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Learn more in the news item on the Board’s website.
Australian and New Zealand medical graduates must complete accredited intern training (postgraduate year one (PGY1) training) to become eligible for general registration. With intern training changing in 2024, the Board has transitional arrangements in place for PGY1 doctors who do not complete PGY1 training by 30 January 2024. 2023 (and earlier years) postgraduate year one (PGY1) doctors who do not complete intern requirements by 30 January 2024 will be considered to have met the requirements for general registration by completing:
The terms must be accredited to either, or both, the pre-2024 or post 2024 Australian Medical Council accreditation standards. The Board understands that terms will be accredited differently from 2024. The Board will be flexible with requirements but expects PGY1 doctors to have:
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
During your provisional registration period, you must:
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.
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.
This form is for persons authorised to certify that a PGY1 doctor has satisfactorily completed an accredited internship for 2023 (or earlier years) interns. Ahpra receives the completed form directly from the PGY1 doctor’s employer (training provider).
Certificate of completion of an accredited internship (199 KB,PDF)
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.