Overview of the expedited specialist pathway
The proposed expedited specialist pathway for anaesthesia specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs) for eligible qualifications, is due to be implemented by the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) by the end of December 2024. To date, anaesthesia is one of the four medical specialities that have been identified as a priority for implementation, with other medical specialities anticipated to transition in 2025 or onwards.
The new expedited specialist pathway is a streamlined process designed to accelerate the assessment and recognition of overseas-trained specialist who demonstrate that they meet specific eligibility criteria. However, this pathway will bypass existing medical college assessment processes, with MBA to conduct paper-based assessment of SIMGs and then approving them for specialist registration in Australia. For further information on the pathway please refer to the MBA website.
The expedited pathway offered by MBA does not lead to an ANZCA fellowship (i.e. FANZCA). If a SIMG is interested in pursuing fellowship, ANZCA has developed a pathway to ANZCA fellowship to be undertaken by this cohort, to run concurrently with the expedited pathway, and if successful will lead to ANZCA fellowship.
The MBA expedited specialist pathway is for SIMGs seeking specialist registration in Australia.
This pathway will be available to specialist qualifications the Australian Medical Council (AMC) has assessed as substantially comparable, or based on similar competencies, to an approved Australian specialist qualification in the specialty. As a result, an expedited specialist pathway in anaesthesia will be available to those anaesthesia SIMGs with full specialist qualifications from the United Kingdom and Ireland. The final details including eligibility will be available later this month from the MBA.
To be eligible to apply for the specialist registration through the expedited specialist pathway, SIMGs must hold recognised overseas specialist qualifications on the Expedited Specialist pathway: accepted qualifications list.
For more detailed information, including the registration and application process, please visit MBA’s website.
Please refer to the MBA’s website for more information.
While the expedited specialist pathway allows SIMGs from UK and Ireland to bypass the college and be granted specialist registration to work in Australia potentially faster, it does not provide the meaningful and ongoing support and recognition as the college fellowship program uniquely offers. Specialists who do not undertake the pathway to ANZCA fellowship may have impacts on supervision and training roles they may wish to undertake. You will also miss out on exclusive member benefits and an anaesthesia community of practice within Australia.
The college recommends that potential specialists that meet relevant criteria undertake the pathway to ANZCA fellowship offered by the college as a comprehensive preparation to working in Australia and community of practice support, leading to membership of an organisation that is world-renowned for promoting safe and high-quality care. If specialists undertake the alternative expedited specialist pathway process, the college strongly recommends undertaking the pathway to ANZCA fellowship in parallel to gain the benefits.
The pathway to ANZCA fellowship offers you the opportunity to join the college continuing professional development (CPD) home, access to personalised support, professional networks and development opportunities.
The college has recently developed a video in relation to the benefits of ANZCA fellowship – to view this video please click here.
Our existing SIMGs have greatly valued the support and information provided as part of the ANZCA fellowship program, to successfully transition to Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand’s health and cultural environment. Some of these testaments are captured here.
For further information on the benefits of ANZCA fellowship, please refer here.
Those who have been accepted into the expedited specialist pathway are eligible to apply to undertake the pathway to ANZCA fellowship.
Those undertaking the SIMG pathway (through ANZCA) are not required to undertake the pathway to ANZCA fellowship as these components are already included in the assessment process.
The pathway to ANZCA fellowship is designed to run in parallel with the expedited pathway to maximise timelines and ensure alignment with MBA expectations for a streamlined ‘expedited’ process. Therefore, the requirements being introduced to obtain ANZCA fellowship include:
- Undertake six months full-time equivalent clinical practice assessment (inclusive of the supervised practice required for the MBA expedited specialist pathway), AND
- Evidence of completion of an Effective Management of Anaesthetic Crises (EMAC), AND
- Successfully complete the SIMG performance assessment (PA) , AND
- Participate in the ANZCA/FPM continuing professional development (CPD) program, AND
- Completion of all MBA expedited specialist pathway requirements and satisfactorily completed all requirements specified by the college
Detailed requirements will be published on our website in due course.
Yes, you can. Please submit the transition application to the SIMG team for assessment once you have accepted onto the expedited specialist pathway.
Yes, you can. However, we highly recommend that you undertake a pathway to ANZCA fellowship to run in parallel with the expedited specialist pathway to maximise timelines and ensure alignment with MBA expectations for a streamlined ‘expedited’ process.
All application and program fees are non-refundable except annual fees which may be refunded on a pro-rata basis.
If you have paid your performance assessment (PA) fee but the assessment has not yet taken place, please contact the SIMG team for advice.
Please submit the application form for pathway to ANZCA fellowship to [email protected] for assessment.
FAQs for SIMGs are on MBA’s FAQs page.
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Our SIMG assessment process evaluates the ability of a specialist to practise as an unsupervised specialist anaesthetist and/or pain medicine specialist at a standard comparable to that required of a fellow of ANZCA (FANZCA) or fellow of the Faculty of Pain Medicine (FFPMANZCA).
The Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) has introduced a new fast-track registration for specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs), enhancing support for New Zealand’s medical workforce.
Applicants who wish to enter a short-term training (STT) position in specialist anaesthesia or pain medicine in Australia must be assessed for the purpose of medical registration. This pathway does not lead to fellowship.
The SPR is prepared for all applicants in Australia and summarises the initial assessment of an SIMG’s suitability to enter the SIMG process.
The clinical practice assessment (CPA) period is the period of supervised clinical practice an SIMG must complete during their individual program.
The SIMG PA is a one-day assessment conducted by two fellows and at times an observer in the SIMG’s actual working environment.
As an SIMG supervisor, you play a vital role in the training, assessment, and welfare of your SIMG and should have a broad understanding of the SIMG program.
The Area of Need (AoN) process applies to Australia only and is used to address medical workforce shortages in designated areas. It doesn't directly lead to fellowship or specialist registration by the Medical Board of Australia.
Frequently asked questions about ANZCA & FPM SIMG pathways