCI with IME, ACRRM or RACGP, registration and all other mandatory AHPRA requirements, fellowship program related forms and letters, application for Medicare provider and prescriber numbers, application for 19AB or 19AA exemptions and preparation of employment documents.

If you want to talk to someone about your pathway or practice management—book a consultation with us below, or if you need Recruitment or Document Assistance, contact us at help@peoplemedical.com.au or click the buttons below. We’d be glad to help you!