Further to the introduction of the new Expedited Specialist Registration pathway in October this year, AHPRA are now expanding the pathway to include eligible internationally qualified psychiatrists and anaesthetists.
The gateway to the pathway is a list of pre-approved qualifications (the Expedited Specialist Pathway: accepted qualifications list). The qualifications on the list have been proposed by the specialist medical colleges, assessed by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and approved by the Medical Board of Australia.
Under this pathway, Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) with an eligible qualification can apply directly to AHPRA for specialist registration without the requirement to undergo a costly and lengthy specialist college assessment.
The list currently includes qualifications for General Practitioners from the UK, Ireland and New Zealand and the following qualifications will be added to the list from 23 December:
Anaesthesia
Ireland: Fellowship of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (CAI), together with a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST), awarded under any CAI curriculum from July 2012 to date following satisfactory completion of a Specialist Anaesthesiology Training Programme (SAT) in Ireland.
United Kingdom: Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) and a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) issued by the General Medical Council or the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board, awarded under any RCoA curriculum from August 2007 to date following satisfactory completion of a General Medical Council or Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board approved specialist training program (in the United Kingdom).
All applicants are required to successfully complete an Effective Management of Anaesthetic Crisis (EMAC) course as recommended by ANZCA, in line with the requirement for all other trainees and SIMGs undertaking anaesthetics training.
Psychiatry
United Kingdom: Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych) and a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), awarded under any RCPsych curriculum from August 2007 to date following satisfactory completion of a General Medical Council or Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board approved specialty training program in psychiatry in the United Kingdom.
Eligible internationally qualified specialist obstetricians and gynaecologists will be able to access the pathway from early 2025 and we expect general medicine, general paediatrics and diagnostic radiology to be the next priorities for the pathway in 2025.
You can find full details of the pathway here: Medical Board of Australia - Expedited Specialist pathway
If you’re a psychiatrist or anaesthetist considering a move down under, give us a call on +44 (0)131 226 2200 or email us on info@headmedical.com to discuss your eligibility to make an application for registration under this pathway, or the pre-existing specialist pathway.