(To be a consultant/doctor)

Step 1: Complete MBBS.
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Step 2: Pass an English Language Test- Choose one: 'IELTS (Academic)' – Overall 7.0 (min. 7.0 in speaking/listening, 6.5 in writing) or 'OET (Medicine)' – Grade B (350) in all four sections.(Result valid for 2 years).
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Step 3: Pass AMC CAT MCQ Exam- Computer-based, 150 MCQs. Can be taken overseas.
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Step 4: Pass AMC Clinical Exam- Practical OSCE exam. Must be taken in Australia.
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Step 5: Complete 12 Months of Supervised Practice- Work as a resident in an Australian hospital.
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Step 6: Obtain General Registration with AHPRA- You are now a non-specialist medical officer.
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Step 7: Apply to a Specialist College- e.g., RACP (physicians), RACS (surgeons), RACGP (GPs).
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Step 8: Complete College Training Program- Typically 4–6 years of advanced training + college exams.
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Step 9: Pass Final Fellowship Exam.
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Final step: Apply for Specialist Registration with AHPRA- You are now a 'Consultant'.

(To be a surgeon)

Step 1: MBBS degree- Complete your primary medical qualification from your home country.
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Step 2: English language test- Pass either OET (Medicine) with B in all 4 bands, or IELTS Academic with 7.0 in each band and 7.5 overall. This must be done before AMC registration.
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Step 3: AMC CAT MCQ exam- Sit the computer-adaptive multiple choice exam (150 questions) testing core medical knowledge.
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Step 4: AMC clinical exam (OSCE)- Complete 16 OSCE stations assessing practical clinical skills. Passing both Step 3 and Step 4 earns your AMC Certificate.
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Step 5: AHPRA provisional registration- Apply to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) for provisional registration after obtaining your AMC Certificate.
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Step 6: Internship (1 year)- Complete a supervised intern year in an Australian hospital. IMG intern spots are competitive — Queensland, WA, and SA tend to have more availability.
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Step 7: AHPRA general registration- After completing internship, upgrade to full general registration with AHPRA.
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Step 8: RACS surgical training (5–7 years)- Apply to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) training program in your chosen surgical specialty. This is highly competitive and requires strong references and Australian surgical exposure.
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Final step: Fellowship (FRACS)- Pass the RACS fellowship exams to become a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons — a fully qualified surgeon in Australia.

(To be a researcher)

Step 1: MBBS degree- Complete your primary medical qualification from your home country.
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Step 2: English language test- Pass either OET (Medicine) with B in all 4 bands, or IELTS Academic with 7.0 in each band and 7.5 overall. Required before AMC registration.
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Step 3: AMC CAT MCQ exam- Sit the computer-adaptive multiple choice exam (150 questions) testing core medical knowledge.
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Step 4: AMC clinical exam (OSCE)- Complete 16 OSCE stations assessing practical clinical skills. Passing both Step 3 and Step 4 earns your AMC Certificate.
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Step 5: AHPRA provisional registration- Apply to AHPRA for provisional registration using your AMC Certificate.
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Step 6: Internship (1 year)- Complete a supervised intern year in an Australian hospital to gain local clinical experience.
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Step 7: AHPRA general registration- Upgrade to full general registration after completing internship.
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Step 8: Masters or PhD in research (2–5 years)- Enrol in a research higher degree at an Australian university. Choose a field such as clinical medicine, public health, biomedical science, or epidemiology. Many doctors pursue an MD (Doctor of Medicine by research) or PhD alongside or after clinical work.
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Final step: Medical researcher- Work in a university, NHMRC-funded institute, hospital research centre, or industry (pharma/biotech). You can be a clinician-researcher (combining practice and research) or transition to full-time research.

**Key notes**
-Unlike surgery, you do not need to complete specialist training (AHPRA general registration is sufficient). However, having clinical experience and a strong research track record (publications, grants) greatly improves your prospects.