As you read through the AHPRA website, you will realize that there are multiple minute ‘pathways’ towards getting your registration.

When I first decided to move to Australia, I had just 7 months of UK experience post my GMC registration via PLAB route, which meant that I could NOT apply for provisional registration via the Competent Authority Pathway. Going back to UK to complete a year of work was an option, but I wasn’t too keen on doing that. So, I decided to take AMC part 1 or the AMC CAT MCQ test and booked the next available exam.

After passing my AMC 1 and successfully landing a job, I applied for limited registration under the Standard Pathway and started working. I did NOT take my AMC 2 ever. After successfully completing 47 weeks of clinical work, I directly applied for General registration via Competent Authority Pathway. Are you wondering how?

It was possible due to the following clause in the AHPRA website:

Australian clinical experience can be substituted for the post-examination or post training experience for the purposes of meeting the criteria for eligibility for the Competent Authority pathway.

This period of practice in Australia may also be accepted as meeting the requirements for the 12 month period of supervised practice which is required to gain general registration via the Competent Authority pathway.

The take home message here is there is NO hard and fast rule towards getting your general registration in Australia. Personally, I have not come across anyone who followed this path. My piece of advice would be to read each and every line in the AHPRA website carefully and pick up the bits that are useful for you.

Published by AussieIMG

27 thoughts on “My Unique AHPRA Registration Pathway”

  1. Hi Susmitha,

    Thanks for posting your experience.

    I am a Endocrine trainee in UK.Do you know path for registrars if we can join specialty with UK experience without doing any internal medicine Training again in Australia ??

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    1. Hi Keerthi,
      Unfortunately, you will have to re-start your training in Australia if you wish to move now. Once you get your CCT, you maybe able to apply for via specialist pathway

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  2. Hi Sushmita ,

    I am a medical graduate with only 5 months of experience working as a junior doctor in ny home country. Do you think i can stand a chance to sit for AMC part and be part of WBA with limited registration? I have a gap of 3 years since i left my last job as a doctor .

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      1. Hello, I am in the same position as you, under limited registration and completing my 12months supervised practice in Australia with a UK medical degree and AMC Part 1. Was there any rejection/problems from AHPRA when you lodged a general registration directly from limited registration? Thank you!

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  3. Hello Susmita,nice reading your blogs..
    If I would like to be a respiratory consultant in Australia would you like to suggest me that its always better to start training from zero level in Australia or a 2years of nontraing UK experience+full MRCP degree can land me a provisional registration then 1year of supervised job in Australia can directly help me getting a Respiratory training post?
    I want to work for 2/3 years atleast here in UK and by the time I’d like to clear paces then move to Australia. So what you suggest?

    Many thanks

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      1. Can you please share your journey towards the medicine training program? You highlighted the fact that you’ve successfully entered into the program within 6months.. so how to utilise the time frame once I land in with 2yrs of UK experience via competent authority pathway…
        Many thanks 🙂

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  4. Hi Susmitha

    Did they consider your 47 weeks clinical experience apart from your UK experience? In other words if you can prove that you have gone through the mandatory clinical rotations and have amassed 47 clinical experience, that alone may be enough for being granted general registration?

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  5. Hello doctor, I’m a final year medical student from a Chinese university. Since my husband is in Australia, i also want to end up being a doctor in Australia. So I’m still thinking which option to choose. ( Standard pathway vs competent pathway via PLAB exams)

    I really appreciate to get your thoughts regarding my issue.
    If i do PLAB EXAMS, will i be able to find internship in UK ( 1 year experience) , since I’m a fresh graduate.
    Also will i be able to work in Australia through this pathway ?
    Please let me know your ideas. Thank you in advance.

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  6. Hello Susmitha. I’ve read from the ahpra website , that they accept 1 yr of UK foundation year experience to apply for the competent authority pathway. I am just wondering if a non- training SHO experience would be accepted?

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  7. Nice blog…very informative…..I just wonder what are the requirements and opportunities to apply for medicine/ psychiatry training post after getting general registration in Australia?? Is this possible to bring parents permanently after applying for PR and is it feasible to bear the the expenses of parents as a single earner? I”ll be waiting to hear from you.
    TIA

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    1. I apologise for the delayed reply. Please messge me on Instagram in futur and I will reply back quicker. Medicine/Psych is very to get into. Parents can move in permanently but is a long and tedious process. You can definitely support your parents financially

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  8. Hi Susmitha,
    I am an ecfmg certified doc who finished all usmle steps, unfortunately didn’t land a residency position yet.
    Do I need to sit the amc Mcq exam or can I apply to jobs directly without this exam? For the purposes of getting general registration through competent authority pathway
    Thank you

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  9. Hi.
    I have gotten full registration with GMC. Can I apply limited registration for supervised practice without sitting amc part 1? Then apply for provisional registration after completing 12 months of clinical experience. Can you also guide regarding documents needed for limited registration?

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    1. You cannot apply for limited registration in your case. Wait for 1 year and apply via compentent authority pathway

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  10. Hi Sushmita.

    I’m a senior Clinical Fellow in Oncology in U.K. I got tjos job based on plab gmc route. And Oncology experience from my home country.
    Do I need to take 12 months consecutive work experience to apply for competent authority pathway australia or I can get 6months experience now and 6 months later?

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  11. Dear Sushmitha

    Thank you very much for the information.

    I think I have a similar situation to yours, albeit different countries.

    I received my undergraduate degree in South Africa.

    I have obtained the full Canadian LMCC in 2021 (but have never worked in Canada).

    I have been working in Republic of Ireland for the past 3 years.

    I have passed the AMC Part 1.

    I plan to apply for a job and once successful, apply for LIMITED REGISTRATION through the STANDARD PATHWAY.

    Once I have completed the 1 year of supervised word in Australia, I hope to apply for general registration via the COMPETENT AUTHORITY PATHWAY…..

    Does that sound about right?

    Thank you.

    Kind regards.

    Lize

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  12. Hi Susmitha,

    I am done with my PLAB exams and got my GMC registration few months back
    For Registration by Competent Authority Pathway I need 12 months of uk experience but due to ongoing crisis and inflation in uk it’s hard to land a job, so what should be the best option, either do 12 months jobs in uk or go through WBA pathway of Australia
    Does 12 months of uk private sector experience holds any value for registration by Competent Authority Pathway in Australia ?

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