Medical Board of Australia - Interns
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Interns

Australian and New Zealand medical graduates undertaking an accredited internship in Australia and who started their internship pre-2024

Australian and New Zealand medical graduates must apply for provisional registration so they can undertake a period of accredited intern training to become eligible for general registration.

Interns are only permitted to work in accredited intern positions. They are not permitted to carry out any clinical work outside of their allocated intern position.

The Board’s registration standard, Granting general registration as a medical practitioner to Australian and New Zealand medical graduates on completion of intern training defines the requirements that Australian and New Zealand medical graduates must meet to be eligible for general registration.

In summary, graduates in an accredited intern position must satisfactorily complete:

  • a term of at least eight weeks that provides experience in emergency medical care
  • a term of at least 10 weeks that provides experience in medicine
  • a term of at least 10 weeks that provides experience in surgery, and
  • a range of other approved terms to make up 12 months (minimum of 47 weeks full-time equivalent service).

All terms must be accredited against approved accreditation standards by an authority approved by the Board. These authorities are known as postgraduate medical councils or intern training accreditation authorities.

New requirements for Australian and New Zealand medical graduates starting PGY1 training in 2024

Australian and New Zealand medical graduates must apply for provisional registration so they can complete accredited postgraduate year one (PGY1) training (also known as a medical internship) to become eligible for general registration.

PGY1 doctors are only permitted to work in accredited positions. They are not permitted to carry out any clinical work outside of their allocated PGY1 position.

The Board’s registration standard, Granting general registration as a medical practitioner to Australian and New Zealand medical graduates on completion of postgraduate year one training defines the requirements that Australian and New Zealand medical graduates must meet to be eligible for general registration.

In summary, PGY1 doctors must satisfactorily complete 47 weeks full-time equivalent training that includes a minimum of four terms (of at least 10 weeks each term) in different specialties with direct clinical care in the following types of patient care:

  • undifferentiated illness patient care
  • chronic illness patient care
  • acute and critical illness patient care, and
  • peri-procedural patient care.

PGY1 doctors can count up to two of the types of patient care per 10-week term. All terms will be pre-accredited against approved accreditation standards by an intern training accreditation authority approved by the Board. These authorities are commonly known as postgraduate medical councils.

Australian Medical Council National Framework for Prevocational (PGY1 and PGY2) Medical Training

The Australian Medical Council’s National Framework for Prevocational (PGY1 and PGY2) Medical Training (the AMC Framework) supports the Medical Board’s registration standard for Granting general registration as a medical practitioner to Australian and New Zealand medical graduates on completion of postgraduate year one training and defines the standards for PGY1 training programs.

The AMC Framework includes:

  • the standards and requirements for PGY1 training programs and terms
  • PGY1 training and assessment requirements
  • the broad significant outcomes (competencies) that PGY1 doctors should achieve by the end of their program
  • the standards and procedures for assessing and accrediting postgraduate medical councils.

 

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How to apply for provisional registration

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Final year medical school students are encouraged to apply for provisional registration six weeks from completing their medical course and this can be done by completing an online application.

Requirements for provisional registration

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Mandatory registration standards You must meet the requirements of the registration standards for:
  • English language skills
  • recency of practice
  • professional indemnity insurance
Proof of identity Provide evidence of proof of identity in accordance with the Board's and AHPRA’s proof of identity policy as revised from time to time
Medical qualifications Provide evidence of having been awarded a primary degree in medicine and surgery, after completing an approved program of study from an Australian or New Zealand medical school accredited by the Australian Medical Council
Criminal history check Complete a criminal history check in accordance with guidance issued from time to time by the Board or AHPRA
Fees Pay the required fee(s).

Documents supporting your application for provisional registration

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All documents submitted to support an application for registration must comply with the requirements for certifying and translating documents.

You may be required to submit additional information in support of your application to help the Board determine whether you are suitable for provisional registration.

Responsibilities of provisional registration

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During your provisional registration period, you must:

  • restrict your practise to the accredited intern (PGY1) position, and
  • comply with the Board’s registration standards for continuing professional development, professional indemnity insurance and recency of practice.

Renewal of provisional registration

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If you require another period of registration to complete your intern training, you can apply to renew your provisional registration. You will be required to attach a statement signed by your employer of the progress you have made towards meeting the requirements for general registration.

Provisional to general registration

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If you hold provisional registration, you can apply for general registration online no more than four weeks before your anticipated internship completion date, through your online services account using your User ID. For more information on how to apply for general registration go to the provisional to general webpage.

Templates for reporting a PGY1 doctor's satisfactory completion of accredited PGY1 training

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These reporting templates are for persons authorised to certify that a PGY1 doctor has satisfactorily completed an accredited PGY1 training program. Ahpra receives the completed templates directly from the PGY1 doctor’s accredited training provider.

Medical Board - Training provider declaration for PGY1 bulk report - DECL-30 (128 KB, PDF)
Medical Board - Training provider PGY1 doctor bulk report (63.7 KB, XLSX)
Medical Board - Training provider - End of PGY1 assessment - exception report - PGY1-30 (228 KB, PDF)

 

 

 

Eligible medical interns can apply for an initial Medicare provider number online: A message from Services Australia

Australian and New Zealand medical graduates granted provisional registration without conditions or notations, can get an initial Medicare provider number online from Services Australia. After Ahpra sends Services Australia your registration details, Services Australia will email you to invite you to apply for a Medicare provider number using Health Professional Online Services (HPOS).

You can apply for a prescriber number at the same time. HPOS also allows you to view your application at any time and apply for additional Medicare provider numbers.

This is the fastest way to get your Medicare provider number. For more information about what you need to do before you receive the invitation email, please visit the Services Australia webpage.

 
 
 
Page reviewed 24/03/2025
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