Your career partner
in healthcare

This pathway is currently open to specialist GPs holding one of the following qualifications:

- United Kingdom: Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) with a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) from 2007 onwards.

- Ireland: Membership of the Irish College of General Practitioners (MICGP) with a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST) from 2009 onwards.

- New Zealand: Fellowship of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (FRNZCGP) from 2012 onwards.

Additional specialties, including anaesthetics, obstetrics and gynaecology, and psychiatry, have been added to the pathway from December 2024.

- Reduced time to registration: The pathway shortens the process from the traditional 9-12 months (under the RACGP PEP Specialist Pathway) to 4-6 months.

- Lower cost: Applicants save up to AUD 10,000 by avoiding assessments by RACGP or ACRRM.

- Streamlined process: Bypasses college assessments and enables direct application for Specialist Registration.

- No automatic Fellowship: Completing this pathway does not grant Fellowship with RACGP (FRACGP) or ACRRM (FACRRM).

- Additional paperwork: Supervision requirements and reports may involve a lot of paperwork.

1. Verification:Apply to the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and EPIC (ECFMG) for verification of qualifications and check your English language requirements.

2. Specialist Registration Application:Apply to AHPRA for Specialist Registration.

Ensure you have a valid job offer before applying (timeframe: 4-6 weeks, cost: AUD $2,504 - $2,575). You are required to have all supporting documents translated into English and certified in line with AHPRA's guidelines.

You may need to update your CV into an AHPRA-approved format as part of your application.

Supporting documents may include:

    - Certified copy of current passport

    - Certified copies of two Category C identity documents

    - Certified copy of primary medical degree certificate

    - Certified copy of your original academic transcript

    - Certified copy of accepted specialist qualification (and completion certificate)

    - Supervision plan

    - Current CV

    - Certified copy of English language test

    - International Criminal History Checks (ICHCs) for every country you have lived in for 6 months or more since your 18th birthday

    - Certificate of Good Standing (CoGS) or Certificate of Registration Status (CoRS) for every country you have worked in or been registered to practice during the past 10 years

3. Visa Application:Apply for a work visa (timeframe: 4 - 12 weeks depending on circumstances, cost: to be discussed with your migration lawyer).

The primary method for doctors to migrate to Australia is via the medium-term stream (2-4 years) Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482), which requires sponsorship from an Australian medical practice.

Visa nomination costs are covered by your sponsoring medical clinic.

Visa application costs are covered by the applicant and vary depending on the family members travelling with you.

4. Medicare Provider and Prescriber Numbers:All Medical Practitioners require a Medicare Prescriber Number to prescribe medications to patients through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Medical Practitioners also require a Medicare Provider Number to see, treat, bill, order diagnostic testing, and refer patients to allied health or specialist services. Timeframe: up to 6 weeks, no cost.

1. Complete 6 months of supervised practice, including orientation to the Australian healthcare system.

   Submit supervision reports after 3 and 6 months.

   Complete workplace-based assessments and cultural safety training.

    

   Supervision Requirements:

   - Supervision can be direct, indirect, or remote, depending on the proposed plan.

   - Supervisors must hold Specialist Registration as a GP and be a Fellow of RACGP or ACRRM.

   - Practices are responsible for organising supervision and submitting detailed supervision plans to AHPRA.

1. - 10 Year Moratorium: All overseas-trained doctors are subject to the 10-year moratorium and restricted to working in a priority location classified as Distribution Priority Area (DPA).

    

   - Distribution Priority Area (DPA): DPA classification highlights regions in Australia where there is a shortage of General Practitioner services. IMGs must work in a DPA location to meet the eligibility criteria to access Medicare services.

   All Expedited Specialist Pathway GPs can work in any MM1-MM7 location classified as DPA.

   FRNZCGPs who were permanent residents or citizens when enrolling for their NZ medical degree may be exempt from the moratorium and also eligible to consider non-DPA work locations.

    

   - How to obtain Fellowship: You must apply to the specialist college for assessment and complete any college requirements before your Fellowship certificate can be issued. It is possible to obtain AHPRA registration via the Expedited Specialist Pathway and apply to the RACGP to complete the PEP Specialist Program requirements at the same time.

    

   - CPD Requirements: Doctors must complete 50 CPD hours annually for registration renewal.

1. - If you are early in your RACGP PEP application process, consider switching to this pathway for faster registration.

   - If you are advanced in your PEP application, staying on that pathway might offer greater certainty and Fellowship benefits.

   - For those already working in Australia, this pathway is ideal for gaining Specialist Registration more efficiently.

    

1. - Free 30-minute consultations with migration lawyers are available for doctors who work with Mediix Recruitment.

   - Practices and recruitment services are offering guidance on supervision arrangements and paperwork.