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Medical registration in Australia (AHPRA)

Before you can work clinically in Australia you must register with the relevant national board through AHPRA — the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. For UK-trained clinicians the process is more favourable than for almost any other country — here's how it works.

Doctors: the Competent Authority Pathway (CAP)

The CAP is the standard route for UK-trained doctors and it lets you skip the Australian Medical Council (AMC) exams entirely. You're eligible if you hold General Medical Council (GMC) registration via a UK primary medical qualification — completing UK Foundation Year 1 or passing PLAB (the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board test) both count.

  1. Secure a job offer from an Australian employer (registration is tied to a position).
  2. Verify your qualifications through EPIC — the Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials, run by the US-based ECFMG.
  3. Apply to AHPRA for provisional registration — apply 3–6 months before your start date.
  4. Work 12 months under supervision in an approved position.
  5. Convert to general registration.

Consultants & GPs: the Expedited Specialist Pathway

Since 2024–25, UK specialists in priority fields (GPs first, then anaesthetics, psychiatry, obstetrics & gynaecology and others) can apply directly for specialist registration, bypassing most of the usual college assessment. You complete around six months of supervised practice plus orientation, instead of the multi-year comparability process. If you're a UK GP holding MRCGP (Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners) and your CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training), this is currently one of the fastest specialist migration routes in the world.

Nurses & midwives

UK nurses register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) via AHPRA. Most UK-trained RNs qualify through the standard international route: qualification assessment, English language evidence (often exempt for UK training), and an outcome-based assessment (OBA) where required.

Allied health

Each profession has its own board (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, radiography, psychology, pharmacy and more). Requirements vary, but UK qualifications are generally well-recognised. Check your specific board on the AHPRA website.

Costs & timing (doctors, indicative)

  • AHPRA application fee: ~A$720 (provisional registration)
  • Annual registration fee: ~A$1,058 (extra levy in NSW)
  • EPIC verification: ~US$100–200 per document
  • Apply at least 3 months before your start date; up to 6 months early is allowed

Official links

Heads up: requirements change. This page is a roadmap, not a rulebook — always confirm current criteria on the official board pages above before paying any fees.