AMC Exam

AMC Pathway for Indian Students to Medical Residency in Australia

Australia is rapidly emerging as a top destination for Indian Medical Graduates (IMGs) seeking residency training. The pathway, overseen by the Australian Medical Council Exam (AMC), is structured and rigorous. This guide provides a clear, step-by-step overview for an Indian MBBS graduate to achieve medical residency (specialist training) in Australia.

Below are the important Steps during the Australia Residency Program:

1. Finish MBBS Degree & Check the Eligibility
2. Create AMC Account & Verify Credentials
3. Prepare for and Pass AMC Part 1
4. Take an English Proficiency Test
5. Pass AMC Part 2 (OSCE Form)
6. Obtain an Australian Visa
7. Apply for Jobs (Supervised Practice)
8. Apply for Jobs (Supervised Practice)
9. Complete 12 Months Supervised Practice
10. Obtain General Registration
11. Join a Specialty Training Program (Residency)
12. Cost of AMC Residency Pathway

Pre-Application & Eligibility Criteria for AMC Exam 2026

• You must have completed your MBBS from a medical college listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS).
• Your Medical College must be in the WDOMS list.
• There is no official upper age limit.
• You will need to prove your proficiency, typically with IELTS (minimum 7.5 overall, 7.0 in each band) or OET (Grade B in each section). (Though it's not required to appear for AMC exam, it will be needed at the registration and employment stage)

Set Up Your AMC Account & Verify Credentials

To start your medical career in the U.S., you need to pass the Australian Medical Council Examination. The first part is the AMC CAT MCQ Exam. Here is how you begin.

How to apply for the AMC Exam?

Your first task is to prove your education is genuine.

1. Create your AMC online account. This is your personal hub for the entire process.
2. Verify your medical credentials. You will use a service called EPIC to do this. You will upload your medical degree, your official transcript, and a copy of your passport.
3. EPIC checks these documents with your university to confirm they are real. This is called primary source verification.

Note: This verification can take a few weeks. Start as early as you can to avoid delays.

The AMC Examinations

AMC is a two step examination. Below is the table for the Top nationalities that applied for the AMC examination in 2024.

Understanding the AMC Part 1 MCQ Exam

Let's break down the key details of the AMC Part 1 MCQ Exam. This is the test that checks your clinical knowledge to ensure you're ready to practice.

What is the Exam Like?

• Goal: The exam tests the medical knowledge you learned in school. It makes sure you have the same understanding as a new medical graduate.
• Format: It is a computer-based test with 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The computer adapts the questions based on how you are doing.
• Time: You will have 3.5 hours (210 minutes) to complete it.

What Does the Test Cover?

The exam syllabus covers all the major areas of medicine. You need to be prepared for questions on:

• Internal Medicine
• Surgery
• Pediatrics
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Where and When Can You Take It?

• Exam Centers: You will take the test at a Pearson Professional Center. There are AMC examination centers in India in 15 cities- including Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune.
• Schedule: The exam is available throughout the year. You can usually book your AMC exam slot up to 12 months in advance.

Cost and Passing Score

Exam Fee: The total cost has two parts:

1. The main exam authorization fee is AUD $2,920.
2. An initial verification fee of about AUD $642 to set up your portfolio.

Passing Marks: You need to score around the mid-250s out of a possible 500 to pass.

Passing Rate: Historically, about 45-50% of test-takers pass. Good preparation is key to succeeding on your first try.

Understanding the AMC Part 2 Clinical Exam (OSCE)

The AMC Part 2 is a practical test of your clinical skills. Think of it as showing what you can do, not just what you know. It is often called an OSCE exam.

What is the Exam Like?

This exam tests your real-world doctor skills. You will need to show you can:

• Talk clearly with patients.
• Perform a physical examination.
• Use clinical reasoning to figure out what is wrong.
• Create a good patient management plan.

The test has 16 stations, each with a different scenario.

For each station:

• You get 2 minutes to read about the case.
• Then, you have 8 minutes inside the room to perform the task.

Key Exam Details

• Exam Location: This clinical skills exam is only held in Melbourne, Australia.
• Exam Dates: The testing cycle is from March to May 2025.
• Important: There is often a waiting time of several months to get an appointment, so plan ahead.
• Exam Fee: The cost is AUD $3,000.

Passing the Exam: What You Need to Know?

This is a challenging test, and the passing rate is low.

• Passing Score: You must pass 9 out of the 14 scored stations. You are allowed to skip 2 stations.
• Passing Rate: The overall pass rate is only about 21%. This means many people need to take the exam more than once.

Because it is so difficult, thorough preparation is the most important key to success.

Australian Visa Information for Indian Doctors

Here's a simple guide to the Australian visa process for your medical journey.

For Your Exam or Interview

Most Indian medical graduates travel to Australia on a visitor visa. This is for when you need to take the AMC 2 OSCE exam or attend a job interview.

To Work as a Doctor in Australia

After you pass the AMC examination and receive a job offer, you will need a work visa. Australian hospitals typically sponsor doctors on a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa. At this stage, you must also prove your English language proficiency.

Your Supervised Training Year in Australia

After you pass your AMC exams and meet the English language requirement, you are ready for the final step. This involves getting a supervised job to become fully licensed.

Step 1: Get Registered and Find a Job

First, you apply for provisional registration with the Medical Board of Australia. This allows you to work under supervision.

Now, you must find a job in an Australian hospital. This role is often called a Resident Medical Officer (RMO).

How to apply for jobs:

• Use Australian health service job websites.
• You will need a strong CV, a cover letter, and strong references.
• A poor CV can mean no interview, even if you are qualified.
• If shortlisted, you will have a video interview.

Be prepared: Getting your first job can take time and many applications.

Step 2: Complete Your 12-Month Supervised Practice

Once you have a job, you will work for 12 months under supervision in a public hospital.

• This is your supervised practice year.
• You will rotate through core areas like medicine, surgery, and emergency.
• You are provisionally registered and cannot work independently yet.
• Your supervisors will assess your work.

Step 3: Become a Fully Registered Doctor

After you successfully finish your supervised year, you can apply for general registration.

This is your goal! General registration means you are a fully licensed doctor in Australia. You can now:

• Practice medicine independently without supervision.
• Begin to pursue medical specialization.
• Your standing is equal to that of an Australian-trained doctor.

Your Specialty or Residency Training Program in Australia

Once you have your general registration, you can begin your journey to become a specialist. This is often called a specialty training or residency program.

How to Apply for Specialty Training?

Australia does not have one central matching system. Instead, you apply directly to the college for your chosen specialty.

Specialist colleges manage all training. For example:

• Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) for internal medicine.
• Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) for surgery.
• Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) for family medicine.

The application process is competitive. You will need to apply directly, often including interviews and meeting specific criteria.

Understanding the Training Program

When you are accepted into a program, you become a Registrar. This is a trainee in your chosen specialty.

• You will follow a structured curriculum for several years.
• The duration of residency in Australia varies by specialty.

How Long is Residency Training?

Specialty training length depends on your field:

• General Practice (GP) Training: About 3 years.
• Internal Medicine Training: Often 6 years total.
• Surgical Training: Typically 5 to 7 years.
• Emergency Medicine Training: About 5 years.

Your next step is to research the specific specialist college for your chosen career path.

Your Salary and Career as a Specialist

During your specialty training, you will work as a medical registrar. This is a paid position in a hospital.

• You will earn a full registrar's salary while you learn. This is typically over AUD $110,000 per year(over 50 lakh INR).
• This makes your training a paid, on-the-job experience.

After you finish all your training requirements and pass your final exams, you become a specialist. This is often called becoming a "Fellow" of your college.

• You are now a consultant specialist or a General Practitioner (GP).
• You are fully qualified to practice medicine independently in Australia.

Cost of the AMC Pathway to Australia

Here is a simple breakdown of the main costs for Indian doctors to become licensed in Australia.

Official Fees and Exam Costs

These are the required payments to the Australian Medical Council test and other official bodies.

Important Note: To strengthen your application, you should also budget for exam

preparation materials and research experience. This may cost an additional 3-4 Lakh INR.

Planning for a total of around 15 Lakh INR is a good idea.

The AMC pathway cost is generally less than the USMLE (USA) but more than the PLAB (UK) route.

Alternative Pathways to AMC Exam (Competent Authority)

You may be able to bypass the AMC exams through the Competent Authority Pathway. This is an alternative pathway for IMGs who are already certified in certain other countries.

In the event you have qualified in one of these exams, you may not be required to pass the AMC tests:

• USA: Gain ECFMG certificate and US training.
• UK: Hold GMC registration (after passing PLAB and completing your FY1).
• Canada: Hold the LMCC qualification.
• New Zealand: Pass the NZREX.
• Ireland: Graduates of Irish medical schools (or PRES exam)

A Smart Strategy for Indian Graduates

For Indian medical graduates, this is important. Since the AMC exam passing rate is low, consider aiming for the USMLE or PLAB exam first. They have a greater probability of success and may also result in registration in Australia.

Consult with MOKSH Academy

AMC exam stressing you out? Let MOKSH Academy guide you. We offer professional AMC exam preparation and individual counseling to enable you to succeed. Get confident in the advanced practice of becoming a doctor in Australia.