The Standard Pathway — overview for IMGs

General information about the Standard Pathway to general medical registration in Australia. Not specific advice — the AMC and Medical Board of Australia are the authoritative sources.

This is general information only and is current as at the date shown above. The authoritative sources are the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and the Medical Board of Australia. Rules change — always check official sources before making decisions.

The Standard Pathway is one of the four routes for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) to practise medicine in Australia. It leads to general registration and is the route for IMGs who are not eligible for the Competent Authority Pathway and are not applying as a recognised overseas-trained specialist.

For free in-depth content on this pathway, AdvanceMed offers a free course: Becoming a Doctor in Australia.

The four IMG pathways at a glance

Standard Pathway — for general registration; AMC exams required (this page)
Competent Authority Pathway — UK / Ireland / Canada / USA only; AMC exam exemption (see Competent Authority Pathway)
Specialist Pathway — for IMGs already qualified as specialists (see Working as a specialist doctor)
Short-Term Training in a Medical Specialty Pathway — not a permanent pathway

Standard Pathway — major steps

These are the typical milestones. Sequence and timing vary by individual circumstance.

AMC primary source verification

Apply to the AMC for primary source verification of your medical degree.

AMC MCQ examination (AMC Part 1)

Pass the AMC MCQ exam. This tests core clinical knowledge and is computer-based.

AMC clinical examination (AMC Part 2)

Pass either the AMC clinical exam or, in some cases, a workplace-based assessment.

English language requirement

Meet the Medical Board of Australia's English language registration standard (e.g. IELTS, OET, PTE — check current accepted tests).

Apply for limited registration

Apply to the Medical Board of Australia for limited registration to take up an approved supervised position.

Supervised practice

Complete the required period of supervised practice (typically 12 months minimum) at an accredited site.

Apply for general registration

Once requirements are met, apply for general registration with the Medical Board of Australia.

Where most IMGs underestimate the timeline

AMC exam wait times — exam sittings have limited slots and can be heavily booked
Job application — supervised positions for IMGs are competitive and the job-application piece is the part most candidates don't plan for
Visa — visa processing can take months and runs in parallel with registration; this is not something AdvanceMed can advise on directly. See Visa types relevant to doctors.

A realistic end-to-end timeline for a well-organised candidate is 2–4 years from initial AMC application to general registration.

What AdvanceMed can help with

Career strategy — which pathway, which specialties, which jurisdictions
CV / resume rewrite — Australian-style doctor CV, see CV / Resume rewrite
Interview preparation — for supervised positions and beyond, see Interview formats by employer
Coaching through the application cycle — see Coaching series

What AdvanceMed cannot help with

AMC exam content tutoring (different providers specialise in this)
Migration / visa advice — see Visa types relevant to doctors
Specific clinical training advice for specific colleges (we can guide you to the right college)

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