Can You Work in Australia After GMC Registration Without UK Experience?

Many IMGs ask: “I’ve passed PLAB, I’m GMC registered, but I don’t have the UK Foundation Year. Can I still work directly in Australia?”

The short answer is yes – but only with a smart mix of pathways.

1. Competent Authority Pathway Rules

Australia recognises GMC + PLAB under the Competent Authority Pathway (CAP). But to be eligible, you must also complete 12 months supervised training (Foundation Year 1 / internship equivalent) in the UK – or in another approved competent authority country (Canada, USA, Ireland, NZ, etc.)

The Medical Board even clarifies that this 12 months can be substituted by experience in another competent authority country – including Australia itself

2. The Challenge

If you’ve only got AMC Part 1 and GMC registration but no supervised year, you cannot get provisional registration under CAP yet. That’s why many IMGs think they are “stuck.”

3. The Solution: Mixing Pathways

Here’s the pathway strategy:

• Step 1: Pass AMC Part 1.
• Step 2: Apply for Limited Registration (Standard Pathway) in Australia for your first hospital job.
• Step 3: Work 12 months under supervision in Australia.
• Step 4: At the end of this year, your supervised practice in Australia counts as the required “12 months” for the Competent Authority Pathway
• Step 5: Instead of going back to AMC Part 2/WBA, you can now transition directly to General Registration via the Competent Authority Pathway.

4. Why This Matters

This approach means:

• You don’t need to return to the UK or elsewhere.
• You start working directly in Australia after AMC 1.
• After 12 months in an Australian hospital, you’re eligible for General Registration (not just provisional).

It’s essentially a “mix and match” pathway: starting with the Standard Pathway but finishing through the Competent Authority Pathway.

✅ Bottom line:
Yes – PLAB + AMC 1 can help you start working in Australia sooner, even before your UK experience. By using limited registration for your first year, you unlock the Competent Authority Pathway from within Australia itself.

Source:

https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Registration/International-Medical-Graduates/Competent-Authority-Pathway.aspx