INFORMATION FOR

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATES

Training / Working in Australasia
Definitions of Terms / Abbreviations used in this document
ACEM
IMG
AMC
MCNZ
relevant jurisdiction

Australasian College for Emergency Medicine

International Medical Graduate
Australian Medical Council
Medical Council of New Zealand
either New Zealand or the State or Territory in Australia in which you are
seeking to become registered to practise medicine.

Introduction
The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine is the body responsible for the training and
credentialing of doctors to become specialists in emergency medicine in Australia and New Zealand.
General Overview of Training and Examinations
Specialist training in Australia and New Zealand is quite complex.
The training program consists of two years of basic training (usually the intern year and second
postgraduate year), a minimum of one year of provisional training and four years of advanced training
in accredited posts. A minimum of two years and six months of advanced training must be in
accredited emergency departments; the remaining time must include rotations in non-ED disciplines
as specified in the Colleges Training and Examinations Handbook.
In addition to the training time, trainees must be successful in two examinations. The primary
examination covers basic science subjects and must be passed before advanced training may be
commenced.
The fellowship examination, which may only be undertaken in the final year of
advanced training, covers clinical emergency medicine. Both these examinations are very demanding.
There is also a requirement that, before becoming eligible to attempt the fellowship examination,
trainees must either publish a scientific paper or present a paper at a major scientific meeting.
Trainees pay annual training fees and examination fees.
Once doctors are admitted to Fellowship of the College, they are eligible to be registered as specialists
in emergency medicine in Australia and New Zealand.
Procedures for Overseas Doctors
The procedures for IMGs wishing to become Fellows of the Australasian College for Emergency
Medicine vary according to the level of specialist training completed overseas. Doctors recognized as
specialist in emergency medicine in their own country follow a different procedure from those who are
not already considered to be specialists in emergency medicine.
Doctors wishing to work in Australia or New Zealand for brief periods will follow yet another different
procedure.

1.

Doctors recognized as specialist in Emergency Medicine overseas

If you are recognized as a specialist in emergency medicine in your own country, you should apply to
the AMC or the MCNZ, as appropriate, who will supply you with the necessary application forms and
information about specialist recognition.
If the AMC or MCNZ (as appropriate) is satisfied with your qualifications, your application will be
forwarded to the College for consideration. At that stage, the College will provide you with details of
the process to be followed. In essence, you will be offered an interview with the College in
Australasia. The interviewing panel will explore with you what your training in emergency medicine
has comprised, what examinations you have completed, and details of your medical practice since
completing specialist training. The aim is to determine how closely the extent of your training
matches that of local Fellows.
The interviewing panel will then consider your case further and make a recommendation to the
College Council. The panel may recommend that you be accepted as a specialist in emergency
medicine in Australia or New Zealand or it may recommend that you be required to complete further
training and/or examinations before being accepted as a specialist. You will be notified of the
Colleges decisions and have the right of appeal against any decision.
The final decision will be forwarded to the relevant Medical Council, which will then arrange further
immigration and medical registration details.
If you have to complete further training and/or examinations, the College will be able to advise you
how best to fulfil these requirements before being granted specialist status.
You will have to apply for, and be granted, registration to practise medicine in one of the States or
Territories of Australia or in New Zealand before you can complete training or practice as a specialist.
The College charges a fee for interviewing IMGs and for joining the College as a Fellow. There is also
an annual subscription charged to Fellows. Fees will also apply to those required to complete further
training and/or examinations.
2. Doctors not recognized as specialists in Emergency Medicine overseas
If you are not recognized as a specialist in emergency medicine in your own country, then you will
have to complete training and examinations in Australia or New Zealand. Some of your previous
training may be credited towards our training requirements.
You should first contact the local Australian or New Zealand embassy or consulate to discuss
immigration procedures. You should also consult the websites of the AMC or the MCNZ to ascertain
what examinations or procedures you must first complete in order to obtain registration to practise
medicine in Australia or New Zealand.
It is your responsibility to secure registration to practise medicine in the relevant jurisdiction and to
obtain employment in an accredited training post. You will find a list of emergency departments
approved for training purposes on the College website, www.acem.org.au.
Once you are granted registration to practise medicine in the relevant jurisdiction and provided that at
the time you are physically residing in Australia or New Zealand (as appropriate), you may apply to
the College to become registered as a trainee and to have your training status formalised. The
necessary registration forms are available on the College website.
Payment of an entrance registration fee forms part of an application for registration as a trainee. An
annual training fee is also levied.
You will then have to complete the training and examination requirements as stipulated by the College
and detailed in the Training and Examinations Handbook.

Once you have completed all of the requirements for admission to Fellowship, you may be admitted
on payment of the relevant fees.
3. Doctors wanting to work in Australia or New Zealand for limited periods
There are usually posts available in emergency departments in Australia and New Zealand. If you
wish to work in either country for a limited period, then the College will not usually be involved.
If you are participating in a specialist training program in your country of origin and are hoping to
have the work you do in Australia or New Zealand accredited as part of that specialist training
program, you should first check the ACEM website, www.acem.org.au to ensure that the emergency
department you plan to work in is approved for ACEM training purposes.
You should apply directly to the hospitals for employment and will have to gain medical registration in
the relevant jurisdiction before being allowed to work. The hospital and the local medical practitioners
board will be able to supply you with details.
Conclusion
If you are unclear about any of the above details, please contact the College for clarification. We
thank you for your interest and trust that this information will be of assistance.

December 2008