Becoming a Doctor

Registration and Training in Australia

Following successful completion of the 4-year degree, graduates will be awarded the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from the Australian National University (ANU).

In Australia, postgraduate training including internship and specialist training are not conducted by universities.

Internship

Internships and the number of intern places are determined by the relevant State/Territory Health Departments, not the University. These Departments have made it clear that no student is guaranteed an internship upon graduation from a medical program.

Usually MBBS graduates will enter the medical workforce and complete a one-year internship program, with the majority of time spent in major public teaching hospitals. Placements are allocated through processes run by the NSW Institute of Medical Education and Training (IMET), NSW Health. On completion of this internship, junior doctors are eligible to receive full registration with the State/Territory Medical Board. As each State/Territory has its own Medical Board, doctors are required to register in the State/Territory where they practice. The website for the ACT Medical Board is: http://www.medicalboard.act.gov.au/board/index.asp

Specialist training

The relevant specialty medical college defines the standards and assessments for specialist medical training. The University is not responsible for this training.

Most junior doctors undertake an additional year of hospital training before commencing postgraduate medical training leading to specialization. A list of Australian recognized medical specialties are on the Australian Medical Council website: http://www.amc.org.au/images/Recognition/3-amc%20list%20recognised%20medical%20specialities.pdf

International Graduates

Australian-trained international medical graduates may be allowed to stay on and work as interns in public hospitals and access vocational medical training. This policy is subject to change.  For more information and the current status, please contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/medical-practitioners/permanent-visas.htm 

International students who commenced study in Australia under a temporary visa and subsequently gained their first medical registration on or after 1 January 1997are restricted by the 10 year Moratorium. New Zealand citizens and permanent residents are also subject to this restriction.

Under section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973, medical practitioners subject to the moratorium are not able to attract Medicare benefits for a period of 10 years from the time they become registered as a medical practitioner in Australia with a State or Territory medical board or from when they first become permanent residents of Australia (unless they meet exemption criteria).

Students are strongly encouraged to make their own enquiries regarding thecurrent situationand legislative requirements as theyare beyond the control of the University. For comprehensive information regarding the Moratorium, please visit the following site: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/work-pr-medi-19ab#contact

Recognition and registration to practice in countries outside Australia

Recognition of ANU’s MBBS

ANU’s MBBS is accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC), and is listed on the International Medical Education Directory and the World Health Organisation (WHO) Medical School Directory though a process managed by the AMC. http://www.amc.org.au/

Through these listings, there is recognition of ANU’s MBBS degree. However, specific countries may require additional steps to be completed before the degree is recognised by that country. Interested individuals should make enquiries relating to any specific country to ascertain the status of the ANU MBBS degree in that country.

Registration in countries outside Australia

MBBS graduates wishing to register and practice in countries other than Australia must satisfy that country's requirements for foreign medical graduates. Graduates should contact the appropriate medical associations/councils in that country to determine the requirements to practice.

Some relevant registration bodies:

Canada
Medical Council of Canada http://www.mcc.ca/

New Zealand
Medical Council of New Zealand http://www.mcnz.org.nz/

United Kingdom
General Medical Council http://www.gmc-uk.org/

United States of America
The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) http://www.usmle.org/