Everything you need to know about AMC eligibility, the pathways available to international medical graduates, and the exact conditions that exempt you from AMC Part 1 (MCQ) and Part 2 (Clinical).
If you trained as a doctor outside of Australia or New Zealand and dream of practising medicine on Australian shores, one acronym will follow you everywhere: AMC. The Australian Medical Council is the independent body that sets the standard for what it means to be a safe and competent doctor in Australia — and for most international medical graduates (IMGs), it stands between them and registration.
But not everyone has to sit every AMC exam. In fact, for some IMGs, certain exams — or even the entire AMC exam sequence — can be bypassed entirely. This post breaks down who must take the AMC, what exempts you from each part, and which pathway is yours to walk.
First: what is an IMG?
An International Medical Graduate is any doctor who earned their primary medical qualification (e.g. MBBS, MD) from a university outside of Australia or New Zealand. If that describes you, you need to complete one of the recognised registration pathways before you can practise medicine in Australia.
The four pathways to registration
The Medical Board of Australia recognises four distinct pathways. The AMC only manages the Standard Pathway — the others are assessed separately.
Standard Pathway
For most IMGs. Requires passing AMC Part 1 (MCQ) and Part 2 (Clinical or WBA). Leads to general registration.
Competent Authority Pathway
For IMGs from approved countries (UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, NZ). No AMC exams required.
Specialist Pathway
For overseas-trained specialists seeking recognition in their specialty field by an Australian college.
Expedited Specialist Pathway
A faster route for eligible specialists with specific overseas qualifications on the approved list.
Basic eligibility for the AMC (Standard Pathway)
If you are on the Standard Pathway and need to take the AMC exams, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Hold a recognised primary medical degree (MBBS, MD, MS, or equivalent)
- Your medical school must be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
- Your school must meet ECFMG sponsor note requirements for your graduation year
- Create an AMC candidate account and establish an AMC Portfolio
- Complete Primary Source Verification (PSV) via the ECFMG EPIC system
- Demonstrate English language proficiency (IELTS Academic or OET)
Pro tip: Verify your medical school at wdoms.org before starting any application. Check that your specific graduation year is covered in the ECFMG sponsor note tab. Five Chinese medical schools were removed from the WDOMS list in December 2024 — always verify your school’s current status.
What exempts you from AMC Part 1 (MCQ)?
AMC Part 1 is the 150-question Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) — a 3.5-hour knowledge-based written exam. You are exempt from this if you qualify for any of the following alternative pathways:
If you graduated from or are registered with a recognised authority in the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, or New Zealand, you bypass the AMC MCQ entirely. This pathway acknowledges the training standards of these countries as equivalent to Australian requirements.
If you are a Specialist IMG (SIMG) and your specialty qualifications are being assessed for comparability by an Australian specialist medical college (e.g. RACGP, RACP, RACS), you do not take the AMC MCQ. Your college handles the entire assessment independently.
Eligible SIMGs with specific overseas specialist qualifications listed on the approved schedule may access an accelerated route, also bypassing the standard AMC examination sequence.
In short: if you are not on the Standard Pathway, you do not sit AMC Part 1. The MCQ is exclusively a Standard Pathway exam managed by the AMC itself.
What exempts you from AMC Part 2 (Clinical)?
AMC Part 2 is the clinical skills assessment — a structured OSCE with 16 stations (14 scored) evaluating patient communication, diagnosis, and clinical judgement. The same pathway exemptions apply, but there is an important additional option within the Standard Pathway itself:
IMGs on the Competent Authority, Specialist, or Expedited Specialist pathways skip both AMC exams entirely — including Part 2.
Even if you must complete the Standard Pathway, you can substitute the AMC Clinical Exam with a Workplace-Based Assessment (WBA). This authentic assessment takes place in a real clinical environment, evaluating your integration of knowledge, skills, and communication in everyday practice. However, WBA places are limited and can only be undertaken after you have been granted provisional registration — not before.
Exemption summary at a glance
| Pathway | Who qualifies | Exemption |
|---|---|---|
| Competent Authority | IMGs from UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, or New Zealand with qualifying exam (GMC, USMLE, LMCC, NZREX, etc.) | Part 1 + Part 2 |
| Specialist Pathway | Overseas-trained specialists seeking college-assessed comparability | Part 1 + Part 2 |
| Expedited Specialist | SIMGs with specific approved overseas specialist qualifications | Part 1 + Part 2 |
| WBA (Standard Pathway) | Standard Pathway IMGs after gaining provisional registration (limited places) | Part 2 only |
Which countries qualify for the Competent Authority Pathway?
The Competent Authority Pathway covers seven categories (A–F) and is open to doctors who have qualified or trained in one of these countries:
To qualify, you must meet both an assessment component (a recognised medical exam or accredited course in that country) and an experience component (post-qualification supervised practice). Offshore courses are also accepted for certain UK and Ireland categories if they appear on the Medical Board’s approved list.
Simply holding citizenship or being born in a competent authority country does not automatically qualify you. You must have completed and passed the recognised assessment (e.g. all three USMLE Steps for USA, or be registered with the GMC for the UK) and meet the experience requirement.
The bottom line
Most IMGs — particularly those from South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and non-listed countries — will follow the Standard Pathway and sit both AMC exams. But if you qualified or trained in the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, or New Zealand with the right assessment behind you, or if you are a recognised specialist, there is a real and significant shortcut available.
The most important step right now: identify your pathway before you invest time and money into preparation. Verify your medical school on WDOMS, check the ECFMG sponsor note, and if in doubt, contact the AMC directly to confirm your category.
1.If I have passed PLAB and GMC registered but no UK Experience, Can I get to be exempted from AMC exams?
No you still have to do both AMC 1 and 2 and 1 year of training.
2.I’ve completed PLAB and have NHS experience. Do I need AMC exams?
If you’ve completed PLAB and also have NHS experience, you can apply through the Competent Authority Pathway (CAP). In most cases, you won’t need to sit AMC exams.
3.I’ve completed PLAB, have no NHS experience, what exam is I am exempted from?
You have to pass AMC 1 and then You’ll typically need around one year of relevant clinical experience in the NHS or Australia to be eligible for exemption from AMC 2.
4.Can I work in Australia after passing AMC MCQ only?
Yes, if you secure a job after passing the AMC MCQ, you can begin working under the Standard Pathway in Australia.
5.What happens after gaining experience in Australia?
After completing one year of clinical experience in Australia, you may become eligible for the Competent Authority Pathway (CAP). At that stage, you can contact Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to request a transition to CAP. AHPRA will assess whether you meet the requirements for general registration. If you don’t yet meet them, they’ll outline any additional experience needed and place you on provisional registration until you qualify.
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