The Australian Medical Council is an independent national standards and assessment body for medical education and training established in 1985. According to the AMC, their purpose is “To ensure that standards of education, training, and assessment of the medical profession promote and protect the health of the Australian community.” One of the ways they achieve this goal is by issuing certification to international medical graduates who participate in the AMC exams with hopes of being allowed to practice medicine in Australia.
AMC MCQ
The AMC exam is divided into two parts. The first is the 150 multiple-choice question exam, a three-and-a-half-hour Computer Adaptive Test (CAT). A CAT format of MCQ is a form of computer-based test administration in which each candidate takes a unique, customized examination. In the CAT MCQ style test, each candidate’s first question is chosen randomly from the item pool. If the answer is incorrect, the next question is less difficult; if it is correct, the next question is more challenging. The test continues to give questions based on previous answers until the last question is reached. After each response, the computer determines the score based on the available information. At least half of the questions are taken from a pool of previously used questions. The remainder of the questions are new ones that have not been used in previous exams. The questions will draw from the following domains: Adult Health [Medicine], Adult Health [Surgery], Women’s Health [Obs][Gyn], Child Health, Mental Health, Population Health, and Ethics.
AMC Clinical Exam
After passing the AMC MCQ, candidates will be allowed to register and partake in the second exam, the AMC Clinical Exam, an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) format. The clinical examination requires the candidate to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the examiners, clinical ability at the level of a graduating final-year medical student about to commence their pre-registration intern year across the broad range of required clinical disciplines. The clinical exam is made up of sixteen stations and four rest stations and is administered in a day over 3 to 4 hours. Candidates are given ten minutes to go through each of the sixteen stations.
Two minutes are spent reading the information given to you regarding the case and the task(s) required of you, while the remaining eight minutes are spent performing the task. Each station usually has three or four tasks, which may include taking a focused medical history, performing a focused physical examination, suggesting differential diagnoses or further diagnostic procedures, or informing and counseling patients about treatments. Stations may use simulated patients, videotaped patient presentations, or other relevant materials, such as charts, digital images, and photographs, which may also be used in the examination.
After extensive review, the AMC changed the passing requirement for the AMC clinical exam from 10 out of 14 stations to 9 out of 14 stations.
AMC Workplace-Based Assessment
An alternate form of assessment is available for those who do not wish to participate in the AMC clinical exam. The workplace-based assessment (WBA) is a form of authentic assessment that tests a candidate’s performance in the real environment that doctors face in their everyday clinical practice. A properly conducted WBA should enable international medical graduates to demonstrate their progress in integrating clinical knowledge and skills as a basis for effective clinical judgments and decisions, which includes effective communication, respect for patients, working productively within a team of healthcare professionals, and applying risk-management skills.
AMC Eligibility
To apply for the AMC exams, you must possess a medical degree from a school on the World Directory of Medical Schools list. Next, you must prove your English proficiency by passing either IELTS or OET. The final requirement is to acquire Australian or New Zealand citizenship/permanent residency or a relevant visa to work as a doctor in Australia.
The documents you’ll need to submit for your application are:
- Final Medical Diploma/Primary Qualification (e.g., MBBS): Required for verification through the EPIC (Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials) system. This ensures the authenticity of your qualifications.
- Proof of Identity: A government-issued photo ID, such as a passport. This is mandatory for establishing your AMC candidate account and ensuring your identity matches your credentials.
- English Language Proficiency: If English is not your first language, you may need to submit proof of proficiency, such as IELTS or TOEFL scores.
Venue of the AMC
The AMC conducts the MCQ examinations throughout the year in centers within Australia and overseas. A complete list of available venues can be found here. The AMC selected Pearson VUE to provide the venues and facilities for the MCQ Examination and manage the online scheduling for candidates to obtain an exam event appointment. The AMC allows you to select the most suitable MCQ exam date 12 months before the date.
The pandemic caused the Clinical Exam to be held solely online through supervised video calls, but starting from March 2025, the in-person clinical exams will resume at the AMC test center in Melbourne. If you’re planning to take the clinical exam in 2025, scheduling for in-person exams opens on November 18, 2024, with dates running from March to May 2025.
Steps to Apply for the AMC Exam
Step 1: Visit the Official AMC Website
Step 2: Register on the AMC website to create an account.
Step 3: Complete your verification using the EPIC service. You must set up an EPIC account to upload your medical credentials for primary source verification.
Step 4: After creating your AMC candidate account, you will establish an AMC Portfolio to store all your verified documents and applications.
Step 5: Fill out the AMC application form in your AMC candidate account.
For the MCQ Exam: Submit your verified medical credentials through your AMC candidate account. You will need to pay the exam fees and schedule your test.
For the Clinical Exam: After passing the MCQ exam, you can apply for the Clinical exam, which requires additional scheduling steps.
Step 6: Pay the necessary AMC exam fees.
Step 7: Once the application is processed, students will receive an automated email of authorization to schedule the AMC CAT MCQ exam.
Step 8: Book your AMC exam date and venue through Pearson VUE using the authorization.
AMC Exam Fees
As mentioned before, the AMC has been reviewing its assessment against international benchmarks. One of the outcomes is the decision to reduce the MCQ authorization fee from the current amount of AUD $3,124 to $2,920. Below is a breakdown of the fees a candidate will be expected to pay while registering:
- Establish an AMC portfolio: AUD642
- MCQ registration: AUD2,920
- Online clinical examination: AUD4,391 (AUD3,991 + AUD400 levy). The levy accounts for the logistics and equipment needed to organize an online exam.
- In-person clinical examination: AUD3,991
- Workplace-based assessment: AUD1,070
AMC Exam Dates 2025
In 2025, the MCQ exam will be held for about five days every month:
- February 2025: Exam sessions run from February 17th to March 15th.
- April 2025: Exam sessions are from April 7th to April 12th.
- May 2025: Exam sessions occur between May 12th and May 17th.
- June 2025: Exam sessions are scheduled from June 16th to June 21st.
- July 2025: Exam sessions span from July 14th to July 19th.
- August 2025: Exam sessions will occur from August 11th to August 14th.
The full detailed list can be found here.
These exams typically set their registration deadlines approximately one month before the exam dates. For precise scheduling and application instructions, candidates must check and log into their AMC candidate account regularly to confirm available slots and venues, as dates will vary depending on location and capacity.
Clinical Exam:
The AMC Clinical Exam dates for 2025 are scheduled to happen periodically throughout the year, with registration starting months in advance. We recommend candidates monitor the AMC website or their candidate portal for the most up-to-date information on clinical exam sessions, as there are limited slots available.
Perks of Using CanadaQBank for AMC Exams
Using a high-quality question bank when preparing for the AMC exam is paramount to your efforts, as it allows you to measure your readiness for the exam and the areas you need to improve on. CanadaQBank is one of the best QBanks available for the AMC exam. However, due to the structure of the AMC, it covers only the CAT exam.
Benefits of CanadaQBank:
- Exam-Specific Questions: The Qbank is tailored to the AMC Part 1 syllabus and features high-quality multiple-choice questions that closely mimic the style, difficulty, and focus areas of the actual exam.
- Regular Updates: CanadaQBank frequently updates its content to reflect the latest AMC exam trends and guidelines, ensuring its users stay aligned with current expectations.
- Customizable Study Experience: CanadaQBank allows users to create customized tests based on specific topics or difficulty levels, enabling a focused and efficient study session.
- Detailed Explanations: Each question has comprehensive explanations for correct and incorrect answers, helping users understand key concepts and avoid common pitfalls.
- Performance Tracking: Progress tracking tools are available on the website, allowing students to identify their strengths and weaknesses and making it easier to tailor their study plans.
- Simulated Exam Environment: CanadaQBank offers timed mock exams that simulate the actual test day experience, helping candidates improve time management and confidence.