What is the difference between the Standard pathway and the Competent Authority pathway?

On the Standard pathway you sit the AMC exams (CAT MCQ, then the clinical examination or a workplace-based assessment). On the Competent Authority pathway the AMC exam sequence is waived: you apply for provisional registration and complete around 12 months of supervised practice instead. Which pathway you're on depends on where you trained and qualified — and it changes the cost significantly, which is why our registration cost calculator prices both.

A PESCI (Pre-Employment Structured Clinical Interview) is generally required for IMGs heading into general-practice-type positions under limited or provisional registration. It's a panel interview run by AMC-accredited providers; fees are around $2,450–$2,497 as at July 2026. Hospital-based positions generally don't need one.

What is the Expedited Specialist Pathway?

A newer route for overseas-trained specialists whose qualification appears on the Medical Board's published accepted list for their specialty: specialist registration without the full college comparability assessment, with a supervised practice period (usually around six months). It grants registration, not college Fellowship, and only covers listed specialties and source countries — our free checker tells you if yours is on the list.

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Trained overseas? Start here.

Q: Does medical registration give me a visa?

No. Ahpra registration and immigration are completely separate processes — visas are a matter for the Department of Home Affairs, and for individual advice you'd see a registered migration agent. Nothing on this site is migration or visa advice.

Which route into Australian practice — and what it costs — depends entirely on where you're up to. Pick your situation; every fee and rule on the pages below comes from its official source, with "as at" dates you can check.

Specialist overseas

Am I on the Expedited Specialist list?

Direct specialist registration without the full college assessment — if your specialty and country of training are on the Medical Board's published list. Check in 10 seconds; if you're not listed, the standard college comparability route still applies.

Check my eligibility → Qualified doctor

Standard vs Competent Authority — priced

Standard pathway = AMC CAT MCQ + a clinical assessment. Competent Authority = exams waived, provisional registration and ~12 months supervised practice. The calculator itemises every official fee for your pathway.

Calculate my registration cost → No internship yet

Getting an Australian internship as an IMG

Finished the degree but not an internship? How the state intern rounds treat international graduates, where IMG allocations actually exist, and your realistic chances.

See the pathway →

The checks almost everyone hits

Ahpra English requirements

Accepted tests and minimum scores — including the April 2026 score change and the two-sitting rule.

PESCI, explained

The panel interview for GP-type positions under limited or provisional registration — who needs it, providers and fees.

Registration cost calculator

Every official fee line for your pathway, with "official" vs "estimate" flagged per item.

Nurse or midwife trained overseas? That's a different board and process — start at the IQNM registration cost calculator and the OBA pathway guide.

Then the good part: what you'll actually earn here.

Award pay is public in Australia. See the state-by-state rates for your grade, then model your real take-home — tax, overtime and salary packaging included.

Doctor pay by state → Take-home pay calculator Rural incentives

FAQ

Standard pathway vs Competent Authority pathway — what's the difference?

On the Standard pathway you sit the AMC exams: the CAT MCQ, then the AMC clinical examination or a workplace-based assessment. On the Competent Authority pathway the AMC exam sequence is waived — you apply for provisional registration and complete about 12 months of supervised practice instead. Which one applies depends on where you trained and qualified, and it changes the cost substantially — the cost calculator prices both side by side.

Do I need a PESCI?

Generally only if you're heading into a general-practice-type position under limited or provisional registration — hospital-based positions generally don't need one. It's a structured panel interview run by AMC-accredited providers (RACGP, ACRRM, IME), with fees around $2,450–$2,497 as at July 2026. Full detail on the PESCI page.

What's the Expedited Specialist Pathway?

A newer route for overseas-trained specialists whose qualification is on the Medical Board's published accepted list: specialist registration without the full college comparability assessment, with supervised practice (usually ~6 months). It grants registration, not college Fellowship, and covers listed general specialties and source countries only — the checker tells you in seconds whether yours is listed.

Does registration get me a visa?

No — Ahpra registration and immigration are completely separate. Visas are a matter for the Department of Home Affairs, and for individual advice you'd see a registered migration agent. Nothing on this site is migration or visa advice.

Free · straight to your inbox Get IMG pathway + fee updates Fees, accepted-specialty lists and English requirements change through the year. We'll email you when something that affects your pathway moves. No spam.

General information, not advice. Pathway rules and fees are set by Ahpra, the Medical Board, the AMC and the providers — they change, and they make the decisions. Fees and rules quoted on the linked pages carry their own "as at" dates and official sources; confirm against the live source before relying on them. Registration is separate from a visa (Department of Home Affairs); this site does not provide migration, visa, legal or career advice.