On this page:
- Overview
- Competent authority pathway
- Existing Northern Territory registrants
- New applicants
- Standard pathway
- AMC examinations pathway
- Workplace based assessment pathway
- Specialist pathway
Overview
A new nationally consistent process to assess International Medical Graduates (IMGs) is being phased in across Australia. The new assessment process has been developed in consultation with representatives of State and Territory medical boards, health departments, specialist medical colleges, the Australian Medical Council (AMC), the Australian Medical Association, postgraduate medical councils and consumer representatives. It is founded on the following principles:
Australian governments aim to ensure all doctors registered in Australia meet recognised professional standards.
The new assessment model provides a variety of pathways to registration, depending on the IMGs: qualifications; previous training and assessment; knowledge base; clinical skills; and the suitability for the position for which they have an offer of employment.
The new assessment process consists of four main pathways:
- the 'Competent Authority Pathway'
- the 'Standard Pathway' - AMC examinations
- the 'Standard Pathway' - Workplace based assessment (still in formative process)
- the 'Standard Pathway' - Specialist pathway (still in formative process)
AMC have granted the Medical Board of the Northern Territory initial accreditation to implement the new assessment processes for IMGs and act as the accrediting authority in the Northern Territory.
Competent authority pathway
The Competent Authority pathway applies to IMGs who have a primary medical qualification from the United Kingdom (UK) or have successfully undertaken the licensing examinations and required clinical practice providing entitlement to full registration in the UK, United States of America, Canada or New Zealand. In due course other authorities may be considered and approved under this model.
This pathway can lead to IMGs from Competent Authorities who, successfully complete 12 months supervised practise within the Australian Health System, being eligible for entitlement to full registration.
Under this Pathway IMGs are eligible to apply for 'Advanced Standing' toward the AMC certificate (in order to be eligible for full registration in the Northern Territory). If the AMC grants Advanced Standing status to the individual, he or she is not required to sit the AMC Multiple Choice Questionnaire (MCQ) or AMC clinical examinations, but is required to undertake a workplace based assessment whilst working in accordance with an approved supervised practice plan in the Northern Territory health system.
At completion of the Board approved period of supervision and satisfactory Supervision and Assessment Reports the IMG may be eligible for: AMC Certificate; and full registration status.
Please access the Self Assessment Tool on the AMC Website to identify your eligibility to proceed under the Competent Authority model.
If you hold current conditional registration in the Northern Territory and wish to be approved for the Competent Authority Pathway, you will need to forward evidence of Advanced Standing towards the AMC Certificate to the Medical Board of the NT.
If you are applying for Area of Need registration and qualify for Advanced Standing, a copy of this evidence must accompany your application for registration.
Existing Northern Territory Registrants
The following information applies to IMGs who are: currently employed in an Area of Need position in the NT; hold conditional registration with the Medical Board of the NT; and are eligible to proceed under the Competent Authority model.
Retrospective Recognition
The Board did not seek retrospective accreditation of its existing processes for supervision and reporting as the new processes are much more rigorous. However, the Board will consider, on a case-by-case basis, applications for retrospective recognition of up to six months, where it can be evidenced that supervision and assessment undergone to date is equivalent to the requirements under the new arrangements.
Applications for retrospective recognition must be in writing and must include: details of supervision provided; copies of any supervision/assessment reports completed in the relevant period; and any other information that demonstrates that rigorous supervision and assessment processes have been in place.
The Board, at its own discretion, may recognise up to six months retrospective supervision and assessment. IMGs on this pathway must complete a total of 12 months Board approved supervision and assessment before being eligible to apply for the AMC Certificate.
Procedures for Existing Northern Territory Registrants
1. | Access the AMC Self Assessment Tool at www.amc.org.au, or contact the Medical Board of the Northern Territory (MBNT) for a copy of its questionnaire, to determine if you are eligible to proceed under the Competent Authority model. |
2. | If you have ticked every box in one of the categories A, B, C, D or E on the Self Assessment Tool, access the AMC's Advanced Standing application form and submit to AMC. AMC will assess your application and associated documentation to identify your entitlement to Advanced Standing for AMC Certificate. This assessment process may take up to 4 weeks. |
3. | Provide a copy of AMC Advanced Standing to the MBNT. |
4. | In collaboration with your employer/supervisor complete IMG Position Description and IMG Supervised Practice Plan (in Board approved format) and forward completed documents to MBNT. Contact MBNT for a copy of the forms if you employer does not have them. |
5. | Optional - If you think you might be eligible for retrospective recognition of supervised practice, apply in writing to the MBNT (this can be submitted at the same time as Position Description and Supervised Practice Plan). |
6. | MBNT will assess each IMG's situation and determine commencement date and period to make up a total of 12 months supervision and assessment. You will be advised of the outcome in writing. |
7. | On completion of your 12-month period of Supervised Practice, MBNT will review your Supervision Reports and any Workplace Based Assessments. Unsatisfactory reports may result in a requirement for remedial action and/or a review of your registration. If satisfactory, MBNT will provide you with a letter determining that you have:
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8. | Apply to AMC for the AMC Certificate. Access application form at www.amc.org.au. AMC will assess your application and associated documentation to determine entitlement to the AMC Certificate. |
9. | If granted, AMC will send your original AMC Certificate direct to the MBNT. On receipt MBNT will review your registration status. |
New Applicants
The Competent Authority Pathway will act as a streamlined pathway to full registration for IMGs applying for registration as a medical practitioner in the Northern Territory for the first time. It should be noted that IMGs wishing to work in the Northern Territory must provide evidence of an offer of employment in a locality within the NT health service, which has been deemed as an 'Area of Need'.
If you are eligible to proceed under the Competent Authority model then you may apply for Advanced Standing towards the AMC Certificate. Application forms for Advanced Standing can be accessed at the AMC website www.amc.org.au.
If granted Advanced Standing by the AMC and you wish to undertake the workplace based supervision and assessment component of the pathway in the NT, you will need to apply for conditional registration in accordance with the MBNT's Area of Need Policy and Procedures and use the Application for Conditional Registration Area of Need Medical Practitioner form.
Once Area of Need conditional registration has been granted you must then work on an approved supervised practice plan for a period of 12 months to complete the workplace based supervision and assessment component of the Competent Authority Pathway. Upon successful completion of the supervised practice and workplace-based assessment (satisfactory performance reports over the 12-month period), you may be eligible to apply for the AMC Certificate.
Procedures for New Applicants
1. | Access the AMC Self Assessment Tool at www.amc.org.au, or contact the Medical Board of the Northern Territory (MBNT) for a copy of its questionnaire, to determine if you are eligible to proceed under the Competent Authority model. |
2. | If you have ticked every box in one of the categories A, B, C, D or E, on the Self Assessment Tool, access the AMC's Advanced Standing application form and submit to AMC. AMC will assess your application and associated documentation to identify your entitlement to Advanced Standing for AMC Certificate. This assessment process may take up to 4 weeks. |
3. | Complete the IMG Application for Area of Need Conditional Registration and submit to the MBNT along with all correctly certified supporting documentation (including confirmation of employment in an Area of Need position, and AMC Advanced Standing). |
4. | Ensure that your Employer has completed the "Application for Area of Need Approval - Employer" form which includes a Position Description and Supervised Practice Plan, and has submitted to the MBNT. |
The Board will assess your application for registration and determine eligibility for Area of Need Conditional Registration. | |
5. | You must confirm your commencement of employment date with the MBNT. |
6. | On completion of your 12-month period of Supervised Practice, MBNT will review your Supervision Reports and any Workplace Based Assessments. Unsatisfactory reports may result in a requirement for remedial action and/or a review of your registration. If satisfactory, MBNT will provide you with a letter determining that you have:
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7. | Apply to AMC for the AMC Certificate. Access application form at www.amc.org.au. AMC will assess your application and associated documentation to determine entitlement to the AMC Certificate. |
8. | If granted, AMC will send your original AMC Certificate direct to the MBNT. On receipt MBNT will review your registration status. |
Standard pathway
AMC Examinations Pathway
IMGs who do not qualify for the Competent Authority Pathway, will be eligible for the 'Standard Pathway' to achieving the AMC Certificate and full registration. This pathway currently consists of the successful completion of the AMC, MCQ and Clinical Examination and 12 months of Board approved supervised practice and assessment.
Workplace Based Assessment Pathway (still in formative process)
Planning is underway to eventually provide a structured workplace-based assessment as an alternative to the AMC Clinical Examination (Standard Pathway - Workplace Based Assessment). Current eligible registrants will be advised when this assessment process becomes available in the Northern Territory.
Applications for Area of Need Conditional Registration for those eligible under the Standard Pathway, which are received by the Board after 30 June 2008 must provide evidence of successful completion of the AMC MCQ (on or off shore) examination. This is a new requirement, which is being implemented nationally from 1 July 2008.
Specialist Pathway (still in formative process)
This assessment pathway is intended for specialists in a range of positions including specialists who are eligible for Fellowship, teaching and research positions, advanced trainees positions and Area of Need positions for specialists who are partially comparable or substantially comparable. This pathway also includes general practitioners seeking Fellowship of the appropriate colleges. More information will be provided when available.