application procedures spec assessment

8/11/2019 Application Procedures Spec Assessment

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The purpose of the Australian Medical Council is to ensure that standards of education, training

and assessment of the medical profession promote and protect the health of the Australian Community.

A u s t r a l i a n M e d i c a l C o u n c i l

A P P L I C A T I O N P R O C E D U R E S

A N D R E Q U I R E M E N T S F O R

S P E C I A L I S T A S S E S S M E N T


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A P P L I C AT I O N P R O C E D U R E S

A N D R E Q U I R E M E N T S F O R

S P E C I A L I S T A S S E S S M E N T


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................2

SPECIALIST BOOKLET ..............................................................................................................3

STATEMENT ON PRIVACY .........................................................................................................5

STANDARDS OF SPECIALIST PRACTICE IN AUSTRALIA .....................................................6

THE 11 STEP SPECIALIST ASSESSMENT PROCESS ..............................................................7

AMC COMMUNICATION PROCESS WITH THE APPLICANT ...................................................8

Incomplete application communication process ...............................................................................................8

Complete application applicant contact points ..................................................................................................8

STEP 1 RECEIPT OF FORMS SUBMITTED BY APPLICANT ...............................................10

STEP 2 PRIMARY SOURCE VERIFICATION ........................................................................11

EICS verication under the Specialist Pathway................................................................................................. 11

Successful or incomplete applications ...............................................................................................................12

STEP 3 REFERRAL TO SPECIALIST COLLEGE .................................................................13

STEP 4 APPLICANT TO SEND FORM SC AND ASSESSMENT FEE TO COLLEGE ..........14

College fees ......................................................................................................................................................14

Fees to be paid in Australian currency ...............................................................................................................14

Illness and/or deferring scheduled interview......................................................................................................14

STEP 5 COLLEGE ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATION ..........................................................15

College assessment processes ........................................................................................................................15

College interview processes ..............................................................................................................................15

Interview purpose...............................................................................................................................................16

College comparability standard ..........................................................................................................................16

College rejection of application ..........................................................................................................................18

College to schedule interviews...........................................................................................................................18

General college training and examination requirements ....................................................................................18

STEP 6 AMC TO RECEIVE COPY OF REPORT 1 AND FORWARD TO APPLICANT .........19

College notication of assessment outcome Report 1/Combined report........................................................19

Application progress by college outcome ...........................................................................................................20


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STEP 7 PARTIALLY COMPARABLE DECISION REQUIREMENTS FOR FURTHER

TRAINING AND/OR EXAMINATION .........................................................................................21

STEP 8 AMC TO ADVISE COLLEGE OF APPLICANTS INTENTION TO COMPLY ............23

STEP 9 COLLEGE ADVISES AMC OF FINAL ASSESSMENT DECISION ...........................24

STEP 10 AMC RECEIVES REPORT 2 FROM COLLEGE .....................................................26

Application progress by college outcome ...........................................................................................................26

STEP 11 AMC ADVISES THE MEDICAL BOARD OF AUSTRALIA (MBA) & WESTERN

AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL BOARD OF APPLICANTS ELIGIBILITY TO PRESENT FOR

REGISTRATION .........................................................................................................................28

STATEMENT ON COLLEGE FELLOWSHIP .............................................................................29

SEEKING REGISTRATION .......................................................................................................30

APPENDIX A STATUTORY DECLARATIONS ........................................................................31

Statutory declarations witnessed in Australia.....................................................................................................31

Statutory declarations/afdavit witnessed overseas ..........................................................................................31

APPENDIX B ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY ..........................................................33

APPENDIX C COMMON ERRORS THAT DELAY APPLICATIONS .......................................34


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1 Information Bookletfor applicants


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INTRODUCTION

An applicant is eligible to apply to the Australian Medical Council (AMC)

as an overseas trained specialist under the specialist assessment

pathway if they can meet the eligibility criteria set out in theApplying

to the Australian Medical Council Booklet. At the conclusion of the

specialist assessment process, successful applicants will be eligible

to present to the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) & Western

Australian Medical Board for registration to practice as a specialist in

the assessed speciality only.

An applicant under the specialist assessment pathway will be expected

to have satisfied all the training and examination requirements

to practice in their field of specialty in their country of training. An

applicant who cannot meet this criterion will be required to apply under

the AMC non-specialist pathway to be deemed eligible to present to

the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) & Western Australian Medical

Board seeking general (non-specialist) registration.

The purpose of the specialist assessment procedure is to determine

the level of comparability of overseas trained specialists training and

qualifications with the level of Australian trained specialists currently

entering the Australian workforce.

The role of the AMC is to verify the information contained within the

application provided by the applicant to determine if an applicant is

eligible to have their specialist skills assessed by a specialist medical

college. After the specialist medical college assessment, it is the role

of the AMC to advise the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) & Western

Australian Medical Board of the outcome of the assessment made by

the specialist medical college. The AMC administers the procedure,

but the appropriate specialist medical college assesses the applicants

training and experience.

The role of the specialist medical college is to assess the training

and experience of the applicant as compared to the training and

examination program of the college for Australian trained specialists,

and the skills standard required practicing in that specialty in Australia.

For a list of fields of specialist practice and assessing colleges in

Australia and Summary of college training/examinations please refer

to www.amc.org.au.

The role of the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) & Western Australian

Medical Board is to administer the registration laws in Australia and

to make the final decision to register a medical practitioner within a

State or Territory.
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SPECIALIST BOOKLET

This booklet outlines the requirements relating to the assessment

of overseas trained specialists, as administered by the Australian

Medical Council (AMC) and conducted by the constituent Specialist

Medical Colleges of the Committee of Presidents of Medical

Colleges (CPMC). These are current as at May 2010.

The assessment procedure came into operation in January 1993.

Assessment requirements and fees may change at any time

without notice, therefore applicants are advised to visit the AMCs

website www.amc.org.aufor current fees and requirements before

submitting their application.

All applications received by the AMC after 1 January 2006 will

be required to have Primary Source Verifications. In the case of

specialists, this will include postgraduate qualifications.

Applicants should:

be familiar with current assessment requirements before

lodging an application;

note that the AMC cannot determine eligibility for assessmentuntil it receives a formal written application, which includes the

required documentation; and

be aware that the AMC is unable to provide advice on matters

relating to an individuals specialist qualification, training or

experience without completion of a formal assessment through

the agreed procedures that are outlined in this booklet.

All matters concerning the AMC/Specialist Medical Collegeassessment process including: eligibility; arrangements for

assessment; steps after the application has been referred to

the assessing College; and notification of the final result, will be

conveyed to the applicant in writing by the AMC Secretariat or the

assessing College. While the AMC Secretariat will assist applicants

by answering inquires over the telephone, the Council is bound

only by information and requests provided in writing.
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It is the responsibility of all applicants for specialist assessment to

know and comply with the procedures and instructions of the AMC

and assessing College. These are set down in this booklet and in

instructions and requirements in formal correspondence from the

AMC Secretariat and the relevant College.

In 1996, the Commonwealth Government amended legislation to

impose restrictions on access to Medicare (the national universal

health insurance scheme); including a ten-year delay on access

to Medicare provider numbers for overseas trained doctors who

apply to sit the AMC examination after 1 January 1997. Inquires

about the restrictions should be addressed to the Workplace and

Distribution Section of the Australian Department of Health and

Ageing (telephone 02 6289 5903).


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STATEMENT ON PRIVACY

The AMC is required to observe the provisions of the Privacy

Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000, which has effect from 21

December 2001 and sets out the requirements for the collection

and use of personal information collected before and after that

date.

Each of the Application Forms required by the AMC includes a

statement relating to the AMCs privacy procedures. Each must be

signed by the applicant to give formal consent for the AMC to collect

and hold personal information. If the consent is not provided, the

AMC will not be able to process the application.


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6

STANDARDS OF SPECIALIST PRACTICE IN

AUSTRALIA

For a list of medical specialties recognised in Australia please refer

to the recognition area on the Australian Medical Council websitewww.amc.org.au.

Medical education and clinical practice vary considerably from one

country to another, reflecting access to educational and clinical

resources, disease patterns and local health care priorities. These

variations are even more significant in the area of specialist medical

practice. Experience with the assessment of overseas trained

specialists in New South Wales from 1990, and nationally through

the AMC from 1993, confirms that many overseas trained specialists

will experience difficulties meeting the standards required for

specialist practice in Australia, or will require significant periods of

advanced training to meet the standards. Advanced training

positions are limited in number and are subject to open competition

with Australian applicants.

Note: Fellows of specialist medical

colleges are expected to undertake

Continuing Professional Developmentor Maintenance of Professional

Standards programs conducted by

the relevant colleges for the purposes

of re-certification for registration in

Australia.


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THE 11 STEP SPECIALIST ASSESSMENT

PROCESS

The final decision to register a medical practitioner rests solely with

the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) & Western Australian MedicalBoard in Australia.

THE APPLICANT THE AMC SPECIALIST MEDICALCOLLEGE

Application assessed through

AMCPrimary SourceVerification.

AMC receives forms anddocumentation from applicant.

STEP 1

If the colleges final decision in that the applicant is not comparable theapplication for specialist assessment is discontinued in accordance with

step 10. If the applicant has been determined to be substantinallycomparable, the application proceeds to step 11.

If the applicant has been determined not to be comparable the application forspecialist assessment is discontinued in accordance with the process outlined in Step 6.

If the applicant has received advice that they are required to undergo additional components of the assessment procedurethen the application will proceed to step 7.

If the applicant has been recognised as being substantially comparable the application will now proceed directly to Step 9.

STEP 2

Referral sent to specialist college,

applicant advised of referral.

STEP 3

STEP 10

Applicant completes and sendsForm SC and initial assessment

fee to specialist college.

STEP 4

Assess application against collegestandards to determine compatibilityto an Australian Trained Specialist.

STEP 5

AMC receives report from specialistmedical college advising of applicantslevel of comparability. Report forwarded

to applicant.

STEP 6

STEP 8

AMC advises college of the applicantsintention to comply with Report 1

requirements.

STEP 9

After applicants completion ofReport 1 requirements advise theAMC of final assessment decision

via Report 2.

STEP 7

Applicant advises AMC in writingof their intention to comply with

the requirements set out inReport 1.

Receive report 2 from college andforward copy to appplicant.

STEP 11

Advise the relevant Medical Boardof the applicants eligibility

to present for registration as a specialist.

An incomplete application will not proceed past Step 2 until completedocumentation is provided. If the AMC determines that your application

is complete the application will proceed to Step 3.


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AMC COMMUNICATION PROCESS WITH THE

APPLICANT

After the lodgment of the required application forms and

documentation with the AMC, the application for specialistassessment will proceed along the 11-Step Specialist Assessment

Process identified at page 6 of this booklet.

During various steps of the assessment process, the applicant will

be contacted by the AMC to be advised of the current stage of the

application and where relevant, the actions required by the applicant

to further progress the application.

The AMC will advise the applicant of the outcome of the Primary

Source Verification process as the first point of contact in

processing all applications as identified within the Assessment

Process Diagram.

Incomplete application communication process

If an application does not comply with the AMCs requirements set

out in theApplying to the Australian Medical CouncilBooklet it will

be deemed to be incomplete and the first contact point with the

applicant will be at Step 2 of the specialist assessment process.The applicant will be notified that the application will not proceed

past Step 2 until the required documentation and forms have been

provided to the AMC.

Complete application applicant contact points

If an application is determined to be complete after the Primary

Source Verification process in accordance with Step 2, the applicant

will be notified at all following steps of the application process:

Applicant contact point one STEP 3:

The AMC advises the applicant that the application has been

referred to the specialist medical college.

Applicant contact point two STEP 5:

The specialist medical college will directly contact the applicant

to schedule the time and place for an interview to take place

between the applicant and the specialist medical college, if aninterview is required by the relevant college.

Note: Because of the high number

of applications received by the AMC,

and in order to be able to process

all applications equally and fairly,

applicants should not contact the AMC

to request whether their application

has been received.

Note: Applications that are incompletewill incur an administration fee of

$110.00 before they can be processed

by the Australian Medical Council.
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Applicant contact point three STEP 6:

After the interview, the AMC formally advises the applicant of

the specialist medical college decision by forwarding to the

applicant a copy of the Report 1 or Combined Report provided

by the college to either:

1. Recognise the applicants training and experience as

substantially comparable OR reject the applicant from further

assessment by determining that the applicants training and

experience are not equivalent to the level of an Australian

trained specialist.

or the college will

2. Require the applicant to undergo additional components of

the assessment procedure to make a final assessment of

the applicants training and experience comparability to the

level of an Australian trained specialist.

Applicant contact point four STEP 10:

On completion by the applicant of the required additional

training or exam components determined by the specialist

medical college, the AMC will provide the applicant with a copy

of the Report 2 which is the colleges final determination of

comparability to either recognise the applicant as substantially

comparable to the level of an Australian trained specialist or to

determine the applicant not to be comparable on the basis of

the assessment undertaken by the specialist medical college.

Applicant contact point fve STEP 11:

If the Report 2 deems the applicants training and experience to

be substantially comparable, the AMC will provide the Applicantwith a copy of correspondence to the Medical Board of Australia

(MBA) & Western Australian Medical Board advising of the

applicants eligibility to present for registration to practice in the

field of specialty which they have been assessed in under the

specialist pathway.


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STEP 1 RECEIPT OF FORMS SUBMITTED BY

APPLICANT

At this stage of your application you have already forwarded the

required specialist assessment application forms to the AustralianMedical Council (AMC). It is important that these forms have been

completed in accordance with the requirements set out within the

AMCsApplying to the Australian Medical CouncilBooklet.

Application forms and documents which have not been correctly

witnessed are not legally recognised in Australia and will not be

accepted.

When the required application forms and documents have been

received by the AMC, your application will take up to two weeks

to be assessed by the Primary Source Verification section. In the

interests of processing all applications efficiently and fairly, you

should not contact the AMC to check the status of your application

if it has not been at least two weeks since your documents were

sent to the AMC.
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STEP 2 PRIMARY SOURCE VERIFICATION

Primary Source Verification is the process used by the AMC to verify

the documentation and information provided by each applicant

according to the AMCs requirements set out in the Applying to

the Australian Medical CouncilBooklet and to the documentation

requirements of the individual specialist medical college.

It is the role of each specialist medical college to conduct an

assessment of an applicants training and experience under

the specialist pathway; however the AMC must ensure that the

documentation provided by the applicant satisfies the initial

requirements to be forwarded on to the assessing college.

The Primary Source Verification section will check your application

against the criteria set out within the Applying to the Australian

Medical CouncilBooklet to determine the application to be either

complete or incomplete.

A complete application will have satisfied all the requirements set

out in theApplying to the Australian Medical CouncilBooklet.

An incomplete application will require the applicant to provide further

documentation or information to satisfy all of the requirements setout in theApplying to the Australian Medical CouncilBooklet. In this

event, the applicant will be notified by the AMC that the application

will not be able to proceed until the applicant provides or resubmits

the required documentation.

EICS verication under the Specialist Pathway

All applications received by the AMC for assessment after 1 January

2006 are required to be verified by the International Credentials

Service (EICS) of the United States Education Commission forForeign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).

The applicants primary and highest specialist degree/diploma will

be electronically sent to the ECFMG for verification at this stage of

the Primary Source Verification process. The AMC must then wait

to receive the results of the verification process by the ECFMG. At

this stage of the process the applicant will receive an EICS number.

Note: The AMC processes all

applications for specialist assessment

strictly in the order they are received.

Whilst every effort is made by the

AMC to reduce the processing time

for applications, many applications

submitted to the AMC are incomplete

or do not comply with the prescribed

requirements, adding to the processing

times and causing unnecessary delays

for other applicants. Applicationsthat are incomplete will incur an

administration fee of $110.00 before

they can be processed by the Australian

Medical Council.
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Once this process is completed, a covering letter and an AMC

Certificate of Verification of Medical Qualifications will be issued

with the applicants verification number. The AMC will notify the

relevant Medical Board and Specialist College of the results of this

process.

Applicants should be aware that the process of EICS verification

can take a significant amount of time. Often, the notification from

the ECFMG back to the AMC of the verification results can take up

to three months to be received. In some cases, the process can

take longer. Because of this, the AMC will continue to progress

your application after the initial request for EICS verification has

been made. This means that a complete application is eligible to be

referred to the specialist medical college for assessment of trainingand experience whilst the AMC waits to receive the results of the

EICS verification process.

When the ECFMG provides final confirmation that the EICS

verification process has been successfully completed, the AMC

will notify the applicant and the Medical Board of Australia (MBA)

& Western Australian Medical Board in writing of the result of the

EICS verification process.

Successful or incomplete applications

Successful application

If the AMC determines that the applicant is eligible to present

for assessment for recognition as a specialist, and that all

documentation requested by the assessing specialist medical

college is complete, the AMC will refer the application to the college

in accordance with Step 3 below.

Incomplete applications

Notification of incomplete or inadequate documentation will be sent

by email or letter to the applicant. The assessment of the application

will be suspended at this stage and the applicant will not be able to

proceed to Step 3 until the required documentation is provided to

the AMC. The applicant should comply with the request to forward

complete documentation to the AMC as soon as possible to avoid

further delays at this stage of the process.

If an applicant is required to provide information by completing

a statutory declaration, please refer to Appendix A for further

information on how to complete this stage of the process.


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STEP 3 REFERRAL TO SPECIALIST COLLEGE

When the AMC has determined that an application is complete,

the application will be forwarded to the specialist medical college

for assessment of the applicants training and experience against

college standards.

The AMC will advise the applicant of referral of their application

to the college by email and enclose a Form SC Application for

Assessment by Specialist Medical College within this letter. It is

the applicants responsibility to complete and forward the Form SC

and initial assessment and interview fee to the relevant college to

progress the application at this stage. For further information on

how to complete the Form SC, please refer to theApplying to the

Australian Medical CouncilBooklet.

A schedule of Colleges fees for specialist assessment is provided

on the AMCs Website at www.amc.org.au/
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STEP 4 APPLICANT TO SEND FORM SC AND

ASSESSMENT FEE TO COLLEGE

The specialist medical college is not obliged to initiate its

assessment process until it has received the completed Form SC,required fee (which must be made payable in Australian dollars by

bank draft to the assessing College) and any other relevant college

application forms from the applicant.

College fees

College fees are subject to variation from time to time and

colleges may charge additional fees following the initial specialist

assessment. Further information should be sought directly from the

relevant college.

Information regarding withdrawal fees and refunds that may be

payable in certain circumstances by a college, is available directly

from the relevant college.

Fees to be paid in Australian currency

Fees must be paid in Australian currency. Payments from outside

Australia must be made by credit card, bank cheque, or bank draft,

payable by an Australian bank.

Illness and/or deferring scheduled interview

Applicants withdrawing from a scheduled specialist medical college

interview must advise the assessing college immediately and

provide documented proof of severe illness or pressing domestic

circumstances to enable the College to decide whether a refund is

payable.

Assessing colleges may not be able to provide a facility for deferring

fees for the interview, nor assist applicants in obtaining financial

assistance to present for assessment.

The AMC and specialist medical colleges reserve the right to

introduce, alter, amend or make other changes to fees at any time

without notice.

Applicants wishing to defer an interview or application process are

required to notify the AMC in writing of such requests.

Note: Under Australian law it is illegal

to send cash through the mail.


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STEP 5 COLLEGE ASSESSMENT OF

APPLICATION

It is the role of the specialist medical college to assess the

applicants previous training and experience to determine theapplicants comparability to the standard of an Australian trained

specialist currently entering the workforce and to assess the

applicants competency to practice in that specialty in Australia.

College assessment processes

At this stage of the assessment process, the college must make

an initial assessment of the applicants specialist training and

experience against college standards. The assessment procedures

used by each college may include the following components:

1. Initial assessment of documentary evidence of specialist

training overseas and relevant experience, including a review

of log books and evidence of advanced training overseas;

2. A formal interview;

3. The Part I or Primary Examination of the relevant college (or a

modified examination based on the Part I Examination);

4. Further specialist training;

5. The Part II (Membership or Fellowship) Examination (or a

modified examination based on the Part II Examination).

College interview processes

In most cases, the specialist medical college will arrange for an

interview with the applicant following a review of the applicants

documentation. This interview will involve a committee of Senior

Fellows of the college.


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Interview purpose

The aim of the interview at this stage of the assessment process is

to determine and confirm the nature and quality of the applicants

training and experience, and to ensure that the applicant

understands the standards of competence and safety expected of

an Australian trained specialist currently entering the workforce.

The interview is used by the college to determine the training or

examination components, if any, which the applicant would need to

complete to meet the college standard.

College comparability standard

The standard applied by the college in the assessment process

is the level of the applicants specialist training and experience

determined by the college as compared to the training and

examination program of the college applied to Australian trained

specialists, and the skills standard required to practice in that

specialty in Australia.

Overseas trained specialists will be considered by the college to

be either substantially comparable, partially comparable, or not

comparable on the basis of the initial assessment undertaken by

that college, after referral of the application to the college by the

AMC.

Substantially comparable determination

A determination to be substantially comparable means that an

applicant must have satisfied the college requirements for this

category in relation to previous training, assessment and recent

practice.


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Partially comparable determination

A determination to be partially comparable means that an

applicant must have satisfied the college requirements for

this category in relation to previous training, assessment andrecent practice. In order for a partially comparable applicant to

be considered substantially comparable the applicant will be

required to undertake a period of up to 24 months top-up training

under a supervisor appointed through the college assessment

unit, to ensure that the level of performance reaches that of an

Australian trained specialist, and to assist with their transition to

the Australian health system, provide professional support and

help them to access continuing professional development.

Other prescribed requirements including formal assessment may

be imposed at this stage of the specialist assessment process.

Applicants who are considered to be partially comparable are

required to complete a period of top-up training and/or practice

assessment to address identified training needs or determine

competence in specified skills area.

Not comparable determination

A determination to be not comparable means that an applicant

should not be permitted to register to practice as a specialist, but

may be eligible to seek registration to enable them to complete

formal college training and assessment, if they are able to gain

a training post, or to seek registration to practice in another

capacity.


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College rejection of application

In some cases however, the college may decide to reject the

application without scheduling an interview with the applicant if it

is clear to the Board of Censors of the college following review

of the documentation that the applicants training and examination

experience bears little relationship to the standard expected of an

Australian trained specialist in that field. The college would decide

to reject the application on these grounds in the interests of saving

the time and money of the applicant.

College to schedule interviews

Each college will follow its own schedule of interviews. If the college

decides to proceed to interview, it will contact the applicant directlyto arrange the timing and location of the interview upon receipt of

the required assessment application forms, documentation and fee

payment by the applicant.

General college training and examination requirements

Each specialist college will usually have its own general training and

examination requirements applied as the college standard. Where

these components are applied, they will be the same components

or will be derived from the examination components that apply to

local specialist trainees. An applicant will be assessed against the

standard of an Australian trained specialist on this basis.

To further explain the individual college training and examination

requirements, a table is provided at the AMCs website at

www.amc.org.au. This table provides a listing of the general training

and examination requirements for each college.

At the conclusion of the initial assessment process, the college willbe required to advise the AMC by way of a Report 1 or Combined

Report whether the applicant is either substantially comparable,

partially comparable or not comparable after being initially assessed

against the college standard.


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STEP 6 AMC TO RECEIVE COPY OF REPORT 1

AND FORWARD TO APPLICANT

College notication of assessment outcome Report 1/

Combined report

Following the applicants interview with the specialist college, the

initial assessment outcome will then be provided to the AMC by the

relevant college, advising of the college decision by way of a report

to either:

1. As a final decision:

a. Recognise the applicants training and experience as being

substantially comparable to the level of an Australian trainedspecialist currently entering the workforce; or

b. Reject the applicant from further assessment on the basis

of the applicants training and experience being deemed not

comparable to the level of an Australian trained specialist.

Or the college will decide to:

2. As an interim decision:

Recognise the applicants training and experience as being

partially comparable and require the applicant to undergo

additional components of the assessment procedure to

provide the college with more information to make a decision

about comparability of training and experience. These

additional components may include:

i. Completing the Part II Examination of another assessment

at an equivalent level; or

ii. Completing a period of Advanced Specialist Training and

completing the Part II examination; or

iii. Completing the Part I Examination, completing a period

of Advanced Specialist Training and completing the Part

II Examination.


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Application progress by college outcome

At this stage of the assessment process, the application will be

progressed according to whether a specialist medical college has

made either a final decision or an interim decision on the level

of the applicants training and experience. The application will

be processed according to the college assessment outcome as

follows:

College outcome 1

Applicant is considered to be Substantially Comparable

Final Result: The Applicant will be provided with a copy of the

Report 1 or Combined Report and the application

will proceed to Step 11 of the Assessment

process.

College outcome 2

Applicant is considered to be Not Comparable

Final Result: The Applicant will be provided with a copy

of the Report 1 or Combined Report and the

application will be discontinued. The applicant

will be required to apply under the AMCs non-

specialist pathway should they wish to be eligible

to present for general registration to either work

in Australia as a non-specialist or to complete

basic specialist or general training and attempt

to apply for college training positions.

College outcome 3

Applicant is considered to be Partially Comparable

Interim Result: The Applicant will be provided with a copy of the

Report 1 or Combined Report and the application

will proceed to Step 7 of the assessment

process.

Note: It is up to the individual assessing

specialist college to determine the

criteria by which an applicants training

and experience may be considered

either substantially comparable or

not comparable to the standard

of an Australian trained specialist

currently entering the workforce. A

determination that a decision is not

yet possible will require the applicant

to undertake further training and/or

examination requirements specified

by the assessing college so that a

final decision can be made after the

applicant completes the required

training and/or examination.


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STEP 7 PARTIALLY COMPARABLE DECISION

REQUIREMENTS FOR FURTHER TRAINING AND/

OR EXAMINATION

A college decision that the applicants training and experienceis partially comparable will require the applicants completion of

further training and/or examination to allow the college to make a

final assessment of the applicants training and experience.

Applicants who are required to undertake further training and/

or examinations should obtain comprehensive details about the

relevant specialist program from the specialist medical college.

The following points should be noted:

a. Accredited training positions are usually advertised by the

training institutions in July/August each year;

b. Accredited training positions are subject to open competition

with Australian trained specialists for college recognition;

c. Limits may apply to the number of times an applicant may

present for a college examination, in particular for the Part II

Examination;

d. Fees associated with the accredited training and

examinations of most colleges are indicated in summaries

issued by the individual colleges and available upon

application to the relevant college. The payment of fees for

these components of the assessment, when they have been

required by a college, is for direct settlement by the applicant

with the college;

e. The college will remain the primary point of contact for

an applicant who is completing further training and/or

examination requirements.


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An applicant who has received a Report 1 with the outcome

Partially Comparable from the AMC will need to write to the AMC

to advise of their intention to comply with the extra training and/or

examination requirements set by the assessing specialist college.

Please note that the AMC is not able to accept either email or

telephone communication as evidence of the applicants intention

to comply with the stated Report 1 requirements. This advice must

be in writing and contain the applicants AMC number and signature,

in addition to the written notification of intention to comply with the

Report 1 requirements, if the applicant intends to do so.

Note: the Medical Board of Australia

(MBA) & Western Australian Medical

Board have indicated that when a

College assesses that an overseas

trained specialist must commence with

a period of basic specialist training, or is

required to undertake other additional

training in addition to completing

Advanced Specialist Training and

examinations, the applicant will be

required to complete one of the AMC

non-specialist pathways to be eligible

to obtain general (non-specialist)

registration.


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STEP 8 AMC TO ADVISE COLLEGE OF

APPLICANTS INTENTION TO COMPLY

When the AMC receives formal written notification of the applicants

intention to comply with the Report 1 requirements, the AMC willformally notify the assessing specialist medical college by letter.

If an applicant has advised the AMC that they do not intend to comply

with the requirements set out by the college, the application will be

discontinued at this point and the applicant may then be eligible to

apply under an AMC non-specialist pathway to be eligible to obtain

general (non-specialist) registration from the Medical Board of

Australia (MBA) & Western Australian Medical Board.

If the applicant has advised the AMC that they do intend to comply

with the Report 1 requirements prescribed by the specialist medical

college, they will need to be in direct contact with the relevant

specialist medical college to organise completion of the further

training and/or examination requirements.

The college will remain the primary point of contact for applicants

who proceed through this stage of the specialist assessment

process.

An applicant may be registered by the Medical Board of Australia

(MBA) & Western Australian Medical Board for the purpose of

undergoing further specialist training or examination by the relevant

specialist medical college as part of the specialist assessment

process conducted by that college.

The Medical Board of Australia (MBA) & Western Australian

Medical Board and Specialist Medical Colleges have confirmed that

the specialist assessment pathway is not an alternative pathwayto specialist training in Australia. The Medical Board of Australia

(MBA) & Western Australian Medical Board will, in general, provide

restricted registration for up to a maximum of two years to allow

completion of specialist practice under supervision where specified

by a College for recognition for specialist practice. Where longer

periods or advanced training are specified by a College, the overseas

trained specialist will be required to pass the AMC Examination to

be eligible to apply for general (non-specialist) registration.

When the applicant completes the Report 1 requirements prescribed

by the specialist medical college, the application will then proceed

to Step 9.


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STEP 9 COLLEGE ADVISES AMC OF FINAL

ASSESSMENT DECISION

When the applicant has completed all of the prescribed Report 1

requirements, the specialist college will make a final assessmentof the applicants training and experience compared against the

standard of an Australian trained specialist currently entering the

workforce. The final assessment will take into account all of the

criteria applied during the initial assessment process undertaken

during Step 5, in addition to the performance of the applicant during

the required further training and/or examination requirements.

The college is required to notify the AMC of the final assessment

decision by way of a Report 2 which is sent directly to the AMC.


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STEP 10 AMC RECEIVES REPORT 2 FROM

COLLEGE

The specialist medical college will notify the AMC that it has reached

one of two possible decisions at this stage of the assessmentprocess by providing the AMC with the Report 2. The college will

notify the AMC that the decision was made to either:

1. Recommend that the applicant be granted recognition as

a specialist on the basis that the applicants training and

experience is considered to be substantially comparable to

that of an Australian trained specialist currently entering the

workforce;

OR:

2. Recommend that the applicant should not be granted recognition

as a specialist on the basis that the applicants training and

experience is considered not comparable to that of an Australian

trained specialist currently entering the workforce.

Application progress by college outcome

At this stage of the assessment process, the application will be

processed according to the college assessment outcome asfollows:

College outcome 1

Recommendation that the applicant be granted recognition

as a specialist.


Report 2 and the application will proceed to Step

11 of the Assessment process.

College outcome 2

Recommendation that the applicant is not granted

recognition as a specialist.


Report 2 and the application will be discontinued.

The applicant will be eligible to apply under the

AMCs non-specialist pathway should they wish to

obtain general registration to work in Australia asa non-specialist or to complete basic specialist or

general training and attempt to apply for college

training positions.


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The outcomes described by the specialist medical college within

the Report 2 require either a yes or no answer only. The college will

need to ensure that they retain the necessary documentation that

justifies the decisions which have formed the basis to the answers

for question set out in the Report 2.


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STEP 11 AMC ADVISES THE MEDICAL BOARD

OF AUSTRALIA (MBA) & WESTERN AUSTRALIAN

MEDICAL BOARD OF APPLICANTS ELIGIBILITY

TO PRESENT FOR REGISTRATIONAt this stage of the assessment process, the AMC has received

formal notification from the assessing specialist medical college that

the applicants training and experience is substantially comparable

to that of an Australian trained specialist currently entering the

workforce. This notification would be received by the AMC in the

form of either a Report 1, Report 2 or Combined Report (combined

AON/Specialist Assessment Report) forwarded to the AMC by the

relevant specialist medical college.

This recognition of the applicants specialist training and experience

will determine that an applicant is eligible to present to The Medical

Board of Australia (MBA) & Western Australian Medical Board

seeking registration as a specialist, subject to the condition that

their registration is restricted to practice in the assessed field of

specialty only, which is reported to the Medical Board by the AMC.

When the AMC receives the formal notification from the specialist

medical college that the applicants training and experience hasbeen deemed to be substantially comparable, the AMC will notify

the relevant Medical Board in Australia of the applicants eligibility

to present for conditional registration as a specialist.

At this stage, the specialist assessment process is complete. The

final decision to register a medical practitioner rests solely with the

Medical Board of Australia (MBA) & Western Australian Medical

Board.


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STATEMENT ON COLLEGE FELLOWSHIP

The purpose of the specialist assessment procedure is to

determine comparability of training and experience of overseas

trained specialists with Australian trained specialists, with a view

to establishing their eligibility to apply for (conditional) registration

in Australia. However, while applicants may complete a Colleges

requirements for specialist recognition for registration to practice

in Australia, the College may set further requirements such as,

for example, some form of bridging training or experience, for

eligibility to apply for election to Fellowship of the College. Further

information should be sought from the relevant College.

A medical practitioner holding the Fellowship of an Australian

or Australasian Specialist Medical College who does not hold a

primary medical qualification for general registration in Australia

may apply direct to the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) & Western

Australian Medical Board for conditional registration, to practice in

the specialty in which they hold Fellowship only.


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SEEKING REGISTRATION

Specialist medical college confirmation of substantial comparability,

including the award of College Fellowship (where applicable) will

not in itself confer the right to practice. In addition, the Medical

Board of Australia (MBA) & Western Australian Medical Board may

impose conditions on registration, if, in their opinion, appropriate

specialist positions do not exist within their State or Territory that

is, the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) & Western Australian

Medical Board have the right of final decision on applications for

registration under any category.


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APPENDIX A STATUTORY DECLARATIONS

In the event that you are required to complete a statutory declaration

to progress your application during the specialist assessment

process, the AMC will accept the following personsonlyas eligible

witnesses:

Statutory declarations witnessed in Australia

Chief Magistrate Police Magistrate Resident Magistrate Special Magistrate;

A Justice of the Peace;

A person appointed under the Commonwealth StatutoryDeclarations Act 1959 as amended, or under a State Act to be

a Commissioner for Declarations;

A Notary Public;

A person appointed as a Commissioner for Declarationsunder the Statutory Declarations Act 1911, or under thatAct as amended, and holding office immediately before thecommencement of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959;

A person before whom a Statutory Declaration may be madeunder the law of the State in which a Declaration is made.

Statutory declarations/afdavit witnessed overseas

A Notary Public;

Commissioner of Oaths (South Africa and Canada only);

A person appointed to hold, or act in the office in a countryor place outside Australia in an Australian Embassy, HighCommission, Legation or other post as Australian Consul-General, Consul or Vice-Consul;

Australian Trade Commissioner or Consular Agent;

Australian Ambassador or High Commissioner;

Australian Minister, Head of Mission, Commissioner, Chargedaffaires or Counselor;

Australian Secretary or Attach; or

A person authorized to perform notarial duties.

Note: A Justice of the Peace

registered outside Australia is NOT

accepted by the AMC for witnessing

documentations


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Penalties for making false declarations

A person who willfully makes a false statement in a Statutory

Declaration/Affidavit under the Statutory Declaration Act 1959, as

amended, is guilty of an offence against that Act, the punishmentof which is imprisonment not exceeding four years, if the offence is

prosecuted upon indictment.

An applicant for specialist assessment who willfully makes a false

statement or provides false information in his/her application

forms, or in the documents attached may forfeit his/her eligibility

to present for assessment or be accorded recognition by an

Australian or Australasian specialist medical college, or be subject

to de-registration (if registration has already been obtained)

and/or other penalties as prescribed in the relevant State or Territory

medical registration laws.


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APPENDIX B ENGLISH LANGUAGE

PROFICIENCY

In Australia, evidence of English language proficiency is currently a

medical board requirement for registration for international medicalgraduates.

From 1 January 2009, English language proficiency will be an AMC

requirement for eligibility to progress to step three of the specialist

assessment process.

From January 2009, medical practitioners seeking registration

through the specialist pathway must have demonstrated their

English language proficiency before assessment by specialist

colleges. The standard required is set by the Medical Board

of Australia (MBA) & Western Australian Medical Board and is

nationally consistent.

From January 2009, the AMC will require proof (English Language

Testing System (IELTS) or Occupational English Test (OET) at the

agreed national standard) in accordance with the national policy on

English language proficiency before assessment by colleges under

the specialist assessment pathway.

Introducing an up-front English language test in the specialist

registration pathway aims to ensure that college assessment

resources are focused on candidates who meet existing national

language proficiency requirements.

It will also ensure the same standards are expected by the specialist

colleges and medical registration boards for English language

requirements for the specialist registration pathway.

Please note that a two-year time limit is applicable to results from

both the OET and the IELTS. All documents submitted to the AMC

and the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) & Western Australian

Medical Board must be within the valid time period.

Applicants should view the National Policy on English Language

Proficiency requirements for International Medical Graduates,

along with the English Language Proficiency flowchart at for

further information. This policy is available on the AMC website at

www.amc.org.auand the websites of the Medical Board of Australia

(MBA) & Western Australian Medical Board.


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APPENDIX C COMMON ERRORS THAT DELAY

APPLICATIONS

The most likely cause of delay in the processing of applications

is incorrectly completed Application Forms and incorrectlycertified documents. It is in the applicants interest to ensure that

all Application Forms and copies of documents are completed

correctly as incomplete or incorrect applications will not be sent to

specialist colleges for assessment.

The most common problems with applications include:

Using multiple witnesses to certify documents/photographs.

The AMC requires that all documents be certified by the

individual that witnesses the applicants signature on the

application form. Where additional witnesses must be used, a

statutory declaration must be provided to explain why.

Not providing certified copies of the primary medical degree

and specialist qualification. Where the degree is issued in a

language other than English, a certified or original, word-for-

word translation by a professional translator must be provided

(an extract translation will not be accepted).

Not providing sufficient information to allow the college to make

an assessment of the applicants specialist skills. As part of

the College assessment, many colleges conduct an initial

assessment of documentary evidence of training and relevant

experience to determine eligibility to present for an interview.

Curriculum Vitaes that are missing information, not up to date,

or do not provide an in-depth expanded explanation of the

applicants skills and experience will be deemed incomplete

and are a frequent cause of delay in the specialist assessmentprocess.

Not providing certificates of good standing from all registration

authorities during the last two years of employment.


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