Compare registration pathways

Time to first paid work, costs, exams, supervision and Section 19AB for each pathway, side by side. Every figure links to the official page it comes from.

Common situations

Every pathway

Which of these you can use depends on where you trained and what you hold. The quiz works that out from your answers.

Expedited Specialist GP

Direct specialist registration for specialists whose qualification is on the Medical Board's accepted list — for GPs, MRCGP with CCT (UK), MICGP with CSCST (Ireland) or FRNZCGP (New Zealand)

First paid work

about 2–3 months (7–11 weeks)

Registration without supervision conditions

about 8–10 months (35–43 weeks)

Registration and exam costs

$3,605–$3,805 AUDplus US$255 for ECFMG EPIC verification

Medical Board fees from the schedule effective 1 August 2026. Excludes visa fees, relocation and living costs

Exams and interviews

No AMC exams

At the start

Specialist Registration (6 months supervised), supervision Level 2–3 (Level 3 common for specialist), can bill Medicare with a provider number

Section 19AB (where you can bill Medicare)

Applies: work in a Distribution Priority Area or with an exemption

Sources

16 official pages

Competent Authority Pathway

Streamlined pathway for UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, and New Zealand doctors

First paid work

about 2–3 months (7–14 weeks)

Registration without supervision conditions

about 13–18 months (58–77 weeks)

Registration and exam costs

$3,803–$4,103 AUDplus US$255 for ECFMG EPIC verification

Medical Board fees from the schedule effective 1 August 2026. Excludes visa fees, relocation and living costs

Exams and interviews

  • PESCI — Pre-employment structured clinical interview — general practice positions only

At the start

Provisional Registration, supervision Level 2–3 (Level 3 common for CA), can bill Medicare with a provider number

Section 19AB (where you can bill Medicare)

Applies: work in a Distribution Priority Area or with an exemption

Sources

26 official pages

Specialist pathway + RACGP PEP Specialist

For GPs whose overseas specialist qualification the RACGP assesses as comparable: supervised practice, the six-month PEP Specialist program, then Fellowship and specialist registration.

First paid work

about 5–7 months (22–32 weeks)

Registration without supervision conditions

about 11–31 months (48–136 weeks)

Registration and exam costs

$15,893 AUD

RACGP fees as listed on the PEP Specialist fees page; Medical Board fees from the schedule effective 1 August 2026. Excludes visa, relocation and living costs.

Exams and interviews

  • RACGP Fellowship exams — partially comparable only; substantially comparable doctors sit no exams

At the start

PEP Specialist program (supervised practice), supervision until RACGP Fellowship, can bill Medicare with a provider number

Section 19AB (where you can bill Medicare)

Applies: work in a Distribution Priority Area or with an exemption

Sources

16 official pages

Workforce (Non-GP)

Service delivery under Limited Registration via Area of Need — not a GP training pathway

First paid work

about 6–10 months (24–42 weeks)

Registration without supervision conditions

Not on this pathway: it stays on limited registration. General registration needs the Standard AMC route.

Registration and exam costs

$8,995–$9,295 AUDplus US$255 for ECFMG EPIC verification

Excludes visa fees, relocation, and living costs. No general registration fee — workforce track stays on Limited Registration. Medical Board fees from the schedule effective 1 August 2026

Exams and interviews

  • AMC CAT MCQ — Computer adaptive test — $2,920

At the start

Limited Registration, supervision Level 1–2 (Level 1 typically for at least first ~3 months), can bill Medicare with a provider number

Section 19AB (where you can bill Medicare)

Applies: work in a Distribution Priority Area or with an exemption

Sources

20 official pages

Standard AMC Pathway

Traditional pathway requiring AMC examinations

First paid work

about 6–12 months (26–52 weeks)

Registration without supervision conditions

about 20–28 months (86–120 weeks)

Registration and exam costs

$10,723–$13,023 AUDplus US$255 for ECFMG EPIC verification

Medical Board fees from the schedule effective 1 August 2026 (limited registration instead of provisional: $2,233). Excludes visa fees, relocation, living costs and retake fees

Exams and interviews

  • AMC CAT MCQ — Computer adaptive test — $2,920
  • AMC Clinical — Clinical examination — $3,000 in person, $3,400 online
  • PESCI — Pre-employment structured clinical interview — general practice positions only

At the start

Provisional Registration, supervision Level 1–2 (Level 1 typically for at least first ~3 months), can bill Medicare with a provider number

Section 19AB (where you can bill Medicare)

Applies: work in a Distribution Priority Area or with an exemption

Sources

29 official pages

Sorted by time to first paid work. Times run from the fastest scenario to the typical one; your own case can be slower. Figures come from the official pages listed under each pathway. Graph version 36440d4f, eligibility rules version 2.