PESCI | PESCI Exemptions | PESCI Preparation | PESCI Providers

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Date Updated: 2026-07-27

What is a PESCI?

PESCI stands for Pre-Employment Structured Clinical Interview which basically determines if you’re fit for the position. AHPRA defines a PESCI as an objective assessment of your knowledge, skills, clinical experience and attributes to determine whether you are suitable to practise in a specific position.

PESCI has scenarios in the clinical interview which are chosen based on the demographics of the practice where you will be working.

When is a PESCI needed?

Doctors intending to apply for Limited or Provisional Registration to work in general practice need to sit for a PESCI. For the doctors in the specialist pathway, you do not need a PESCI due to the comparability assessment.

Since PESCI is position-specific, General Practitioners who are already registered with AHPRA (with Limited or Provisional Registration) and who wish to work in another practice may be required to take a PESCI.

Generally, you should apply for PESCI before applying for AHPRA Registration.

Please note that Doctors seeking Limited Registration for Area of Need to work in general practice should have at least 3 years of full-time equivalent (FTE) experience in general practice or primary care.

Who can I sit PESCI with?

The PESCI providers are Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), Institute of Medical Education (IME), or Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). Let’s discuss more about these providers below!

ACRRM PESCI

Online PESCIs are currently offered by ACRRM across all states of Australia. This will be through a video conference on Zoom with a PESCI fee of $2495.

ACRRM has created an eligibility checklist for you to see if you qualify:

A medical qualification as listed on International Medical Education Directory (IMED)
Completed AMC MCQ or be eligible to apply for Provisional Registration through the Competent Authority Pathway
A current job offer in an Area of Need or Distribution Priority Area in the following settings:
- General practice
- After hours general practice
- Medical Deputising/Retrieval
- Aboriginal Health Services

If you are eligible then you can go ahead and apply through the ACRRM website. As part of your application for a PESCI, you will need to provide the following documents:

ACRRM CV
Certified Copy of your Passport
ACRRM Position Description
PESCI Agreement
Training Plan – if applying for Limited Registration – Postgraduate Training and Supervised Practice

Once you have paid the fee and the application documentation has been confirmed as complete, you will be given a date to undertake the interview. You should be prepared to wait within 2 – 3 months of submission of your application. For application withdrawal, there will be additional fees.

The interview includes 4 clinical scenarios with 15 minutes duration, and will be conducted as either a role play or case based discussion. It will assess your competency in each of the following areas, as appropriate to the proposed position:

Medical Interviewing Skills
Physical Examination Skills
Clinical Judgment
Treatment/Advice
Communication Skills
Professionalism
Procedural Skills

Once you have finished your PESCI, you will receive the outcome within 21 days.

IME PESCI

IME offers face-to-face PESCIs for all practice locations which are done at its headquarters in Gold Coast, QLD, but virtual interviews are also available for other states in Australia. PESCI fee costs $2,497.

You can apply online through the IME website. As part of your application for a PESCI, you will need to provide the following:

Proof of a Medical Qualification as listed on International Medical Education Directory (IMED)
Proof of AMC CAT MCQ Examination Assessment Performance or Eligibility for Provisional Registration through the Competent Authority Pathway
Proof of Current Job Offer in an Australian General Practice
IME Position Description
IME CV
Certified Copy of Your Passport
Training Plan – if applying for Limited Registration – Postgraduate Training and Supervised Practice

The length of the interview is approximately 60 – 90 minutes, and it is structured to evaluate your capacity in the following areas:

Medical Interviewing Skills
Physical Examination Skills
Clinical Judgement
Treatment/Advice
Communication Skills
Professionalism
Procedural Skills
Relevant Social and Cultural Needs

After completing your PESCI, you will receive the result within 14 business days.

RACGP PESCI

PESCIs are currently done via Zoom only and are open to all states in Australia with a fee of $2,450. RACGP also accepts applications from individuals with job offers all over the country, as they are already nationally accredited.

You are eligible to apply if you:

Passed the AMC MCQ or are qualified for the Competent Authority Pathway
Have a primary medical qualification that is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools
Have a valid job offer in Australian general practice

If you are eligible, then you can apply through the RACGP website. As part of your application for a PESCI, you will need to provide the following documents:

RACGP CV
Proof of AMC CAT MCQ Examination Assessment Performance
Proof of AMC Clinical Component or eligibility for the Competent Authority Pathway (if applying for Provisional Registration)
RACGP Position Description
AHPRA Supervised Practice Plan (SPPA-30) for each job offer
Signed PESCI Applicant declaration form

Once your application is completed and processed, you will be contacted to schedule an interview date. You must be prepared to undertake PESCI from the time the application is lodged.

When you complete your PESCI, you will be able to see your PESCI outcome within 15 business days.

PESCI Exemption

Using an existing PESCI for a new position or practice may be considered as a PESCI exemption.

A PESCI is position-specific and you usually take another one if you change practices, but you may apply to AHPRA for approval to use an existing PESCI for a new position or practice if there are situations that arise after receiving a positive PESCI outcome.

Your existing PESCI may be considered if the following are similar:

Position description
Level of responsibility
Nature of the health service
Broader health context

To apply for a PESCI exemption through AHPRA, you will need to submit a request for an exemption with your original application. You will need to prepare a letter outlining why the new position or location is the same as the previous role or practice in terms of nature and the level of risk.

AHPRA will consider your request for a PESCI exemption at the Medical Board with your full application and will let you know if these results will be transferable or if you need to sit for another PESCI.

I keep failing my PESCI, what can I do?

It’s important to implement the recommendations provided to you by the panelists. Whether it is educational seminars, more observerships or CPD activities, demonstrating that you have tried to improve upon the skills the panelists have identified that you lack in will help you to pass next time.

If you fail more than a few times, then there is a higher risk your application won’t be approved even if you passed the last PESCI. You will need to clearly outline how you have followed the recommendations of the PESCI panel.

How long is a PESCI valid for?

IME does not have an official expiry date for their PESCIs. However, it is recommended that you apply for AHPRA Registration within 12 months of sitting your PESCI.

RACGP and ACRRM PESCIs are valid for 12 months, but AHPRA will still consider your application if your PESCI is older than 12 months as they do not have an official expiry date.

If your PESCI is older than 12 months, AHPRA may request evidence of an ongoing Observership at the practice or evidence of engagement in CPD activities. If AHPRA has concerns regarding the time between your PESCI and AHPRA Application or possible changes in the Practice or population, they may ask you to complete another PESCI and will arrange an extension of your AHPRA Application.

What does a PESCI cost?

An ACRRM PESCI costs $2,495.

An IME PESCI costs $2,497.

An RACGP PESCI costs $2,450.

Will AHPRA know about my PESCI results?

After sitting for your PESCI, results are made available to you via the PESCI Outcome Report to Applicant form. In addition, your results will be sent directly to AHPRA via the PESCI Report to the Medical Board of Australia.

Please note that if you have attempted a PESCI more than once, AHPRA will also be sent copies of your unsuccessful results.

Should I address the recommendations of the PESCI panel?

The short answer is yes. Any PESCI recommendations made by the PESCI Panel need to be addressed in your application. In most cases, this is done using the SPPA-30 Supervision Plan.

AHPRA will review your PESCI results and compare with any previous results received (including unsuccessful attempts or previous attempts for other practices). So, be sure that every recommendation has been addressed appropriately. Each recommendation will be reviewed to determine your ability to practice safely.

PESCI Resources

Our team facilitates a Pre-Employment Structured Clinical Interview (PESCI) Study Buddy group, via Facebook. This group is aimed to connect doctors who are studying for their PESCI. Please see the following link here.

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!

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