Am I eligible to work as a GP in Australia?
GP registration in Australia is not the same for every overseas-trained doctor. Each GP registration pathway has different requirements, timelines, and costs and the right one depends entirely on your background.
Use our free GP Eligibility Pathway Self-Assessment Tool to find out which pathways you are eligible for, compare them, and get a clear recommendation for your situation.
* For international medical graduates (IMGs) actively exploring a move to Australia.
16 years
experience in IMG and Australian GP recruitment
and practice management consulting
600+
successfully placed Australian GPs and IMG
across Australia
5
major GP registration pathways
recognized in Australia
You know you want to move to Australia. You just don’t know the fastest way to get there.
As an international medical graduate, you have probably already read the AHPRA website, asked ChatGPT, and scrolled through expat doctor forums. You have a broad picture. But when it comes to which pathway actually makes sense for your specific qualifications, timeline, and goals, the answer still is not clear.
Here are the GP registration pathways in Australia. The gap between each pathway is significant:
ESP: Expedited Specialist Pathway
Fast track via AHPRA for GPs with a recognised overseas fellowship. Bypasses AMC exams entirely.
PEP: Practice Experience Program
RACGP’s supervised practice experience program (PEP) pathway towards FRACGP is suitable for overseas-trained doctors with an overseas specialist qualification. Your comparability assessment determines which PEP stream applies to you.
PEP: Substantially Comparable Pathway
Your overseas qualifications closely match Australian GP standards. A shorter supervised practice period is required before working towards FRACGP for PEP Substantially Comparable stream.
PEP: Partially Comparable Pathway
Some requirements are met, but additional training steps are needed. A longer supervised practice period applies before working towards FRACGP for PEP Partially Comparable stream.
CAP: Competent Authority Pathway
For GPs from select countries with a recognised competent authority. A streamlined alternative to the full AMC examination process.
Standard Pathway via AMC
An examination based route for internationally trained GPs. This is a valid pathway but one Alecto does not specialise in. We are happy to point you in the right direction if this applies to you.
It takes less than 2 minutes!
Step 1
Tell us about your background
A few quick questions about your qualifications, training, and where you are in the process. It takes less than 2 minutes.
Step 2
Get your GP eligibility pathway result
We’ll show you which pathways you’re eligible for and tell you which one we’d recommend for your specific situation.
Step 3
Take the next step with confidence
No more second-guessing. You will leave with a recommended GP registration pathway and a clear sense of the next steps.
GPs who’ve made the move, in their own words.
Alecto have supported me in moving to and finding a job in Perth twice now both in 2014 and again this year. They offer a bespoke service and personal touch. They are responsive and proactive and help you every step of the way. – Dr. Carolyn Berry
Very helpful during the full process, very quick to reply to emails with any queries. Very happy working with Alecto, great support from the start right up until starting work in Australia. – Áine O’Meara
All recruitment staff I came into contact with at Alecto were incredibly helpful, they understood my needs, were courteous, responsive, reliable and professional to deal with. I was very impressed. – Lisa Chang
Hundreds of international GPs placed · Doctors from the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada and beyond · Every major registration pathway covered.
Common Questions of Overseas GPs
about GP Registration Pathways in Australia
Who is the GP Eligibility Pathway Self-Assessment Tool designed for?
The GP Eligibility Pathway Self-Assessment Tool is designed for international medical graduates (IMGs), international GPs, and overseas trained doctors who are actively considering a move to Australia.
It is most relevant if you hold an overseas GP qualification or fellowship and want to understand which Australian registration pathway applies to your specific background, how long it will take, and what it will cost.
The tool covers the ESP, PEP (including Substantially Comparable and Partially Comparable streams), and the Competent Authority Pathway. If the Standard AMC Pathway is your most likely route, we will let you know and point you to the right resources.
What are the GP registration pathways in Australia?
There are four main routes. The ESP (Expedited Specialist Pathway) is AHPRA’s fast track for GPs with a recognised overseas fellowship. The PEP (Practice Experience Program) is an RACGP supervised program working towards FRACGP. The CAP (Competent Authority Pathway) is for GPs from countries with a recognised competent authority. The Standard AMC Pathway is an examination based route, though outside Alecto’s area of specialisation.
I have my MRCGP from the UK. Can I register as a GP in Australia without sitting AMC exams?
Yes. If you hold the MRCGP, you are likely eligible for the Expedited Specialist Pathway (ESP), which allows you to register as a specialist GP in Australia without sitting AMC examinations. AHPRA assesses your fellowship directly. The ESP is the fastest route to full specialist registration and is the pathway Alecto most commonly supports for UK trained GPs. Our eligibility tool will confirm whether ESP applies to your specific situation.
I am an internationally trained GP with an overseas specialist qualification. How do I get FRACGP in Australia?
The Practice Experience Program (PEP) is the most likely route for you. The RACGP will assess your overseas qualification against Australian standards through a comparability assessment, determining whether you are substantially or partially comparable. From there you complete a supervised practice program in Australia, working towards Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP). Alecto supports GPs through both the substantially comparable and partially comparable streams of PEP.
I qualified as a GP in the UK or Ireland. Do I have to sit AMC exams to work in Australia?
Not necessarily. GPs who qualified in the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, or the USA may be eligible for the Competent Authority Pathway (CAP), which bypasses the full AMC examination process. Eligibility depends on your specific country of qualification, your primary medical qualification, and your registration status. Our tool will assess whether CAP applies to you and how it compares to other pathways available for your background.
How do I know which GP registration pathway is right for me?
The right pathway depends on your overseas qualifications, fellowship status, and career goals. The ESP is fastest if you hold a recognised overseas GP fellowship. The PEP suits GPs with an overseas specialist qualification working towards FRACGP. The CAP is available to GPs from select countries with a recognised competent authority. Our tool assesses your specific situation and gives you a direct recommendation.
Can I bill Medicare while completing a registration pathway?
Yes, in most cases. GPs on both the PEP and ESP pathways can access Medicare provider numbers and bill at applicable item rates while completing their pathway requirements. The specific billing conditions depend on your registration status, practice location, and any applicable DPA or 19AB conditions.
I am an overseas trained GP, do I qualify for the Competent Authority Pathway to register in Australia?
You may qualify for the Competent Authority Pathway (CAP) if you completed your primary medical qualification in one of the following recognised countries:
- United Kingdom (GMC)
- Ireland (Medical Council of Ireland)
- Canada (Medical Council of Canada)
- New Zealand (Medical Council of New Zealand)
- United States of America (ECFMG)
Eligibility also depends on your specific qualification, registration status, and whether your degree was awarded by a recognised institution in that country. The GP Eligibility Pathway Self-Assessment Tool will assess whether CAP applies to your situation and how it compares to other pathways available for your background.
How is the Alecto's GP Eligibility Pathway tool different from general AHPRA information?
AHPRA publishes general pathway requirements. What it cannot do is assess your specific background against each pathway, compare them on realistic timeline and cost, and give you a direct recommendation. That is what 16 years of placing GPs across every major pathway gives us. That is what the tool is built on.