Competent Authority Pathway
Your quiz result
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
- MBA — Competent Authority Pathway (reviewed by Medical Board of Australia 22 January 2026 · checked by us 15 October 2026)
- MBA — Competent Authority pathway: eligibility criteria (per-country exam + experience) (effective 1 October 2024 · checked by us 14 October 2026)
- Medical Board — Pre-employment structured clinical interview (PESCI) (reviewed by Medical Board of Australia 10 September 2026 · checked by us 20 October 2026)
- Medical Board — Provisional registration: IMGs via the competent authority pathway (reviewed by Medical Board of Australia 16 December 2020 · checked by us 20 October 2026)
- Medical Board — Provisional registration (reviewed by Medical Board of Australia 27 August 2018 · checked by us 20 October 2026)
- Medical Board — Provisional registration: AMC certificate holders (reviewed by Medical Board of Australia 21 March 2025 · checked by us 20 October 2026)
- AHPRA — Applying for registration (checked by us 14 October 2026)
- Medical Board — Standard pathway (reviewed by Medical Board of Australia 25 March 2026 · checked by us 20 October 2026)
- AHPRA — Information for international practitioners (checked by us 17 October 2026)
- AHPRA — Accepted English language tests (effective 23 April 2026 · reviewed by AHPRA 23 April 2026 · checked by us 17 October 2026)
- Medical Board — Supervised practice for IMGs guidelines (effective 4 January 2016 · reviewed by Medical Board of Australia 31 August 2026 · checked by us 15 October 2026)
- Medical Board — Supervision (IMGs) (reviewed by Medical Board of Australia 13 May 2026 · checked by us 20 October 2026)
- Medical Board of Australia — Recency of practice registration standard (effective 1 October 2016 · reviewed by Medical Board of Australia 21 July 2026 · checked by us 16 October 2026)
- Medical Board — General registration (reviewed by Medical Board of Australia 21 January 2025 · checked by us 20 October 2026)
- AHPRA — Registration Standards (reviewed by AHPRA 21 July 2026 · checked by us 17 October 2026)
- Services Australia — Apply for initial provider and prescriber numbers (updated by Services Australia 1 October 2026 · checked by us 14 October 2026)
- Services Australia — International medical graduates eligibility requirements (updated by Services Australia 24 June 2024 · checked by us 14 October 2026)
- Department of Health — Section 19AB restricted doctors and access to Medicare (updated by Department of Health, Disability and Ageing 29 May 2025 · checked by us 20 October 2026)
- Department of Health — 10-year moratorium and scaling (updated by Department of Health, Disability and Ageing 29 May 2025 · checked by us 17 October 2026)
- Services Australia — Restrictions and exemptions for international medical graduates (updated by Services Australia 15 August 2025 · checked by us 13 October 2026)
- Department of Health — Distribution Priority Area (updated by Department of Health, Disability and Ageing 29 January 2026 · checked by us 20 October 2026)
- Health Workforce Locator (reviewed by Department of Health, Disability and Ageing 29 January 2026 · checked by us 20 October 2026)
- Department of Health — Section 19AB exemptions (updated by Department of Health, Disability and Ageing 12 March 2025 · checked by us 17 October 2026)
- AMC — Fees and charges (checked by us 16 October 2026)
- ECFMG — EPIC fees and payment (ECFMG (Intealth))
- MBA — Schedule of fees (effective 1 August 2026 · reviewed by Medical Board of Australia 31 July 2026)