title: Nationally consistent assessment of international medical graduates.
abstract: The need for consistency in assessing international medical graduates for work in Australia led the Council of Australian Governments, in 2006, to direct health ministers to implement a nationally consistent approach. An Implementation Committee was established in late 2006 to oversee the development of the new assessment process; the first steps were completed by July 2007 and further development will occur over the next 12 months. The pre-existing Australian Medical Council (AMC) examination pathway will continue to be available, and there will be two additional pathways for non-specialists. The pre-existing pathway for specialists is being revised. Elements that are being introduced include: standardised pre-employment assessment, including an off-shore screening examination; assessment of competence against a standardised position description and, if necessary, a structured clinical interview by an AMC-accredited provider before obtaining limited registration; orientation to the job, the Australian health care system and to communication and cultural issues; standardised supervision and supervisory reporting; a requirement for compulsory continuing professional development for reregistration; workplace-based assessment; assessment by an AMC-accredited provider before gaining full registration; and consistency of assessment for specialists by specialist colleges. Some elements have been operating in some jurisdictions from July 2007, and there is a commitment to full implementation in participating jurisdictions by July 2008.
authors.affiliation: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra, ACT. Rick.mclean@health.gov.au
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D005550:Foreign Medical Graduates / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians / Q000458:organization & administration