⚠️ This is a general guide, not personalised advice. IMG requirements differ by your country of training and change over time. Always confirm current requirements with AHPRA, the Medical Board, RACGP/ACRRM, the AMC, and Services Australia (132 150). This is not immigration, legal, or financial advice.

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Phase 1 — Get registered & set up to work safely

Before you see any patients.

Confirm your AHPRA registration is current

And that it is appropriate for your level of practice (supervised or unsupervised, as required). ahpra.gov.au

Join a medical indemnity insurer

Before seeing any patients. MIGA, Avant and MDA National are the main options. Compare cover →

Check the practice is in a District of Workforce Shortage (DWS)

Use the Health Workforce Locator before signing a contract — your Medicare billing depends on it. health.gov.au

Read your employment contract carefully

Understand percentage-of-billings vs salary, and what happens if the practice stops bulk billing. Salaried vs % vs owner →

Phase 2 — Get billing-ready under Medicare

So your services attract Medicare benefits.

Apply for your section 19AB exemption & provider number

Work with your employer and allow several weeks. Services Australia · 132 150

Apply for your prescriber number

At the same time as your provider number. Once you can prescribe on the PBS, learn how eScripts work and what the restriction labels mean: How eScripts work → · PBS restriction levels →

Understand your billing classification

Are you a Medical Practitioner (MP) or Prescribed Medical Practitioner (PMP)? Until fellowship you bill Group A2 items (52, 53, 54, 57…), not the full GP set. Non-VR billing guide →

Phase 3 — Work towards fellowship

Fellowship removes the billing restrictions and opens the full GP item set (23/36/44…).

AMC assessment (if required for your country of training)

If your primary qualification is not from an AMC-comparable country, sit the AMC exams (MCQ + clinical) for provisional registration. amc.org.au

Start your fellowship pathway early

Contact RACGP (OSCAR / Fellowship by Assessment / AGPT) or ACRRM about IMG assessment as soon as you are settled — requirements differ by country of training. Compare RACGP vs ACRRM → · RACGP IMGs · ACRRM

Achieve FRACGP or FACRRM

Vocational registration as a GP — this removes the billing restrictions and opens the full GP item set. Fellowship exam prep →

📚 Essential AU clinical references

The day-to-day resources practising AU GPs use — orient yourself early. These won't be in any of the AMC or registration material.

💊 Therapeutic Guidelines (eTG) — the standard AU treatment reference, used in nearly every consult. Subscription — ask the practice for access
📒 Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH) — AU drug reference, dosing & interactions (often bundled with eTG)
💉 Australian Immunisation Handbook — ATAGI guidance, free. Canonical for any vaccine question
🩺 DermNet — free dermatology atlas with images (NZ-based, widely used in AU)
🔬 STI Guidelines Australia — ASHM, free. The reference for STI testing & treatment
🧪 RCPA Pathology Manual — when to order each test, specimen type, interpretation
📕 RACGP Red Book — preventive activities (screening recommendations by age)

Many practices keep a copy of John Murtagh's General Practice — the standard AU GP textbook — in consulting rooms. Worth asking about.

IMG Progress Tracker

Phase 1 — Get registered & set up to work safely

Phase 2 — Get billing-ready under Medicare

Phase 3 — Work towards fellowship

📚 Essential AU clinical references