Ukrainian Medical Council

How to become a doctor in Australia

 

Recognition of medical specialties in Australia

 

Typically, an overseas trained doctor (OTD) wishing to work in Australia must meet the basic requirements listed below:

 
- Satisfy Australian Medical Council (AMC) English language proficiency requirements.
- General practitioners (GPs/family physicians) must pass the AMC exam consisting of theory and clinical components.
- Hospital non-specialists must meet the specific registration requirements of the relevant State or Territory Medical Board for an Area of Need position.
- Specialists must apply to the relevant Specialist Medical College for recognition as a specialist via the AMC.
- Apply for a visa and pass required character/police and medical checks.
- Identify an appropriate job. (Most OTDs will initially have to work in an Area of Need position).
- Apply to the relevant State/Territory Medical Board for medical registration.
- Obtain medical indemnity cover in Australia.

Role of the Australian Medical Council

All IMGs must apply to the Australian Medical Council (AMC) for primary source verification of their medical qualifications, regardless of which of the three assessment pathways are being pursued. The AMC will verify their medical qualifications through the ECFMG International Credentials Services (EICS).

The AMC conducts the assessment process for IMGs in the Standard Pathway only; it does not conduct assessments in the competent authority or specialist pathways. The AMC has no role in processing applications for registration or in granting registration, which is a function of the Medical Board of Australia (the Board).

 

Recognition of medical specialties

 

 

Specialists

 

Medical specialists who have been trained overseas and have been recognised by Australian or Austral Ocean specialist medical colleges for registration to practice in their field of specialisation may be registered by the relevant Australian State and Territory medical boards to practice in Australia.

 

Overseas trained doctors whose primary medical qualifications do not have Australian recognition can gain general registration by:

1. passing the AMC examination
2. being awarded the AMC certificate
3. completing a period of supervised training approved by a State or Territory medical board.

 

Overseas trained specialists with a primary medical qualification not recognised in Australia must:

1. Have there training and qualifications assessed through AMC and specialist medical College assessment procedures
2. have gained recognition as a specialist practitioner by the relevant College
3. apply to a State or Territory medical board for conditional registration to practice in their field of specialisation.

 

Contacts

 

Telephone +61 2 6270 7878
Facsimile +61 2 6270 9799

Mail: PO Box 4810
KINGSTON ACT 2604
AUSTRALIA

 

Email General enquiries - amc@amc.org.au 
Medical School Accreditation enquiries - accredit@amc.org.au 
Specialist College Accreditation enquiries - specaccred@amc.org.au 
Recognition of Medical Specialty enquiries - recognition@amc.org.au

 

 

English Language Policy

 

The Board’s mandatory E

nglish language skills registration standard came into effect on 1 July 2012.

2013 end-year graduates are expected to meet the requirements of the registration standard when they apply for registration at the time of graduation. The requirements are:

• All secondary AND tertiary education to be completed in English in an accepted country
  • Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, UK, USA, or 
• Satisfactory completion of an approved examination 
  • IELTS (academic) score of 7 and above in all categories or OET result A or B in all categories
  • Examination can be more than 2 years old provided applicant has been in full time study (in English) since obtaining the result

 

Types of Medical Registration

 

General Registration

 

General registration is available to:

• Australian and New Zealand medical school graduates who have completed approved intern training, and 
• medical practitioners who have previously held general registration and are seeking to return to practise 
• international medical graduates who have completed the requirements of the competent authority pathway or the standard pathway.

 

Forms for general registration

 

• Application for general registration as a medical practitioner - AGEN-30 (1.59 MB,PDF)
• Application for general registration as a medical practitioner for current non-practising registrants - AGNP-30 (838 KB,PDF)
• Agreement to restrict practice (teaching and/or assessing) for current general medical practitioners - AEGR-30 (451 KB,PDF)
• Application to restrict practice (teaching and/or assessing) for non-practising or lapsed medical practitioners - ANPR-30 (1.12 MB,PDF) 

 

Provisional registrants nearing completion of their internship are encouraged to apply for general registration early and online to ensure a timely application process. A paper application form is also available.

• Application for general registration for medical practitioners currently holding provisional registration - APGR-30 (1.46 MB,PDF)

New forms to be used from 1 July 2014 are available on the registration forms page.

 

 

Limited registration

 

IMGs must pass the AMC CAT MCQ Examination before they can apply to the Board for limited registration. In addition, the IMG is required to have secured an offer of employment.

 

The type of limited registration depends on the position:

• Limited registration for postgraduate training or supervised practice 
• Limited registration for area of need - if working in an area of need

 

Information on limited registration is available on the Board’s website.

 

 

Provisional Registration

 

Provisional registration is for graduates of approved or equivalent medical radiation practice programs of study applying for provisional registration where:

• the applicant has never practiced the profession and 
• the National Board indicates that graduates of a specific approved or equivalent program of study are required to undertake a period of supervised practice in order to meet the requirements of general registration 
• Provisional Registration online through Graduate Applications

 

Provisional registration is granted for a period of 12 months commencing from the date of approval. This means applicants for provisional registration are required to pay a registration fee that covers the full 12 month period of registration that is granted.

Should a practitioner become eligible for general registration anytime within the 12 month registration period, the practitioner can apply for general registration at which time an application fee and a registration fee apply.

 

 

Specialist registration

 

Specialist registration is available to medical practitioners who have been assessed by an AMC accredited specialist college as being eligible for fellowship. Fellowship is not a pre-requisite for specialist registration.

The Ministerial Council has approved a list of specialties, fields of specialty practice and specialist titles.

The list of specialties, fields of specialty practice and related specialist titles is available under Specialties and Specialty Fields.

 

Forms for specialist registration

• Application for registration as a medical specialist (applicants who do not hold general registration) - AGSP-30 (1.02 MB,PDF)
• Application for specialist registration for a medical practitioner (currently holding general registration) - ASPC-30 (308 KB,PDF)

 

 

Assessment pathways to registration for international medical graduates

 

International medical graduates (IMGs) whose medical qualifications are from a medical school outside of Australia or New Zealand and who are seeking registration to practise medicine in Australia must provide evidence of eligibility to undertake one of the following assessment pathways:

• Competent Authority pathway 
• Standard pathway
• Specialist pathway   

 

 

The Standard Pathway

 

The Standard Pathway is for international medical graduates (IMGs) seeking general registration with the Medical Board of Australia (the Board) and involves completion of the written examination (CAT MCQ) and, the structured clinical examination of the Australian Medical Council (AMC) or approved workplace based assessment program.  IMGs applying for the Standard Pathway apply directly to the Australian Medical Council (AMC).

 

IMGs on the Standard Pathway must successfully complete a 12 month period of supervised practice (minimum of 47 weeks full time service) in an approved position.

IMGs who have passed both the AMC CAT MCQ and the AMC Clinical Examinations before commencing their period of supervised practice in Australia, may apply for provisional registration. In addition, the IMG is required to have secured an offer of employment.

For help on how to prepare documents in support of your application also see these pages on the AHPRA website:

Certifying Documents 

Standard Format for Curriculum Vitae 

Certificate of good standing

Proof of Identity Requirements 

Translation of documents 

 

IMGs work under supervision in general practice positions or hospital based positions. Further information about supervision is available in the Board’s Guidelines for supervised practice.

In Ukraine, these documents can be certified and translated in Ukrainian Medical Council

 

 

Primary source verification

 

Part of the Standard Pathway process, through the AMC, is the primary source verification of an IMG’s primary qualifications through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) International Credentials Services (EICS).

For further information about primary source verification, click here.

 

 

Competent Authority Pathway

 

The AMC has just introduced a Competent Authority Pathway which will allow some International Medical Graduates to gain exemption from the AMC examinations.

IMGs who have completed the requirements of a Board-designated competent authority can apply to the Board for assessment under this pathway.

If you wish to be assessed through the Competent Authority Pathway, you should apply directly to the Board.

 

Step 1	Six weeks before completing your course: apply for provisional registration with the Board by completing an online application.
Step 2	Before completing your course (or as soon as practicable): find a supervised practice placement.
Step 3	When your provisional registration is confirmed: enrol in the supervised practice program or professional development year diagnostic radiographers and radiation therapists through the AIR or nuclear medicine scientists/technologists through the ANZSNM, and apply for a radiation licence from your state or territory government department (Vic. exempt).
Step 4	You may commence practice when: you are registered with the Board you hold a radiation use licence (where applicable), and you are confirmed to be participating in a Board-approved supervised practice program.
Step 5	During supervised practice: participate in the SPP/PDY in accordance with the program requirements, including assessments.
Step 6	On completion of supervised practice: apply to the Board for general registration as a medical radiation practitioner.

 

 

The Board approved competent authorities are:

• General Medical Council (United Kingdom—for the PLAB examination or for graduates of GMC-accredited medical courses in the United Kingdom) 
• Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) 
• Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates of the United States (USMLE) 
• Medical Council of New Zealand (NZREX) 
• Medical Council of Ireland (graduates of medical courses in Ireland accredited by the Medical Council of Ireland).

IMGs on the Competent Authority Pathway apply for provisional registration.

IMGs may be eligible to apply for general registration after they have completed 12 months (minimum of 47 weeks of full time service) of satisfactory supervised practice in a hospital-based or general practice position in Australia.

 

• Competent Authority Pathway registrants must provide written confirmation from term supervisors that they have satisfactorily completed the 12 month period (FTE) of supervised practice. This may be in the form of term reports or other specific reporting forms developed or approved by the Board and a letter of recommendation for general registration from the Director of Training, Director of Medical Services or other person authorised to sign off on the satisfactory completion of supervised practice.Requirements for eligibility for the Competent Authority Pathway (74.9 KB,PDF), Word version (63.4 KB,DOCX)

 

Transition from Provisional to General Registration for international medical graduates on the Competent Authority Pathway

 

IMGs on the Competent Authority Pathway who are approaching the completion of their 12 months supervised practice period (47 weeks of full time service) can apply for their general registration early.

If you hold provisional registration, you can apply for general registration online. A paper form (Application for general registration for medical practitioners currently holding provisional registration - APGR-30) is available on the forms page. 

 

 

Specialist Pathway

 

The Specialist Pathway is for international medical graduates (IMGs) in one of the following categories:

• overseas-trained specialists applying for assessment of comparability to the standard of a specialist trained in that specialty in Australia (specialist recognition) 
• overseas-trained specialists applying for an area of need specialist level position in Australia (area of need) 
• overseas-trained specialists or specialists-in-training wishing to undertake a short period of specialist or advanced training in Australia (short-term training).

IMGs apply directly to the specialist medical college for the Specialist Pathway.

Application forms for the Specialist Pathway - specialist recognition and Specialist Pathway - area of need are available on the relevant college website. A list of the college websites is available below:

•  Specialist medical colleges, PDF (71.7 KB,PDF)

The application form for the Specialist Pathway - short term training is available on the Board website.

 

 

Registration types for IMGs on the Specialist Pathway:

 

Pathway	Assessment outcome	Registration type
Specialist Pathway – specialist recognition	IMGs who have been assessed by the college as substantially comparable or partially comparable and are working towards specialist recognition	Limited registration for postgraduate training or supervised practice OR Provisional registration (for IMGs qualified for the Competent Authority Pathway)
Specialist Pathway – area of need	IMGs who have been assessed by the college as suitable for an area of need position	Limited registration for area of need (IMGs who are qualified for the Competent Authority Pathway are not eligible to apply for Limited registration for area of need)
Specialist Pathway – specialist recognition and area of need	IMGs who have been assessed by the college for specialist recognition and an area of need position	Limited registration for Area of Need (IMGs who are qualified for the Competent Authority Pathway are not eligible to apply for Limited registration for area of need)
Specialist Pathway – specialist recognition	IMGs who have been admitted as Fellows of an AMC accredited specialist medical college, or who have been advised by the college that they are eligible for fellowship	Specialist registration
Specialist Pathway – short term training	IMGs who have been assessed as suitable for a short term training position	Limited registration for postgraduate training or supervised practice

 

 

 

Which pathway are you eligible for?

 

To help you decide which pathway may be relevant, an initial self-assessment check and an overview of the pathways is provided as a guide.

 

 

 

AMC Exam

 

Please refer to the AMC Website and follow the links to the Self Assessment Information and FAQs for Competent Authority

The examination comprises of 2 parts, being a multiple-choice questionnaire and a clinical examination.

The Multiple Choice Questionnaire (MCQ) is a test of the principles and practice of medicine in the fields of internal medicine, paediatrics, psychiatry, surgery and obstetrics and gynaecology. A number of questions on each discipline also have a focus on general practice.

The clinical examinations evaluate clinical competence in terms of medical knowledge, clinical skills and professional attitudes for the safe and effective clinical practice of medicine in the Australian community.

The exams consist of two linked stages:

• Stage 1 is an assessment of consulting skills in medicine and surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology and paediatrics.
• Stage 2 is a multi-station assessment of clinical skills.

The examinations are designed as a comprehensive test of medical knowledge, clinical competency and performance. Both MCQ and clinical assessments are multidisciplinary and integrated.

Candidates for the AMC exams must demonstrate the ability to exercise discrimination, judgment, reasoning and communication.

 

 

There are two sections in the AMC exams:

 

1.  The computer administered multiple-choice examination consisting of multiple-choice questions of (MCQ).  The AMC MCQ tests candidates in general practice, internal medicine, paediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology.  The AMC MCQ is conducted over one day, and is in two parts, each of three hours duration.  Each part consists of 125 questions.

 

2. The AMC Clinical examination covers medicine, surgery, obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics, and psychiatry.  The format of the AMC clinical exam can consists of a multistation assessment of candidates clinical skills and takes half a day.

 

 

Completion of Supervised Practice Program (SPP) and Review of conditions or undertakings

 

Your SPP incorporates 48 full-time equivalent weeks of supervised practice.

Your SPP should be completed within three years of the date that you complete your medical imaging or radiation therapy degree.

You may complete the SPP in a part-time capacity - no less than 3 days per week - providing you

complete the equivalent of 48 full-time weeks and do so within three years of completing your  medical imaging or radiation therapy degree.

 

On completion of a program of supervised practice, registrants holding general registration may apply for a review of conditions or undertakings that apply to their registration.

• Application for review of conditions or undertakings by a medical radiation practitioner - ARCD-91 (669 KB,PDF)

 

 

Pre-employment structured clinical interview (PESCI)

 

IMGs applying for registration may be required to undergo a pre-employment structured clinical interview (PESCI).

The purpose of a PESCI is to establish whether an IMG has the knowledge, skills and experience to practise safely and effectively in the position for which registration is being sought.

The Board will decide whether a PESCI is required based on the nature of the position and the level of risk inherent to the position. A PESCI is specific to the position.

A PESCI can be undertaken prior to applying for registration, or the Board will advise you whether a PESCI is required after assessment of your application for registration.

Further information is available on our PESCI page.

 

 

Immigration and visas

 

Most overseas trained doctors and Foreign Graduates of an Accredited Medical School need a visa to practice in Australia.

General practitioners, specialists and hospital non-specialists can apply for a visa if:

• you got your primary medical qualification in a country other than Australia
• or you got your medical qualifications in Australia but you’re not an Australian permanent resident.

You’ll find detailed information on the types of visa available to doctors on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.

 

 

Temporary visas

 

Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa (Subclass 457)

Occupational Trainee visa

 

 

Permanent visas

 

Permanent Visa Options for Doctors

 

 

Usefull Links

 

Related links

Registration types 

Registration forms 

Registration fees 

Registration standards 

Registration process

Specialist medical colleges, PDF (71.7 KB,PDF)

State and territory health departments (58.2 KB,PDF), Word version (645 KB,DOCX)

Australian Medical Council

Australian Medical Council Exams Information

 

 

Job Search

 

Rural Workforce Agencies (RWAs)

RWAs’ main focus is recruitment and retention of general practitioners (family physicians) in rural and remote areas of Australia. If you’re interested in working as a rural general practitioner, contact a Rural Workforce Agency who will guide you through each of the processes.

 

Northern Terrritory

Northern Territory Medicare Local (NTML)
Email: recruitment@ntml.org.au

 

New South Wales

New South Wales Rural Doctors Network
Email: medirec@nswrdn.com.au

 

Queensland

Health Workforce Queensland
Email: recruitment@healthworkforce.com.au

 

Victoria

Rural Workforce Agency Victoria
Email: rwav@rwav.com.au

 

South Australia

Rural Doctors Workforce Agency
Telephone +61 8 8234 8277 (International) or 08 8234 8277 (in Australia)
Email: recruitment@ruraldoc.com.au

 

Tasmania

Health Recruitment Plus Tasmania
Email: recruitment@healthrecruitmentplus.com.au

 

Western Australia

Rural Health West
Telephone: +61 8 6389 4500
Email: info@ruralhealthwest.com.au

Rural Health Workforce (RHW)
RHW is the peak body for the Rural Workforce Agencies.

Medical recruitment agencies

Medical recruitment agencies work on behalf of both private and public employers. They actively seek appropriately qualified doctors, including OTDs, to fill positions all over Australia. Most recruitment agencies will also list employment opportunities on their websites.

Recruitment and Consulting Services Association Australia & New Zealand
The RCSA is the leading industry and professional body for the recruitment and the human resources services sector in Australia and New Zealand. It represents over 3,800 company and individual Members.

The RCSA sets the benchmark for industry standards through representation, education, research and business advisory support.

RCSA includes the Association of Medical Recruiters Australia & New Zealand (AMRANZ).

 

State and Territory Governments – hospital vacancies:

 

Northern Territory
Queensland
Victoria
Australian Capital Territory
Tasmania
South Australia
New South Wales
Western Australia

 

 

Jobsites for specialists

 

Not all Australian Specialist Medical Colleges list vacancies on their websites. Some Colleges have vacant positions available for viewing by College members only.

These Specialist College websites have vacancy listings available to non-members:

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
The Australian Society of Anaesthetists

 

 

 

DENTAL BOARD OF AUSTRALIA

 

 

Dental practitioners with overseas qualifications who wish to apply for registration with the Dental Board of Australia should refer to the following material. Further information is also available on the Overseas practitioners page on the AHPRA website.

As of 4 February 2015, a new process applies for checking criminal history outside of Australia. This new approach requires certain applicants and registered practitioners to apply for an international criminal history check from an approved supplier. For more information, please refer to theinternational criminal history page on the AHPRA website.

 

General registration

 

The following document provides broad information about which overseas qualified dental practitioners may apply for general registration:

• General Registration for Overseas-qualified Dental Practitioners Registration Standard(321 KB,PDF)

Refer to the following sections for registration pathways for specific information on each dental practitioner division:

• dentists
• dental specialists
• dental hygienists and dental therapists
• dental prosthetists 

 

Limited registration

 

A dental practitioner who is not qualified for general registration may be eligible to apply for limited registration. The following documents provide information about limited registration for overseas qualified dental practitioners:

• Limited Registration for Postgraduate Training or Supervised Practice Registration Standard(282 KB,PDF)
• Limited Registration for Teaching or Research (Section 69) Registration Standard
• Dental Guidelines on Supervision(171 KB,PDF)

 

 

Pathways for limited registration for postgraduate training or supervised practice

 

There are two different purposes of this type of limited registration:

1. 1.Supervised practice – which for dental practitioners is practising only under supervision and either:

• in an employment relationship with an appropriate public sector program (more information about this is available in theDentists section), or
• enrolment in one or more of the following for the purpose of gaining registration in Australia:
  • an Australian Dental Council (ADC) clinical examination
  • a clinical training or assessment program in preparation for an ADC clinical examination, or

An application form is available in the Forms section.

1. 2.Postgraduate training – enrolment in an approved postgraduate program of study (more information about Approved Programs of Study can be found underAccreditation section).

 

 

Pathways for limited registration for teaching or research

 

Overseas qualified practitioners wishing to fill a teaching or research position can apply for this type of limited registration. An application form is available in the Forms section.

 

Dental hygienists and dental therapists with a non-approved qualification

If a dental hygienist or dental therapist holds overseas qualifications and is not registered in New Zealand then they can:

• complete an approved qualification, or
• undertake the assessment process overseen by the Australian Dental Council (ADC). 
  
  Information about this pathway to registration in Australia for overseas qualified practitioners can be found on theADC’s website.

 

 

AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL COUNCIL

 

The ADC has been gazetted by the Minister for Immigration, pursuant to the Migration Act 1958, Migration Regulations amendment 1999, 2.26B, to perform the skills assessment function for migration purposes for the occupation of registered dentist.

Under the provisions of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 the Australian Dental Council (ADC) has been appointed to perform the accreditation functions for the Dental Board of Australia (DBA). One of the accreditation functions is the assessment of the knowledge, clinical skills and professional attributes of overseas trained dental practitioners who are seeking registration with the DBA to practise in Australia.

 

The ADC examination procedure is available to:

General dentists who:

• hold a university dental degree or diploma obtained after at least four years full-time academic study at an acknowledged university, or an appropriate qualification; and,
• have held full and unrestricted registration/licensure in his/her home country or country of training, and there has been no withdrawal of registration.

Dental Hygienists and/or Dental Therapists who:

• hold a dental hygiene and/or dental therapy qualification which was obtained after at least  two years full-time academic study; and,
• have held full and unrestricted registration/licensure in his/her home country or country of training, and there has been no withdrawal of registration.

The ADC assessment and examination procedure consists of the following steps:

 

 

The ADC Assessment applies to Step 1 of the process.

 

Candidates must also meet specific English language requirements in order to complete the process.

 

The FIRST STEP in the assessment pathway is the initial assessment of your professional qualifications in General Dentistry or as a Dental Hygienist and/or Dental Therapist.

 

The Australian Dental Council (ADC) assesses your professional qualifications as a General Dentist or Dental Hygienist and/or Dental Therapist, work experience, registration history, good standing and other matters to establish your eligibility to proceed with the examinations. This assessment is based on the information you provide in yourApplication for Initial Assessment of Professional Qualifications in Dentistry, or Dental Hygienist and/or Dental Therapist. 

It takes a minimum of eight weeks to conduct the initial assessment of qualifications. Please ensure that you allow sufficient time for your initial assessment to be approved in order to meet the Written Examination closing date deadline.

 

Dental Hygienist and/or Dental Therapist

To apply for an initial assessment as a Dental Hygienist and/or Dental Therapist you must:

hold a dental hygiene and/or dental therapy qualification which was obtained after at least two years' full-time academic study; and,

have held registration/licensure in either your home country or country of training, and there has been no withdrawal of registration.

 

Certified copies of documents:

When sending the required documents with an application please ensure you have carefully read the ADC'sCertification of Documents Guidelines.

Please do not send original documents with your application form. Any original documents submitted to the ADC may not be returned to candidates.

 

Documents in other languages:

All required documents must be provided to the ADC in English. If documents are not in English please refer to the ADC's Translation of Documents Guidelines.

A Letter of Good Standing must be sent directly from your previous or most recent registration/licensing authority to the ADC, so it will not be possible for candidates to have these document translated. Where possible, please request your registration/licensing authority to prepare this Letter of Good Standing in English.

 

Please note:

The assessment of your application may take up to 8 weeks from the date of arrival at the ADC.

ALL applications are assessed in order of receipt.

Applicants are notified in writing of the outcome of the initial assessment.

Incomplete applications (including non-payment of fees) will result in assessment delays.

 

Initial Assessment fees:

Applications will not be assessed until the assessment fee has been paid in full. Please refer to the current fee schedule.

 

 

 

The written examination is STEP 2 of the process.

 

The ADC Written Examination tests the dental practitioner’s knowledge and clinical judgement.

Written examinations are conducted twice each year, in March and September.

If your application for initial assessment of professional qualifications as a dental practitioner is successful you will receive confirmation of your eligibility to undertake the ADC’s examinations.

If you apply for this examination without completing the ADC initial assessment your written examination application will be refused.

 

Written Examination Dates for 2014/2015

4-5 September 2014 – application closing date 1 June 2014 

5-6 March 2015 - application closing date 14 November 2014

3-4 September 2015 - application closing date 29 May 2015

English language Requirements

The ADC does not require candidates to meet the English language requirements in order to apply for or sit the Written Examination. Please note however that the examination will only be held in English.

Written Examination Handbook

For further information please refer to the  ADC Written Examination Handbook. This handbook contains important information relevant to the Written Examination such as:  

• samples of Multiple Choice Questions
• withdrawing from the examination
• issuing of results
• conduct of the examination - expectation of candidates
• suitable recources

 

 

Examination Venues

The ADC Written Examination is offered in multiple locations across Australia and overseas. Refer to the Written Examination Application Form for the current list of examination venues. Candidates are able to nominate their first and second preference for venues, and confirmation of the examination venue is provided to eligible candidates in writing approximately 4 weeks prior to the examination dates.

Candidates residing outside of Australia may take the Written Examination at one of the nominated international venues.

 

Examination Results

The results of the Written Examination will be published on the ADC Candidate Portal. The publication of results on the ADC website will normally be done within 6 weeks of the examination.

Results will not be released by telephone, fax or email.

 

 

Your completed Application for Initial Assessment of Professional Qualifications in Dental Hygienist and/or Dental Therapistassessment form, together with all the required certified documents and the assessment fee must be received by the ADC no later than the closing dates.

 

Written Examination

There are separate Written Examinations for Dental Hygiene, Dental Therapy and combined Dental Hygiene/Therapy candidates. More details on the Written examination please contact the ADC.

Writtten Examination Dates and Venues

18 September 2014 - application closing date 1 August 2014
   - This examination will only be held in Melbourne, Australia.

5-6 March 2015 - application closing date 14 November 2014
3-4 September 2015 - application closing date 29 May 2015
   - These examinations will be held at various locations in Australia and around the world.

 

Practical Examination

There are separate Practical Examinations for Dental Hygiene, Dental Therapy and combined Dental Hygiene/Therapy candidates. More details on the Practical Examination please contact the ADC.

Practical Examination Dates and Venues

28/29 November 2014 - application closing date 24 October 2014
   - This examination will only be held at the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne.

STEP 3 Practical Examination

The Practical Examination is designed to test the practical application of clinical skills and judgement.

 

 

The Practical Examination is the final step of the assessment process.

 

Practical Examination Dates and Venues

The Practical Examination is held twice each year in June and November, at a number of locations across Australia.Venues may change subject to availability. Places are strictly limited for the Practical Examination.

26-28 June 2015 - Opening date for bookings for these examinations will be Tuesday 11 November 2014. The closing date for applications will be Friday 22 May 2015.

    Griffith University, Gold Coast

    Westmead Centre for Oral Health, Sydney

    James Cook University, Cairns

    Oral Health Centre of Western Australia, Perth

27-29 November 2015 - Opening date for bookings for these examinations will be Tuesday 16 June 2015. The closing date for applications will be Friday 23 October 2015

    Royal Dental Hospital, Melbourne

    Westmead Centre for Oral Health, Sydney

    James Cook University, Cairns

    Oral Health Centre of Western Australia, Perth

 

Eligibility to undertake the Practical Examination

Candidates applying to sit the Practical Examination must have a valid Written Examination and English Language test result at the closing date of the relevant examination.

The Written Examination is valid for three years (3) years from the date that results are notified to candidates via the online Candidate Portal or the letter of notification of results.

English language test results are valid for two (2) years from the date of the OET or IELTS examination.

Applying for the Practical Examination

Venue selection is done by candidates using the ADC Candidate Portal. Candidates must select an examination date and venue online to make a 'Provisional Booking'. Candidates must then confirm their booking by submitting thePractical Examination Application form and the examination fee within two weeks, otherwise the ADC will remove their 'Provisional Booking' from the web site and make this space available to other candidates.

Please note that examination sessions cannot be changed after candidates have confirmed their booking with payment. Inability to attend a booked examination will be considered a withdrawal. Candidates should note that withdrawing from an examination incurs a financial penalty.

Candidates can only submit a hard copy Practical Examination Application form once they have selected an examination venue.

 

Content and format of the Practical Examination

The Practical Examination will be held over two days, and is designed to test the application of clinical skills and judgement in a simulated clinical environment. Candidates will be required to register for the examination on the Friday immediately prior to the weekend examination.

In the transition period to the new examination format, candidates who have completed the old Preliminary Written Examination will be required to sit a 2 hour Transitional Written Examination as part of the Practical Examinationprocess. This will be held on the Friday immediately prior to the weekend practical examination. For more details of this transitional paper please contact the ADC via email info@adc.org.au .

All Public Sector Dental Workforce Scheme Candidates will be required to sit the Transitional Written Examination.

Candidates who pass the Transitional Written Examination but fail the Practical Examination will not be required to re-sit the Transitional Written Examination.

Candidates will be required to complete 12 tasks from the following list, with the tasks allocated to candidates on each day of the examination. In addition, Infection Control will be assessed during the examination.

 

• Class II amalgam preparation
• Class II amalgam restoration (on a pre-prepared tooth)
• Class II resin composite restoration (on a pre-prepared tooth)
• Class III resin composite preparation
• Class IV resin composite restoration
• Full gold crown preparation
• Metal-ceramic (porcelain fused to metal) crown preparation
• Fabricate a provisional crown restoration for a pre-prepared metal-ceramic (porcelain fused to metal)  crown preparation
• Endodontic access on molar tooth
• Take nominated radiographs on a manikin
• Rubber dam application
• Clinical communication
• Dental record keeping

 

Examination Results

The results of the Practical Examination will be published on the ADC Candidate Portal. The publishing of results onto the website will normally be done within 6 weeks of the examination.

 Results will not be released by telephone, fax or email.

 

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

 

As part of the eligibility to sit ADC's practical examination, overseas trained dental practitioners must successfully complete either of the following English language tests at the specified level:

the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) academic module, with a minimum score of seven in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking); or

the Occupational English Test (OET), with grades of A or B in each of the four sub-tests (listening, reading, writing and speaking).

All components or sub-tests of either test must be passed at the specified level in a single sitting.

A pass in the IELTS or OET (at the specified level) is valid for two years only, from the date of the examination.

Candidates must provide evidence that they hold a valid pass at the specified level in the IELTS or OET at the closing date for examination applications for the Practical examination.

Exemptions

An exemption from the English language requirements may be granted where the candidate provides satisfactory evidence that:

he/she undertook and completed secondary education that was taught and assessed in English in one of the countries listed below; and

his/her tertiary qualifications in the relevant professional discipline were taught and assessed in English in one of the seven countries listed below:

• Australia
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Republic of Ireland
• South Africa
• United Kingdom
• United States of America.

 

The ADC reserves the right at any time to revoke an exemption and/or require an applicant to undertake a specified English language test. For further information please refer to ADC's English language test requirements.

 

Further information

The IELTS and OET are administered independently of the ADC and further information can be found at:

IELTS http://www.ielts.org/

OEThttp://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/