Work as a Specialist International Medical Graduate in Victoria

Why work in Victoria?

The care delivered by healthcare workers is essential to achieving our vision to make Victorians the healthiest people in the world. A move to the Victorian health system means being part of a team with:

• a world class healthcare system
• competitive wages and generous leave entitlements
• opportunities to work in regional and metropolitan health services
• access to cutting-edge innovations that lead the sector
• legislated nurse-to-patient ratios to support delivery of care
• internationally recognised professional development opportunities for career growth
• opportunities to undertake research.

Victoria is also home to two dedicated children’s hospitals, Australia’s first Heart Hospital, two women’s hospitals, The Eye and Ear Hospital and one of the world's leading health sciences research precincts, The Melbourne Biomedical Precinct.

Getting registered to work as a Specialist Medical Practitioner in Australia

To work as a Medical Practitioner in Victoria, you must obtain and maintain your registration with the Medical Board of Australia (MBA). The MBA works in partnership with Australia’s health regulator, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). There are two registration pathways for eligible Specialist International Medical Graduates to obtain specialist registration in Australia.

To be eligible, all international medical graduates must have a primary qualification in medicine and surgery awarded by a training institution recognised by both the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS).

Expedited Specialist pathway

This pathway is for eligible Specialist International Medical Graduates who want to fast track their specialist registration and start their medical career in Victoria as soon as possible.

The expedited pathway shortens timelines to fast-track specialist registration for Specialist International Medical Graduates and reduces costs associated with obtaining specialist registration. This allows Specialist International Medical Graduates to start their medical career sooner and without significant financial burden.

Specialist International Medical Graduates with an international medical qualification on the MBA’s accepted qualification list are eligible to apply.

For full eligibility criteria and to check to see if your specialty qualifies for the Expedited Specialist pathway visit the Medical Board of Australia website.

Specialist pathway

This pathway is available to Specialist International Medical Graduates with an international specialist qualification who are not eligible for the Expedited Specialist pathway.

This is the standard pathway for Specialist International Medical Graduates to obtain specialist registration in Australia. Specialist International Medical Graduates following this pathway are assessed by the relevant specialist college for comparability to an Australian trained specialist.

For further information on this pathway visit the Medical Board of Australia website.

Alternative registration pathways for medical practitioners

General registration

For non-specialist medical practitioners and Specialist International Medical Graduates who are not eligible to apply for registration via the Expedited Specialist or Specialist pathways, there are several pathways to obtain general registration as a medical practitioner in Australia. Visit the Medical Board of Australia website to learn more.

Area of Need Program

International medical graduates who do not qualify for general or specialist medical registration and wish to work in an area of need must obtain an area of need endorsement to work as a health professional in Victoria.

'Area of need' typically relates to any location in which there is a lack of specific medical practitioners, or where there is a medical position that remains unfilled following multiple recruitment attempts over a period of time.

This pathway does not lead to specialist or ongoing registration in Australia. Specialist International Medical Graduates may complete the requirements for specialist registration while working in an area of need position.

For further information visit our 'Area of need' requirements for international medical graduates page or the Medical Board of Australia website.

For further information on all registration pathways, visit the Medical Board of Australia website: Medical Board of Australia - International medical graduates (IMGs)

Visas

There are a wide range of visas are available to live and work in Australia. For further information on visas, visit the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs website.