The Competent Authority Pathway is for IMGs that are registered and have worked in a country recognised as competent by the Medical Board of Australia to assess the applied medical knowledge and clinical skills of IMGs. 

ELIGIBILITY FOR COMPETENT AUTHORITY PATHWAY

The authorities approved under the competent authority and criteria are outlined below for all categories:

Category A – General Medical Council PLAB

• Successfully completed the PLAB Examinations
• Completion of Foundation Year 1 in the United Kingdom or 12 months supervised training (internship equivalent) in the United Kingdom

Category B – General Medical Council 

• Graduate of a United Kingdom medical program or for courses conducted wholly or partially outside the UK and on a list published by the Medical Board of Australia
• Completion of Foundation Year 1 in the United Kingdom or 12 months supervised training (internship equivalent) in the United Kingdom

Category C – Medical Council of Canada (LMCC)

• Successfully completed the LMCC Examinations
• Completed 12 months postgraduate experience or residency training in Canada

Category D – United States Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates

• Successfully completed the USMLE Examinations after 1992
• Completion of 2 years of graduate medical education within a Residency Program accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education

OR

• Completed the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) examinations before 1992
• Completion of 2 years of graduate medical education within a Residency Program accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education

Category E – Medical Council of New Zealand

• Successfully completed the New Zealand Registration Examination
• Completed the required rotating internship (four runs accredited by the MCNZ)

Category F – Medical Council of Ireland

• Graduate of a program of basic medical education and training accredited by the Medical Council of Ireland or for courses conducted wholly or partially outside Ireland and on a list published by the Medical Board of Australia
• Completion of an internship in Ireland

ELIGIBLE OFFSHORE COURSES

For Category B and F of the Competent Authority Pathway, there is an approved list of offshore courses listed by the Medical Board of Australia that can be found at this link under Eligible offshore courses for Categories B and F: https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Registration/International-Medical-Graduates/Competent-Authority-Pathway.aspx 

CAN EXPERIENCE BE SUBSTITUTED?

Experience in one of the competent authority countries can be substituted for the post-examination/post-training experience requirement to meet the eligibility criteria for the Competent Authority Pathway. However, the amount of experience must be completed as defined in the original category and must be approved by the competent authority of the country. For example, an IMG can pass the LMCC and complete 12 months of supervised training in the UK and will be eligible for the Competent Authority Pathway as long as the experience component is approved by the General Medical Council.

Additionally, Australian clinical experience can be substituted for the post-examination/post-training experience requirement to be eligible for the Competent Authority Pathway.

AHPRA REQUIREMENTS

Under the Competent Authority Pathway, you will be eligible for Provisional Registration with AHPRA. 

After 12 months of full-time supervised practice in Australia, you will be eligible to apply for General Registration with the Medical Board of Australia and will no longer require supervision.

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU:

If you are looking for further guidance on your AHPRA Pathway or would like to ask further questions about the information mentioned, this is something our team can help you with. Contact us directly on help@peoplemedical.com.au.

Information for this blog has been taken directly from:

• https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Registration/International-Medical-Graduates/Competent-Authority-Pathway.aspx 

People Medical Consulting are a team of professionals with a passion for guiding those specialising in the Medical industry to find their career pathway and settle into Australia. Working with both Australian trained and Overseas trained professionals, we have extensive experience in Recruitment of General Practitioners and Document Assistance for those requiring support with RACGP, AHPRA, 19AA and 19AB Medicare Exemptions.