Helpful Guides for Doctors

GP Registration in Australia

To work as a GP in Australia, you must be registered as a general practitioner with the Medical Board of Australia. As specified under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law a general practitioner must be registered in a defined medical category.

These registration categories include:

  • General registration

  • Specialist registration

  • Provisional registration

  • Limited registration

  • Non-practising registration

  • Student registration

If you would like to register as a GP in Australia or require further information pertaining to the GP registration process, please refer to the Medical Board of Australia website.

International Medical Graduate (IMG) Information

Graduates who have been trained internationally or whose qualifications were received outside of Australia, must provide proof of their eligibility to complete one of the following assessment pathways:

  • Competent authority pathway

  • Standard pathway

  • Specialist pathway

If you are an internationally trained GP seeking employment and registration in Australia, you must complete one of the above assessment paths. To learn more about each of these paths, please refer to the International Medical Graduates (IMGs) page on the Medical Board of Australia site.

English Language Skills Requirements Australia

Internationally trained GP’s or those who did not complete their secondary education in Australia, must provide evidence of their English language proficiency before registration can be granted in Australia.

All GP’s seeking Australian registration must demonstrate an academic level 7 in the IELTS test. The individual must also meet the minimum score in each test component. The test results must be obtained no longer than two years prior to registration. To learn more about the IELTS test please refer to the IELTS website.

What is AHPRA’s English Language policy and how do I meet it?

There are 4 ways in which you can meet AHPRA’s English Language policy:

  • Choose this pathway if:

    - Your primary language is English, and,

    - All your primary and secondary education was taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country, and,

    - Your tertiary qualifications in the relevant professional discipline were taught and assessed solely in English.

  • Choose this pathway if:

    - You have at least two years of secondary education, taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country, and,

    - Your tertiary qualifications in a relevant professional discipline were taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country.

  • Choose this pathway if:

    - You have completed at least six years’ full-time equivalent (FTE) continuous education taught and assessed solely in English, in any of the recognised countries, which includes tertiary qualifications in the relevant professional discipline.

  • Choose this pathway if:

    - You achieve the required minimum scores in one of the approved English language tests.

Please visit the AHPRA website for further information on English language skills requirements.

Useful Contacts

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

AUSTRALIAN HEALTH PRACTITIONER REGULATION AGENCY (AHPRA)
www.ahpra.gov.au 

THE AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL COUNCIL (AMC)
https://www.amc.org.au

DOCTOR CONNECT
https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/doctorconnect

DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION
www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav

AUSTRALIAN TAX OFFICE
www.ato.gov.au

Medical resources

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND AGED CARE
https://www.health.gov.au

MEDICARE AUSTRALIA
Telephone Number for Health Professionals: 132 0150

AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
https://www.ama.com.au/

MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA
https://www.mja.com.au/

SERVICES AUSTRALIA
Health Professional Online Services (HPOS)
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/hpos
Provider Digital Access (PRODA) 
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/proda-provider-digital-access