Specialist assessment

To register and practise as specialists in Australia, overseas trained physicians and paediatricians (OTPs) must apply for the specialist assessment.

We’ll assess if your training, assessment, experience, recent practice and continuing professional development (CPD) are comparable to an Australian trained specialist before you apply with the Medical Board of Australia (MBA).

Area of need positions

If you've secured an area of need (AoN) position, you also need to apply for an AoN assessment.

Eligibility

Overview

To apply for the specialist assessment, you must:

  1. hold a specialist qualification in the specialty overseas
  2. provide evidence of current or previous overseas registration in the specialty

Specifically, you must have:

  • completed specialist training overseas in one of the specialties we assess*
    • If you have less than 4 years of accredited overseas specialist training, you need at least 3 years consultant experience at the level of an Australasian trained specialist.
  • recognition as a consultant physician or paediatrician in your country of training
    • If you have limited experience at consultant physician or paediatrician level, you need at least 4 years accredited overseas specialist training.

Contact us before applying if you can't meet the eligibility requirements.

* Training must be accredited by an overseas training institution.

Information for dual-trained nuclear medicine and radiology specialists

Use these guidelines if you're also applying for assessment with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR).

  1. We conduct all specialist assessments and Area of Need (AoN) assessments in Nuclear Medicine.
    • Specialist assessment in Nuclear Medicine must be progressed/completed to proceed with a Nuclear Medicine AoN application.

    • We assess all Nuclear Medicine AoN assessments. This is in addition to any assessment by the RANZCR.
  1. We do not conduct an AoN assessment in Nuclear Medicine without a concurrent or previous specialist assessment in Nuclear Medicine.
    • You must submit an application for specialist assessment in Nuclear Medicine unless previously completed.

    • If specialist assessment has previously been completed, the interim assessment decision must have been released within the last 2 years.
  1. Dual assessment of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine involves RANZCR.
    • If you proceed with AoN and/or specialist assessment in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, you'll be assessed by both RANZCR (for Radiology) and the RACP (for Nuclear Medicine).
  1. Specialist assessment requirements from RANZCR and RACP may apply.
    • You may be required to meet a number of requirements from each specialist medical college in order to achieve specialist assessment in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine.
  1. Complete the RANZCR and RACP requirements in order.
    • RANZCR requirements may need to be completed before starting RACP requirements.

    • RACP reviews the RANZCR assessment outcomes and AoN assessment before releasing the interim specialist assessment decision. This decision sets out requirements in Nuclear Medicine.

    • RACP advises the order Nuclear Medicine requirements must be completed.

    • If RANZCR requires a period of upskilling/training before you can sit the RANZCR Part 2 examinations, we may require you to complete all RANZCR’s requirements before you begin RACP requirements in Nuclear Medicine and an AoN position in Nuclear Medicine.
  1. Be aware of the time permitted to begin RACP requirements.
    • You must commence your requirements for Nuclear Medicine (set by the RACP) within 2 years of the date you receive your RACP interim assessment decision.

    • If you do not begin your requirements within 2 years, you may have to be reassessed by the RACP. The reassessment may include a review of recent practice in Nuclear Medicine and payment of additional assessment fees.
  1. Notification of interim assessment decisions by the RACP and RANZCR.
    • RACP and RANZCR consult and review your assessment and AoN assessment (if applicable) in both specialties before releasing the respective decisions for each speciality to you.
  1. You will need to confirm completion of all RANZCR requirements towards full specialist medical recognition in Radiology in order to achieve specialist assessment in the subspecialty of Nuclear Medicine.

Limited scope of practice

You can register with the MBA in a limited scope of practice if you can demonstrate a high level of sub-specialist skill within your limited scope without substantially comparable skill across the full scope of the specialty.

To demonstrate a high level of sub-specialist skill, you’ll need to have:

  • skills comparable to an Australian-trained subspecialist practicing in one sub-specialty
  • substantial experience as a sub-specialist in your country of training

You must limit your practice to that scope. After you're awarded specialist recognition you do not have to work under supervision. The registration status of all practitioners is public on the Register of practitioners.

Note: Registration in a limited scope of practice is not the same as limited registration for OTPs without general registration.



Review date: 2021

These guidelines were developed in line with the Medical Board of Australia’s (MBA) Standards: Specialist medical college assessment of specialist international medical graduates (PDF).

We undertake the specialist assessment process on behalf of the MBA, following their guiding principles of fairness, transparency, efficiency, effectiveness and accountability. We can amend these guidelines at any time. Amendments will comply with applicable law and RACP policies, guidelines and related documents.

Close overlay