SIMG overview
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Introduction
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) to train surgeons and maintain surgical standards. This area contains general information for Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) wishing to practice in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
The role of the Australian Medical Council (AMC) & the Medical Board of Australia (MBA)
Introduction
Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) with formal postgraduate specialist qualifications in surgery who wish to work in Australia can apply to RACS for an assessment of their qualifications and experience.
The SIMG assessment process for specialist recognition and Fellowship of RACS evaluates the training, qualifications and experience of the SIMG for comparability with an Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand trained surgeon.
The role of the Australian Medical Council (AMC) & Medical Board of Australia (MBA)
The Medical Board of Australia (MBA or the Board) is responsible for medical registration in Australia. The MBA is supported by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
The Australian Medical Council (AMC) is the verifications authority of Australia, responsible for maintaining the AMC's qualifications portal. The AMC qualifications portal is utilised as a means of communication both by RACS (for assessment purposes) and the MBA (for registration purposes).
All SIMGs applying for a pathway with RACS must first apply for primary source verification of their medical qualifications through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials (EPIC). The verification appears on the SIMG’s portfolio in the AMC portal and enables RACS to carry out the assessment.
The MBA receives the outcome of RACS's assessment, again via the AMC qualifications portal, and determines the type of registration the SIMG is eligible for. The MBA makes the final decision on whether to grant registration.
Information on the registration categories and type of positions that medical practitioners in the Specialist pathway can apply for is available on the MBA website.
The role of the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ)
The MCNZ assessment process for vocational registration evaluates the comparability of an SIMG's training, qualifications and experience to that of a New Zealand vocationally registered doctor in the same specialty who holds the MCNZ prescribed New Zealand / Australasian post graduate qualification (e.g. a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, FRACS).
The Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) is responsible for medical registration in New Zealand. SIMGs must apply directly to the MCNZ for registration to practice medicine in New Zealand. The MCNZ determines the type of registration for which an SIMG is eligible and makes the final decision on whether to grant registration. Information about registration categories and the types of positions medical practitioners can apply for is available on MCNZ's website.
For medical registration requirements in New Zealand, please contact:
Medical Council of New Zealand
PO Box 11649
Wellington New Zealand
Telephone: +64 4 384 7635
Fax: +64 4 385 8902