AMC Skill Assessment for International Medical Graduates

 If you are an overseas medical graduate and want to pursue your practice abroad, then Australia might be your first choice that comes to mind.

 

With its high-standard healthcare sectors and excellent opportunities, Australia offers a promising future for overseas medical graduates around the world.

 

However, medical professionals must be registered first to build a healthcare career in Australia.

 

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are required to secure their registration before practising in Australia. The Medical Board of Australia (MBA) is a regulatory body responsible for the registration of medical practitioners worldwide.

 

To be registered under MBA, you need to undergo a skill assessment, which the Australian Medical Council AMC conducts. 

 

In this blog post, I will let you dive into “how to undergo AMC skill assessment process?”

 

First, let me understand what are pathways for registration and skill assessment for doctors (IMGs) or international medical students who have graduated in medical professions. 

 

Understand Registration Pathways for International Medical Graduates

For skill assessment of Doctors, there are many pathways for International medical graduates (IMGs) to get registration as medical practitioners in Australia. However, each skill assessment pathways are designed to assess different skills of medical qualifications and professions. You can choose a suitable one based on your skills and qualifications.

 

There are three assessment pathways for those IMGs who want to practice in Australia  such as: 

• Standard Pathway
• Competent Authority Pathway
• Specialist Pathway

 

Let’s have a short-eye view of them one by one.

 

1. Standard Pathway

This skill assessment pathway is specified for the IMGs who do not qualify for the Competent Authority or Specialist Pathways. This pathway involves passing the AMC CAT MCQ Examination and the AMC Clinical Examination or Workplace-Based Assessment (WBA).

 

Once you have completed the skill assessment and passed the examination, you are eligible to apply for registration. But, you must complete the 12 months of supervised practice to get general registration in Australia.

 

2. Competent Authority Pathway

This medical skill assessment pathway is for overseas medical graduates from the countries recognized by the AMC. These countries must have the same medical education and assessment standards. 

 

IMGs are undertaken by a competent authority and practiced within the competent authority country. This assessment pathway leads to general registration after the completion of a set period of supervised medical practice in Australia. 

 

3. Specialist Pathway

This assessment pathway is specially designed for those International medical graduates who possess international specialist medical qualifications. Its assessment is conducted by the relevant Australian specialist medical colleges to check the qualifications and experience of IMGs that are comparable to Australian-trained specialists.

 

Those IMGs who obtained successful skill assessments will be eligible for specialist registration in Australia.  

 

For initial self-assessment, consult with our skilled visa consultants to know which one is suitable for you.

 

 

What is AMC Skill Assessment?

The AMC skill assessment is specifically designed to assess the clinical skills and medical knowledge of international medical graduates across the world. 

 

The AMC Skill Assessment is an important component of the Standard Pathway for international medical graduates who want to pursue practice in Australia.

 

Through this assessment, they make sure that overseas medical graduates meet the standards of Australian healthcare and possess suitable clinical skills and practical knowledge to practice safely and effectively in Australia.

 

Important Components of the AMC Assessment Exam

The AMC skill assessment process contains two important components for overseas medical professionals: the Australian Medical Council examinations, including Multiple Choice Questions and Clinical Exams. These assessments evaluate the capabilities of IMGs to make sure that they can perform their medical practice effectively and provide safe and effective patient care in Australian hospitals. 

 

The AMC skill assessment exam is divided into two parts, which are necessary to pass to obtain AMC certification. 

 

AMC Written Examination

 The AMC Written Examination is also known as the AMC CAT MCQ examination. It is the initial step toward the International Medical Graduates (IMGs) assessment process to pursue the practice of medicine in Australia. 

 

This assessment exam is designed to check the medical knowledge of medical professionals across various fields like general practice, internal medicine, paediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, and obstetrics and gynaecology.

 

AMC Clinical Examination

The AMC clinical examination evaluates clinical skills in medicines, surgery, obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics, and psychiatry. This is the second important component of the AMC Skill Assessment process for overseas skilled medical professionals to evaluate their practical and clinical skills in their profession. 

 

The AMC clinical examination assesses the practical knowledge and ability of the IMGs to check how they can apply medical knowledge in real-world scenarios through a series of clinical tasks and simulated patient interactions. It is mandatory to undergo and pass both examinations to obtain an AMC certificate. 

 

Consult with our Skilled Migration consultants to know more about the AMC examination fee exam pattern and more!

 

 

Eligibility Criteria for AMC Skill Assessment for IMGs

 To apply for the AMC skill assessment, international Medical Graduates (IMGs) are required to meet the following specific requirements.

 

Complete Primary Medical Qualification

 To be eligible for AMC assessment for skills, IMGs must withhold or complete a primary medical qualification from an organized medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. 

 

Meet English Language Proficiency

 Further, IMGs are required to meet the English language requirements by demonstrating proficiency in the English language. They must obtain the required scores in the recognized English language tests, including IELTS, OET, PTE Academic, or TOEFL iBT.

 

Create AMC Portfolio

To be eligible for AMC skill assessment, IMGs need to create an AMC account and establish their AMC portfolio on the AMC website. They are also required to submit the important documentation for verification as well. 

 

Primary Source Verification

International medical graduates should possess a qualification which are verified through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials (EPIC) service. 

 

Complete Application Process

To proceed with the AMC skill assessment process, IMGs must complete an application for the AMC CAT MCQ Examination or the AMC Clinical Examination. They must include all required documents and submit them by the specified deadlines. 

 

Talk to our expert skilled visa consultants to know more details regarding the AMC application process and further details.

 

 

What is the AMC Skill Assessment Application Process Under Standard Pathway?

 The Australian Medical Council (AMC has a designed application process for the skill assessment of medical professionals. It is important to complete and follow all steps for AMC skill assessment process to get registration in Australia. 

 

Important Steps Involved in AMC Skill Assessment Process

 

 

 

Step 1 – Ensure Your Medical School is Eligible

Before applying for the AMC skill assessment, you need to make sure your medical school is eligible to proceed with your AMC portfolio. You can check your medical school using the World Dictionary of Medical Schools  (WDoMS). This is a primary source that contains a list of medical schools with their dates of operations and degrees awarded. 

 

Step 2 – Determine the Eligibility of Your Degree Title

Once you have checked out the eligibility of your medical schools, you need to determine the eligibility of your degree title and year of graduation as well.

 

Step 3 – Create AMC Portfolio

The next step is to create an AMC portfolio. It is an online application system that provides access to your personal information and other qualification information, including relevant verification status. This information will help you in your relevant pathway to register in Australia. 

 

Step 4 – Document Submission

After selecting a suitable skill assessment pathway, you must submit your primary medical degree (MBBS) and postgraduate qualifications (if any) for AMC skill assessment. These documents may involve:

• Your degree certificate.
• Academic transcripts.
• Evidence of clinical practice and internship experience (such as employment letters).
• A valid passport.

 

Step 5: Undergo AMC Exams

If your qualifications are relevant, you are required to take the following exams as part of the skills assessment process:

1. AMC Written Examination  (AMC CAT Computer Adaptive Test) 

This is a Multiple-choice question (MCQ) based on a written online exam that tests your medical knowledge.

 

2. AMC Clinical Examination

 This is a practical exam that assesses your clinical skills in real-life scenarios where you will interact with simulated patients and demonstrate your clinical reasoning and procedures.

 

Step 6- Apply for Suitable Skill Assessment Pathways

 After successfully following the initial steps of the skill assessment process, apply for the suitable skill assessment pathways. For this most important step, you need to consult with an expert skilled visa consultant. They will determine which skill assessment pathway is suitable for your skill.

 

Mistakes To Avoid While AMC Skill Assessment Process

Here are some of the important steps that you need to consider while applying for AMC skill assessment:

 

 

What to Do Next?

You have understood that AMC offers several pathways, such as the Standard Pathway, Competent Authority Pathway, and Specialist Pathway. There are specific requirements and eligibility criteria for each pathway. Only an experienced person can help you to choose a suitable AMC skill assessment pathway for you. 

 

So, if you have recently completed your medical education in the above-mentioned medical fields and want to practice in Australia, under the AMC skill assessment process without your time, as this is a time-consuming process.

 

Consult with professionals and experienced visa consultants. They will provide you with insights regarding AMC skill assessment pathways, fee structure, processing and other up-to-date information. Additionally, they will help you in choosing a suitable skill assessment pathway based on your qualifications and experience. 

 

So, What are you waiting for? Book an appointment now!

 

 

FAQs

Q: 1 What is the Standard Pathway?

The standard pathway contains the completion of the AMC CAT MCQ examination and the AMC clinical examination or the AMC workplace-based assessment program. It is an essential process for international medical graduates to undergo. The AMC assessment is conducted by the Australian Medical Council (AMC). 

 

Q: 2 What is the AMC CAT MCQ Examination?

 It is a computer adaptive test that is utilized to assess the medical knowledge of international medical professionals across various fields like general practices, internal medicine, paediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, and obstetrics and gynaecologists. 

 

Q: 3 What is AMC Workplace-Bases Assessment?

 The AMC workplace-based assessment is an alternate assessment method for the AMC skill assessment process, which is used to assess the medical skills of International Medical Graduates (IMGs). It evaluates candidates’ clinical skills and performance in a real-world clinical environment, including a hospital or general practice.