Medical Board of Australia - Expedited Specialist pathway: accepted qualification list
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Expedited Specialist pathway: accepted qualification list

The gateway to the Expedited Specialist pathway is a list of pre-approved specialist qualifications. 

Specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs) with a specialist qualification on the Expedited Specialist pathway: accepted qualifications list below are eligible for the Expedited Specialist pathway. 

All qualifications on the list have been assessed by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and approved by the Board as substantially equivalent or based on similar competencies to an approved qualification. (Approved qualifications are the qualifications awarded by the AMC-accredited Australian specialist medical colleges.)

If you have a qualification on this list, and meet other specialist registration requirements, you can apply directly to Ahpra for specialist registration.

State and territory health departments have identified anaesthetics, general practice, obstetrics and gynaecology, and psychiatry as priority specialties for the pathway. Jurisdictions have identified the next group of professions for assessment. These are general medicine, general paediatrics and diagnostic radiology. Additional specialties will be included once an assessment of nominated qualifications for the Expedited Specialist pathway has been undertaken. See the Medical Board’s qualification assessment page for more information. Qualifications in other specialties may be added over time, in specialties prioritised by state and territory health departments.

Specialties with qualifications on the Expedited Specialist pathway: accepted qualifications list are:

  • Anaesthesia
  • General Practice
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  • Psychiatry

If you hold a combination of qualifications that are listed on the Expedited Specialist pathway: accepted qualifications list, please contact Ahpra for advice on your eligibility for the Expedited Specialist pathway.

You can contact us by email via the Ahpra web enquiry or by phone through the contact us page.

Specialties with accepted qualifications (as at 5 March 2025)

Anaesthesia

Regulatory authority:

Medical Council of Ireland (MCI)

Qualification:

Fellowship of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (or as previously named, the College of Anaesthetists of Ireland) (FCAI), together with a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST).

Awarding body:

College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (CAI), or as previously named, the College of Anaesthetists of Ireland.

Qualification and training specifications:

Qualification awarded under any CAI curriculum from July 2012, to date following satisfactory completion of a Specialist Anaesthesiology Training Programme (SAT) in Ireland

Additional evidence required:

  • Fellowship of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland issued from July 2012
  • Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST) issued by the CAI

Note: The Board may request additional information to confirm that the qualifications meet the Boards requirements. Ahpra will advise applicants if this is required.

Note: Completion of the Effective Management of Anaesthetic Crisis (EMAC) course as recommended by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists will be a requirement of registration. Courses are available on the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists website see EMAC courses.

Regulatory authority:

General Medical Council (GMC)

Qualification:

Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCA) or Fellowship of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (FCAI), together with a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).

Awarding bodies:

  • Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA),or College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (CAI)
  • Pre-2010 CCT awarded by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board
  • Post-2010 CCT awarded by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom.

Qualification specifications:

The qualification awarded and/or training was completed under any RCoA curriculum from August 2007, following satisfactory completion of a General Medical Council or Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board, approved specialist training program in the United Kingdom, and award of the CCT.

Additional evidence required:

  • Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (FRCA) or Fellowship of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (FCAI) issued from August 2007
  • Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) awarded by the GMC or the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board
  • Confirmation of Specialist training from the GMC (see Confirmation of UK training and acquired rights)

Note: The Board may request additional information to confirm that the qualifications meet the Boards requirements. Ahpra will advise applicants if this is required.

Note: Completion of the Effective Management of Anaesthetic Crisis (EMAC) course as recommended by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists will be a requirement of registration. Courses are available on the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists website see EMAC courses.

 

General practice

Regulatory authority:

Medical Council of Ireland (MCI)

Qualification:

Membership of the Irish College of General Practitioners (MICGP), together with a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST).       

Awarding body:

Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP)    

Qualification specifications:

Qualification awarded under any ICGP curriculum from 2009 following satisfactory completion of a general practice education and training requirements in Ireland

Additional evidence required:

  • A letter from ICGP confirming that the qualification was awarded under any ICGP curriculum from 2009 after completion of the 4-year general practice training program (or Recognition of Prior Learning scheme) under an approved GP training scheme in Ireland 
  • Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST) issued by the ICGP

Note: The Board may request additional information to confirm that the qualifications meet the Boards requirements. Ahpra will advise applicants if this is required. 

Regulatory authority:

New Zealand Medical Council (MCNZ)

Qualification:

Fellowship of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (FRNZCGP)

Awarding body:

Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP)

Qualification specifications:

Qualification awarded under any RNZCGP curriculum from 2012 following satisfactory completion of the General Practice Education Programme (GPEP)

Additional evidence required:

A letter from RNZCGP confirming that fellowship was awarded under any RNZCGP curriculum from 2012 following satisfactory completion of the General Practice Education Programme (GPEP).

Note: The Board may request additional information to confirm that the qualifications meet the Boards requirements. Ahpra will advise applicants if this is required. 

Regulatory authority:

General Medical Council (GMC)

Qualification:

Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP), together with a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).       

Awarding body:

Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)

Qualification specifications:

Qualification awarded under any RCGP curriculum from August 2007 following satisfactory completion of a GMC or Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board approved general practice specialist training program in the United Kingdom1.

Note: Training completed through the CCT Combined Training Pathway has not been assessed as being substantially equivalent. Practitioners who have completed this pathway are not eligible for the Expedited Specialist pathway.

Additional evidence required:

  • Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) issued from August 2007
  • Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) awarded by the GMC or the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board.
  • Confirmation of Specialist or GP training from the GMC (see Confirmation of UK training and acquired rights)
  • Additional evidence to confirm the completion of one of the eligible training pathways, if not indicated in the documents above. 

Note: The Board may request additional information to confirm that the qualifications meet the Boards requirements. Ahpra will advise applicants if this is required.

 

  1. May also be known as the Accreditation of Transferable Competences or Competencies or Capabilities (ATC) pathway.
 

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Regulatory authority:

Medical Council of Ireland (MCI)

Qualification:

Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (CSCST).

Awarding body:

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (MRCPI and CSCST)

Qualification and training specifications:

MRCPI awarded under any curriculum of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland from July 2010 to date following satisfactory completion of a Specialist Obstetrics and Gynaecology Training Programme (SAT) in Ireland. This includes completion of examinations leading to Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (presently Part 1, 2 and 3, or pre-2015 the completion of Part 1 and 2).

Additional evidence required:

  • Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland issued from July 2010
  • Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST) issued by the MRCPI
  • Evidence of completion of examinations leading to Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (presently Part 1, 2 and 3, by pre 2015 Part 1 and 2)
  • Evidence of completion of training in colposcopy as recommended by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists may be a requirement of registration.

Note: The Board may request additional information to confirm that the qualifications meet the Boards requirements. Ahpra will advise applicants if this is required. 

Regulatory authority:

General Medical Council (GMC)

Qualification:

Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG), together with a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).

Awarding body:

  • Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)
  • Pre 2010 CCT awarded by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board Post 2010 CCT awarded by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom

Qualification specifications:

MRCOG awarded under any RCOG curriculum from August 2007 to date following satisfactory completion of a General Medical Council or Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board approved specialist training program in the United Kingdom and award of the CCT.

Additional evidence required:

  • Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG) issued from August 2007
  • Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) awarded by the GMC or the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board
  • Confirmation of Specialist training from the GMC (see Confirmation of UK training and acquired rights)
  • Evidence of completion of training in colposcopy as recommended by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists may be a requirement of registration
  • Additional evidence to confirm the completion the eligible training pathway, if not indicated in the documents above.

Note: The Board may request additional information to confirm that the qualifications meet the Boards requirements. Ahpra will advise applicants if this is required. 

 

Psychiatry

Regulatory authority:

General Medical Council (GMC)

Qualification:

Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych), together with a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT)

Awarding bodies:

  • Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych)
  • Pre-2010 CCT awarded by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board
  • Post-2010 CCT awarded by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom

Qualification specifications:

Qualification awarded under any RCPsych curriculum from August 2007 following satisfactory completion of a General Medical Council or Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board approved specialty training program in psychiatry in the United Kingdom.

Additional evidence required:

Note: The Board may request additional information to confirm that the qualifications meet the Boards requirements. Ahpra will advise applicants if this is required. 

 
 
 
Page reviewed 5/03/2025