The alternative to the AMC Clinical Exam on the Standard Pathway. Assesses your clinical performance in a real workplace over 6â12 months rather than in a single exam day â but it comes with a catch: you need the job first.
â ī¸ Last verified: 11 July 2026. Sourced from the AMC and multiple AMC-accredited hospital WBA programs. Places, fees, and specific site requirements vary â confirm with amc.org.au â Workplace Based Assessment and your prospective employer.
What it is
On the Standard Pathway, after passing the AMC CAT MCQ exam, you need to demonstrate clinical competence one of two ways: the AMC Clinical Exam (a single-day, 16-station structured assessment) or Workplace-Based Assessment (WBA) â a 6 to 12 month program where you're assessed on the job at an AMC-accredited hospital or general practice. Both lead to the same outcome: the AMC Certificate, which then lets you apply for general registration.
AMC Clinical Exam
Single day, 16 stations, 10 min each
Can sit without a job lined up first
One assessment â pass or fail on the day
Fixed exam-centre schedule and fee
Workplace-Based Assessment
6â12 months, continuous, real clinical setting
Requires you already have the job first
Multiple assessment methods, ongoing feedback
Fee varies by hospital (recent examples ~$15,000, paid in instalments, plus a separate AMC administration fee)
â ī¸ The job-first constraint is the single most misunderstood part of this choice. WBA is only available if you're already working at an AMC-accredited WBA site under limited registration. You can't apply for WBA speculatively â you need to secure the position first, then apply for the WBA place at that site. The AMC Clinical Exam, by contrast, can be sat without a confirmed job.
What's assessed
WBA evaluates you across the same 6 clinical areas as the AMC Clinical Exam, to the standard expected of an Australian medical graduate at the end of PGY1 (internship level):
DOPS (Direct Observation of Procedural Skills) â observed practical procedures
Case-Based Discussion (CBD) â structured discussion of your clinical reasoning on specific cases
Supervisor reports â regular structured feedback from your supervising clinicians
Multi-Source Feedback (MSF) â input from colleagues and other healthcare professionals you work with
All assessments are reviewed and signed off by the WBA Program Director, uploaded to the AMC's WBA portal, and reviewed by the AMC on program completion.
Eligibility requirements
Passed the AMC CAT MCQ examination
Hold (or are eligible for) limited registration with the Medical Board of Australia
Have an offer of employment at an AMC-accredited WBA site â hospital or general practice
Meet the English language skills registration standard
Some sites require completion of an observership program first â this varies by hospital, not universal
How to apply
Pass the AMC CAT MCQ exam first â this is a prerequisite for either pathway
Find an AMC-accredited WBA provider (hospital or GP site) â availability varies by state and hospital
Apply for the clinical position at that site directly, and express interest in the WBA program in your application
If successful, the site nominates you through the AMC's WBA portal
The AMC verifies your eligibility (CAT MCQ pass, not concurrently enrolled in the Clinical Exam)
If offered a place, you'll need to withdraw from any current AMC Clinical Exam enrolment â the two pathways are mutually exclusive during the WBA period
Can I do WBA and Clinical Exam at the same time?
No. If you accept a WBA place, you cannot be enrolled in the AMC Clinical Exam for that 12-month period. If you're already enrolled in the Clinical Exam when offered a WBA place, you'll need to withdraw from the exam to accept the WBA offer.
Does completing WBA guarantee general registration?
No. Successful completion of WBA results in the AMC Certificate â the same outcome as passing the Clinical Exam. You still need to separately meet all Medical Board of Australia requirements (including supervised practice) before general registration is granted.
đĄ WBA suits people who perform better with continuous, real-world assessment and ongoing feedback rather than high-stakes single-day exams â but only if you can secure the right job at an accredited site. If you need a pathway with fewer dependencies on landing a specific job first, the Clinical Exam may be the more predictable route.
â WBA readiness self-check
Tick the items you've sorted. This doesn't determine eligibility â it helps you see what's left to organise.
âšī¸ General information only, not immigration or career advice. WBA program availability, fees, and site-specific requirements change and vary by hospital. Confirm current details with the AMC and your prospective employer before making decisions. Last verified: 11 July 2026.