How to Register as a Doctor in Australia

All doctors practising medicine in Australia are required to be registered with the Medical Board of Australia (MBA). This registration process ensures that medical professionals meet stringent professional standards, providing safe, high-quality care to patients across the country.

Types of Medical Registration in Australia

The type of medical registration you need depends on your qualifications, level of experience, and specific training background. The Medical Board of Australia offers the following categories:

• General Registration – For fully qualified doctors eligible to practise independently in Australia.
• Specialist Registration – For doctors formally recognised as specialists in a defined field of medicine.
• Provisional Registration – For recent medical graduates undertaking supervised clinical practice.
• Limited Registration – For doctors practising in designated roles or under supervision, commonly applicable to International Medical Graduates (IMGs).
• Non-Practising Registration – For doctors who wish to retain registration without actively practising medicine.

How to Apply for Medical Registration with AHPRA

All registration and renewal applications must be submitted online via the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) website. The standard steps include:

• Creating an AHPRA account – Enables you to complete, submit, and track your application.
• Preparing required documentation, such as:
  • Medical degree certificate and academic transcript
  • Proof of identity (e.g., passport or birth certificate)
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable)
• Submitting your application – Complete the appropriate online form for your registration type and pay the relevant fee.

Tip: Make sure your documentation is complete and up to date before starting the AHPRA registration process to avoid delays.

Pathways to Medical Registration for International Medical Graduates (IMGs)

International Medical Graduates (IMGs)—doctors who obtained their qualifications outside Australia or New Zealand—can pursue medical registration in Australia through specific pathways. Each has unique eligibility and assessment requirements:

1. Competent Authority Pathway

• Designed for IMGs assessed by a recognised competent authority.
• Applicants must have practised in a competent authority country.
• Leads to general registration.

2. Standard Pathway

• For IMGs not eligible for the Competent Authority or Specialist Pathway.
• Requires successful completion of AMC exams.
• Leads to general registration.

3. Specialist Pathway

• For IMGs holding an international specialist qualification.
• Requires assessment by a relevant specialist college.
• Leads to specialist registration.

4. Expedited Specialist Pathway

• For specialists whose qualifications are listed on the MBA’s Expedited Specialist Pathway list.
• Leads to specialist registration.

5. Short-Term Training in a Medical Specialty Pathway

• For specialist IMGs or trainees seeking temporary training (up to 24 months) in Australia.
• Does not lead to ongoing registration or specialist registration.

Medical Board of Australia – Schedule of Fees (Effective 1 August 2025)

All fees listed are in AUD and must be paid at the time of application unless stated otherwise. Both the application fee and the registration fee are generally required.

All doctors practising in Australia must be registered with the Medical Board of Australia via AHPRA.

Why Registration Fees Are Important

These fees fund the vital work of AHPRA and the MBA to ensure public safety and uphold medical standards. The cost of regulating the profession is fully funded through these fees, with no government subsidies.

What Do the Fees Support?

Fees help fund essential functions, such as:

• Assessing and managing local and international registration applications
• Developing and enforcing professional medical standards
• Accrediting medical programs and intern training via the Australian Medical Council (AMC)
• Investigating concerns about registered practitioners
• Supporting criminal prosecutions for breaches in advertising or title misuse
• Funding the work of the Health Ombudsman in Queensland
• Maintaining the public register of practitioners
• Providing practitioner health services
• Supporting the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman

Application Fees (September 2025)

Need Help with a Visa?

If you require visa assistance to work as a doctor in Australia, please contact our expert team of immigration lawyers and registered migration agents at Work Visa Lawyers. We offer personalised guidance for doctors and health professionals migrating to Australia.

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