How Long Does It Take a UK GP to Start Working in Australia?
If you hold MRCGP with full GMC registration, Australia's Competent Authority pathway is your route. No AMC exams required. Here is the realistic timeline from decision to first paid shift.
The short answer
10–14 months from application to full independence. 2–3 months from application to your first paid shift under supervision. Use the interactive pathway timeline to see each stage in detail.
Step-by-step timeline
MBA Competent Authority assessment — 4-6 weeks processing
You submit your application to the Medical Board of Australia with your Certificate of Good Standing (must be less than 3 months old), evidence of practice recency, and your primary qualification documents.
Processing takes 4-6 weeks processing once complete. No exam to sit. The MBA assesses your MRCGP as equivalent to Australian standards.
Source: MBA Competent Authority pathway
AHPRA provisional registration — 2-4 weeks after approval
After MBA approval, AHPRA grants provisional registration. This is the point where you can legally practise medicine in Australia. You need a confirmed position with an approved supervisor and professional indemnity insurance.
Source: AHPRA registration process
Supervised practice — 6-12 months depending on pathway
You work under supervision — typically at Level 3 for UK GPs, which means you practise independently with the supervisor available for consultation. This is paid clinical work, not an unpaid training gap. You bill Medicare, see patients, and earn from day one.
Source: MBA supervision guidelines
General registration — 2-4 weeks processing
After satisfactory supervisor reports, you apply for full general registration. No further exams. Processing takes 2-4 weeks processing.
Source: AHPRA registration standards
What most people get wrong
The biggest misconception is that the supervised practice period is dead time. It is not. You earn from the first week of supervised practice. At Level 3 supervision, you can also take independent after-hours shifts — evenings and weekends — which carry premium Medicare billing rates. Model your expected earnings with the income estimator.
Compare: Competent Authority vs Standard AMC
| Competent Authority (UK/IE) | Standard AMC (India, etc.) | |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | None | AMC MCQ + Clinical |
| First paid shift | 2–3 months | 6–12 months |
| Full independence | 10–14 months | 2–3 years |