Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) in Australia
RANZCOG welcomes specialists and subspecialists from around the world to apply for recognition to practice in Australia. Contact Us
Generalist Obstetrics and Gynaecology Pathway
Pathway to Fellowship of RANZCOG (FRANZCOG)
Eligibility
You must:
Have a primary degree in Medicine and Surgery and completed a specialist training program that:
- Is a structured post-graduate course of at least four years duration, with published standards that are comparable to that of the FRANZCOG training program.
- Covers the areas as defined in the RANZCOG Common Scope of Practice.
- Has a documented and systematic in-training assessment system incorporating regular, ongoing formative and summative performance-based assessments, and other assessments comparable to those undertaken by FRANZCOG trainees.
- Entry into the program was via a competitive process of selection or recruitment.
- Has been accredited against published standards by an external body and assessed for reaccreditation at regular intervals.
- Results in registration as a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology.
Expedited Pathway (Generalist Obstetrics and Gynaecology)
Pathway to Fellowship of RANZCOG (FRANZCOG)
Eligibility
You must have:
- A primary degree in Medicine and Surgery
- (for UK applicants) Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG), together with a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT)
- (for Ireland applicants) Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (CSCST), plus the MRCOG examination
- Participated in a continuing professional development (CPD) program since obtaining a specialist qualification
- Met the Medical Board of Australia’s English language requirements
- Demonstrated recency of practice in the relevant scope of practice
- A certificate of specialist registration in your country of specialist training
- Submitted your primary, specialist and any relevant additional qualifications for primary source verification
Academic and Common Scope Pathway
Pathway to Fellowship of RANZCOG (FRANZCOG)
Eligibility
You must:
- Have met all of the general eligibility criteria for the generalist obstetrics and gynaecology pathway (see above)
- Have completed a PhD-level research degree at a Time Higher Education (THE) top-400 university
- Have published at least 40 peer-reviewed papers (PubMed) following completion of your PhD, within the preceding five years
- Currently hold an academic appointment of at least half of the full-time equivalent (0.5 FTE) at professorial level at an Australian or New Zealand university or are on an academic pathway that would be reasonably expected to lead to an appointment at this level in an Australian or New Zealand university
Subspecialist and Common Scope Pathway
Pathway to certification in your chosen subspecialty
Eligibility
You must:
- Have met all of the general eligibility criteria for the generalist obstetrics and gynaecology pathway (see above).
- Have met RANZCOG common scope criteria.
- Have completed a subspecialist qualification from a recognised College or national certifying body and gained subsequent experience in one of the five recognised RANZCOG subspecialty areas.
- Have recency of practice in the relevant scope of practice, within 12 months prior to applying for the SIMG pathway.
- Have completed a specialist training program that:
- Is a structured postgraduate course of at least three years duration, with published standards that are comparable to that of the RANZCOG subspecialist training program.
- Has a documented and systematic in-training assessment system incorporating regular, ongoing formative and summative performance-based assessments, examinations and other assessments comparable to those undertaken by RANZCOG trainees.
- Has a competitive selection process.
- Has been accredited against published standards by an external body and assessed for reaccreditation at regular intervals.
Area of need (AoN) pathway
Pathway designed to meet gaps in service delivery, usually in a rural area
Assessment by RANZCOG takes into account your qualifications and relevant experience against the specified requirements of a position in a confirmed area of need (as determined by the relevant state or territory health authority)
Please note that the area of need (AoN) pathway does not lead to specialist (Fellowship) or subspecialist (Certification) recognition by RANZCOG.
However, SIMGs can apply for assessment via the AoN pathway, and one or more of the three specialist recognition pathways, at the same time.
Short-term Training in a Medical Specialty
If you’ve completed (or nearly completed) specialist training in obstetrics and gynaecology outside of Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand, you may be eligible to apply for short-term training (STT) in a medical specialty in Australia.
Apply
To apply to RANZCOG for a comparability assessment, follow the below steps:
Preliminary assessment
At least one member of the SIMG Assessment Committee will assess your application to determine if you meet the requirements to progress to an interview.
Interim assessment
If the SIMG Assessment Committee deems that your application is ‘eligible for interview’, you will be invited to attend an interview to further explore:
- Your overseas training, qualifications, experience and continuing professional development
- Your understanding of the Australian healthcare system and culture
Please see assessment outcomes below to learn more about the progress of your application after the interview.
Please visit Medical Board of Australia – Reports on Specialist Pathways Data for more information and statistics on SIMGs within the Australian healthcare workforce.
1. Primary source verification
Undertake primary source verification of your medical qualifications with the Australian Medical Council.
2. Application form
Please complete the appropriate application form:
- General Pathway – Application for Assessment via the SIMG Pathway
- Expedited Pathway (for UK and Ireland applicants only) – Application for assessment via the RANZCOG Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMG) Expedited Pathway
Please nominate one of the following pathways:
- Generalist Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Expedited (Generalist Obstetrics and Gynaecology)
- Academic and Common Scope
- Subspecialist and Common Scope
- Area of Need (AoN)
3. Logbook
Complete and attach a logbook, using the Summary of Training Logbook Template.
4. Submit application
Submit your application form and logbook to RANZCOG, including payment details for the application fee.
Please note that if you’re applying from the UK, you should submit a Certificate of Completion of Training (or equivalent) as evidence of your specialist qualification. Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG), or the Royal Colleges of Physicians (MRCP), is not considered to be a stand-alone specialist qualification.
Assessment outcomes
Based on your assessment interview, RANZCOG will issue one of the three outcomes detailed below.
If your qualification and experience are assessed as substantially comparable to an Australian or New Zealand trained specialist, the SIMG Assessment Committee will direct you to complete a period of supervised specialist practice for up to 12 months.
Prior to commencing supervised practice, you must:
- Nominate a Fellow of RANZCOG to act as your training supervisor.
- Complete the relevant approval application form:
- General Pathway: Prospective Approval of Training Form
- Expedited Pathway (those who have been assessed via the Expedited Pathway): SIMG Expedited Pathway Substantially Comparable Position (With Oversight) Application Form
- Submit your application to the SIMG team via email, simg@ranzcog.edu.au, including payment details for the application fee.
During your supervised practice, you must:
- Submit the SIMG Substantially Comparable Formative Appraisal Form every three months.
- Provide contact details for 8–10 colleagues who will contribute to a multi-source feedback (MSF) assessment of your professional competence, which will be facilitated by your training supervisor. The SIMG team (simg@ranzcog.edu.au) will contact you approximately six weeks prior to the conclusion of your supervised practice.
- Complete an equivalent period of continuing professional development (CPD) as an Educational Affiliate of the College.
For more information, please contact the CPD team via email: cpd@ranzcog.edu.au.
If your qualification and experience are assessed as partially comparable to an Australian or New Zealand trained specialist, the SIMG Assessment Committee will direct you to complete a period of supervised practice for 12–24 months, which may include a combination of the assessment requirements outlined below.
More information on these assessment requirements can be found in the RANZCOG Regulations (see Section D: Assessment of Specialist International Medical Graduates).
Generalist obstetrics and gynaecology pathway
In general, SIMGs on this pathway will need to complete the following requirements:
- A minimum period of six months (FTE) and a maximum of twenty-four months (FTE) of prospectively approved, supervised training whereby the SIMG trainee is certified as possessing the competencies expected of an Australian-trained specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology in the generalist obstetrics and gynaecology scope of practice or the academic and common scope of practice
- Assessment of Procedural and Surgical Skills (APSS) Ultrasound B
- Colposcopy APSS
- An approved communication skills workshop
- Fellowship of RANZCOG written examination (maximum of three attempts)
- Fellowship of RANZCOG oral examination (maximum of three attempts)
- Other assessment(s) the College may require from time to time
| Forns and resources | Link |
|---|---|
| SIMG Partially Comparable – Prospectively Approved Training Application Form | |
| SIMG Statement of Understanding | |
| SIMG Partially Comparable – Three-Monthly Formative Appraisal | |
| SIMG Competencies Assessment Form | |
| SIMG Training Logbook | |
| SIMG Training Assessment Record | |
| SIMG Partially Comparable – Learning Development Plan | |
| SIMG Partially Comparable – Six-Monthly Consultant Assessment Form | |
| SIMG Partially Comparable – Six-Monthly Summative Assessment |
Academic and common scope pathway
For SIMGs on this pathway, the period of supervised specialist work may comprise up to 0.5 FTE in an academic post at professorial level, with the remaining FTE component in clinical practice.
Subspecialist and common scope pathway
For more information on the assessment requirements for this pathway, please visit Subspecialty Training Programs, or refer to RANZCOG Regulations Section D.
| Forns and resources | Link |
|---|---|
| SIMG Subspecialist Partially Comparable – Three-Monthly Formative Assessment | |
| SIMG Subspecialist Partially Comparable – Six-Monthly Summative Assessment |
If your qualification and experience are assessed as not comparable to an Australian or New Zealand trained specialist, you may wish to consider applying for the Fellowship of RANZCOG (FRANZCOG) specialist training program from Year 1.
For more information on applying for the FRANZCOG training program, please visit International Medical Graduates (IMGs).
Fees
All fees are payable in Australian dollars (AUD), and are not subject to Australian GST unless otherwise stated.
| Fee name | $AUD | Details |
|---|---|---|
| SIMG / AON Initial Assessment Fee (Standard Pathway) | $2,716 no GST | Submit with application |
| SIMG / AON Incomplete Application Fee (Standard Pathway) | $303 no GST | |
| SIMG / AON Interview Fee (Standard Pathway) | $5,317 no GST | One-time fee, payable at offer of interview |
| SIMG Incomplete Application Fee (Expedited Pathway) | $303 no GST | |
| SIMG Initial Assessment Fee (Expedited Pathway) | $1,358 no GST | Submit with application |
| SIMG Interview Fee (Expedited Pathway 2 only) | $2,658 no GST | One-time fee, payable at offer of interview |
| Fee name | $AUD | Details |
|---|---|---|
| SIMG / AON Partially Comparable Annual Training Fee (Standard Pathway) | $5,756 no GST | Due 31 January annually |
| SIMG / AON Substantially Comparable Supervision / Placement Fee (Standard Pathway) | $570 no GST | One-time fee |
| SIMG / AON Substantially Comparable Annual Subscription Educational Affiliates Fee (Standard Pathway) | $1,036 inc GST | Due 1 July annually |
| Fee name | $AUD | Details |
|---|---|---|
| SIMG Substantially Comparable Supervision / Placement Fee (Expedited Pathway) | $570 no GST | One-time fee (Pro-rated to duration of supervised practice (i.e. 50% for 6 months in Expedited Pathway 1) |
| SIMG Substantially Comparable Annual Subscription Educational Affiliates Fee (Expedited Pathway) | $1,036 inc GST | Due 1 July annually (Pro-rated to duration of supervised practice (i.e. 50% for 6 months in Expedited Pathway 1) |
| Fee name | $AUD | Details |
|---|---|---|
| FRANZCOG Written Examination | $2,810 no GST | Payable when registration confirmed |
| FRANZCOG Oral Examination | $5,371 no GST | Payable when registration confirmed |
| Subspecialty Written Examination (CGO, CMFM, COGU, CREI or CU) | $2,891 no GST | Payable when registration confirmed |
| Subspecialty Oral Examination (CGO, CMFM or CREI) | $6,587 no GST | Payable when registration confirmed |
| Fee name | $AUD | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Fellowship Elevation Fee | $2,816 no GST | Payable after Board approval |
| Subspecialty Certification Fee | $1,433 no GST | Payable on application |
| Fee name | $AUD | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Appeal Fee | $7,775 inc GST | Submit fee together with appeal application |
Training supervisors
If you’re directed to complete supervised practice, you must nominate a training supervisor for this period.
Your training supervisor must be:
- A Fellow of RANZCOG.
- Approved by the SIMG Assessment Committee Chair prior to commencement of your supervised practice.
- Employed at your training site as a full-time or part-time staff specialist (or visiting medical officer, where appropriate).
- In a position to directly observe your practice on a regular basis and seek the views of your colleagues when compiling supervisor reports.
- Contribute to assessments and other formal reports in relation to your training and performance, using the appropriate RANZCOG forms.
If your supervisor changes during your period of supervised practice, you must inform RANZCOG and seek approval for the change.
Frequently asked questions
Please browse the topics below for a selection of frequently asked questions relevant to specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs).
Q. What if I didn’t have a logbook during my training?
A. You can provide a summary of the type and numbers of procedures completed during your training and/or recent practice.
Q. Who should I use as referees?
A. Your three referees should be colleagues who you have worked with in the past two years. One referee must be a current supervisor or colleague where you are currently working. Referees must be currently working as a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology.
Please note, members of the SIMG Assessment Committee or RANZCOG Board are not eligible to provide references, in accordance with our Conflict of Interest Policy.
Q. How do I obtain medical registration to work in Australia?
A. Registration of medical professionals in Australia is the responsibility of the Medical Board of Australia.
Q. How should I prepare for the interview?
A. To help you understand the scope of knowledge, skills and practice expected of a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand, you may wish to familiarise yourself with the Fellowship of RANZCOG Training Program Handbook.
On inviting you attend an interview, the College will also provide you with access to the online learning modules that are available to local trainees.
Q. How long will the interview take?
A. Interviews normally take between 60 and 90 minutes.
Q. What is the format of the interview?
A. The interview panel usually consists of three Fellows and a community representative. The panel will further explore the information provided in your application, and ask you to respond to several short clinical scenarios designed to assess your interaction with patients, and your awareness of cultural and medico-legal issues in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand, as applicable.
Q. Who will notify the appropriate Government bodies of my interview assessment outcome?
A. In Australia, the College will notify the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) of SIMG assessment outcomes via the Australian Medical Council portal.
Q. What if I’m not satisfied with my assessment outcome?
A.Please refer to the Exceptional Circumstances and Special Consideration Policy.
Q. Does RANZCOG recommend a recruitment agency?
A. No, the College cannot endorse any particular recruitment agency.
However, you may find it helpful to visit the Australian Government Department of Health DoctorConnect website.
Q. Can RANZCOG help me to secure a visa in Australia?
A. No, the College does not handle any matters relating to visas. All enquiries should be directed to the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs.
Q. What sort of positions should I apply for when undertaking supervised practice?
A. If your training and experience is assessed as substantially comparable, you should apply for specialist or staff specialist positions.
If you’re assessed as partially comparable, you should apply for senior registrar positions that cover a broad range of obstetric and gynaecological experience, and enable you to obtain training in the specific areas identified in your assessment interview.
Q. What do I need to do after securing a supervised practice position?
A. Once you’ve secured a position in an accredited training hospital, you will need to apply for prospective approval of your training program from RANZCOG.
The role of RANZCOG is to ensure that your position is a genuine training post that will enable you to obtain experience in the specific areas identified in your assessment interview.
Q. Can I count time towards supervised practice if my position hasn’t been prospectively approved by RANZCOG?
A. No, the College will not credit time towards your period of supervised practice until your position has been prospectively approved by the SIMG Assessment Committee.
Q. What happens if I’m late submitting my reports?
A. Failure to submit your training reports on time will invalidate the previous period of supervised practice. Please note that you must submit:
- Three-monthly reports within four weeks of completing that period of training
- Six-monthly reports within six weeks of completing that period of training
Q. Can I take leave during my period of supervised practice?
A. Yes, but you must complete 46 weeks of full-time clinical practice during any 12-month period.
Q. Where can I get help with preparation for exams?
A. The College offers examination preparation courses to assist you in studying for the written and oral examinations. Please contact your local RANZCOG office for more information.
Q. Do I have to remain in supervised practice once I’ve completed the designated period of training, but not all the other requirements?
A. Yes, you must continue to be in an approved training position and submit the relevant training reports until all requirements have been completed.
Q. What is the difference between an area of need (AoN) assessment and an SIMG comparability assessment in Australia?
A. An AoN assessment aims to meet gaps in service delivery, primarily in rural areas where there is an acute shortage of practitioners, including obstetricians and gynaecologists. This process enables hospitals to obtain the services of overseas-trained specialists once a post has been declared an AoN position.
An SIMG assessment compares your training, qualifications and experience to those of an Australian or New Zealand trained specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology. The SIMG assessment pathway leads to specialist (Fellowship) or subspecialist (Certification) recognition by RANZCOG (whereas the AoN pathway does not).
Q. How do I find an AoN position in Australia?
A. You must apply directly to the hospitals in the area where you wish to work, or contact a recruitment agency.
Q. Where can I apply for a Medicare provider number and/or learn about item numbers and rebates in Australia?
A. To apply for a provider number, please visit the Australian Government Services Australia website, or contact Medicare for more information.