For hospital non-specialists

A hospital non-specialist refers to a doctor without postgraduate medical qualifications who receives a government salary for the delivery of non-specialist healthcare services in a public hospital to public patients.

The public hospital system in Australia is excellent and provides many opportunities for overseas trained doctors (OTDs) wishing to work in Australia---particularly for those OTDs not yet able to gain full medical registration or recognition of their qualifications as a general practitioner (GP/family physician) or specialist, as well as for those who wish to work in Australia temporarily or who are seeking a postgraduate (occupational) training position.

The requirements for medical registration for hospital non-specialists in Australia may vary between Australian States and Territories and you should check the specific requirements with the appropriate State or Territory Medical Board.

The OTD must apply for a position in an Area of Need, if they wish to work as a hospital non-specialist and they do not have full medical registration in Australia. The employer (the hospital), will determine your suitability for the position. If they are satisfied that you are suitable for the position (including your English language proficiency), the employer will sponsor you for immigration purposes and support your application for conditional medical registration for the position.

The Medical Board will notify the hospital of their decision, and the hospital or medical recruiter will advise the doctor of the outcome. Although the Medical Boards may accept an employer’s assessment of the suitability of an applicant, this is not automatic.

Successful application will result in conditional medical registration for the OTD. This registration is location and job specific and you may not change jobs without reapplying for medical registration and your visa (unless you are a permanent resident, in which case only your registration is affected).

Please note: some Medical Boards may require you to attend a formal interview as part of the application process. This can sometimes be conducted remotely if you are currently located overseas, but you should check this requirement first with your employer.

Responsibility for payment of the application fees for medical registration usually rests with an OTD, however, check first with your employer or the recruitment agency.

DoctorConnect’s Finding a job section is a good starting point for sources of employment opportunities in public hospitals.

Information required

Although this may vary between States and Territories, the following items are a good indication of basic information that may be required by the Medical Boards for your application for medical registration in Australia:

• Evidence that the applicant is proficient in English;
• Certified copies of medical degrees and other qualifications (including a certified translation if the qualifications are not in English);
• Evidence of the applicant’s identity, e.g. certified photographs, drivers licence etc.;
• A certificate of good standing from medical registration authorities where the applicant is currently registered as a doctor;
• Police check(s)/clearance(s);
• A detailed curriculum vitae (resume);
• Evidence that the applicant has a job offer in Australia and a position description from the employer;
• Evidence that the job is in an Area of Need (generally the applicant’s Australian employer will be able to obtain Area of Need approval from the State or Territory Government and give it to the applicant);
• Evidence of the applicant’s physical and mental health; and
• Relevant Medical Board registration application form.