Assessment of foreign medical qualifications Professor Peter G

Assessment of foreign medical qualifications Professor Peter G. Procopis AM, MBBS, FRACP Member, Medical Board of Australia President, Medical Council of New South Wales

Introduction • 87, 000 registered doctors in Australia • 21, 000 (24%) completed their medical degree overseas • 7 of the top 10 source countries were developing countries 2

Eligibility and assessments • Primary qualification at a training institution listed in IMED • Completion of internship (note Canada) • Training verified by ECFMG International Credentials Service 3

Pathways to registration • Competent authority pathway • Specialist pathway • Standard pathway 4

Competent authority pathway • General Medical Council (GMC), UK: for PLAB examination of UK graduates • Medical Council of Canada: LMCC • United States of America: USMLE + 2 years of approved residency • New Zealand: NZ registration exam + internship • Ireland: graduate + internship 5

Specialist pathway For overseas trained specialists recognised as such in their own country: • Full specialty recognition – qualifications assessed by Australian Specialty College • Area of need specialist – assessed on qualifications of job requirements • Training for a limited position for specialists in training or OTS 6

Standard pathway IMGs not eligible under competent authority or specialist pathways. • AMC examinations - MCQ - Clinical • Workplace based assessments – must have passed AMC MCQ (pilot program 6 accredited sites) • Area of need pathway : suitable for position as per PD. Structured clinical interview beforehand. 7

English language proficiency Recognised tests: IELTS, OET, NZREX, PLAB Exemptions: • Qualifications taught and assessed in English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, UK and USA • Limited registration – demonstration clinical techniques - Research with limited or no patient contact - Supervised training in an appropriately supported environment ensuring patient safety not compromised 8

Challenges • • • Reduced bureaucracy – “lost in the labyrinth” report Are English test requirements too strict? Competent authority pathway for specialists Assessment before starting vs on the job Workforce considerations 9