Interns

Registration

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.

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.