Eligibility, Registration and Exams
Am I eligible to work as a GP in Australia if I trained in the UK?
Yes. UK-trained GPs holding MRCGP and CCT are recognised by the RACGP as “substantially comparable,” which is the fastest of the three comparability tiers and means a more straightforward pathway than doctors from most other countries face.
This recognition comes via a comparability assessment against your MRCGP and CCT, run jointly by AHPRA and the RACGP. It isn’t automatic (see below), but for most CCT holders it’s a formality rather than a hurdle.
Do UK GP qualifications transfer automatically to Australia?
No, not automatically, though the process is close to it for most UK GPs. Your MRCGP and CCT still need to go through a formal comparability assessment with the RACGP before AHPRA will register you.
For UK GPs with CCT and MRCGP, this assessment nearly always results in a “substantially comparable” outcome, which is the quickest route through and typically means no additional exams. If your qualification sits outside this (for example, MRCGP International without UK-based clinical training), you’d usually be assessed as “partially comparable,” which does involve further exams and a longer timeline. We’ll confirm which category applies to you before you commit to anything.
Do I need to sit exams to work as a GP in Australia if I’m already GMC-registered?
In most cases, no. If you hold MRCGP and CCT and are assessed as “substantially comparable,” you won’t need to sit RACGP exams.
If you’re assessed as “partially comparable” instead, you would typically need to complete FRACGP exams (the AKT, KFP and CCE) as part of a longer pathway. There’s also a newer route worth knowing about: from 1 July 2026, the Medical Board of Australia has been expanding its Expedited Specialist Pathway, which in some cases allows eligible UK GP specialists to apply directly to AHPRA for specialist registration without going through the RACGP’s Fellowship Support Program first. This is a genuinely useful development but the eligibility criteria are specific and still evolving, so we’d recommend checking your individual position with us or directly with AHPRA rather than assuming it applies. We’ll always tell you plainly if we’re not certain which pathway you’ll be assessed under.
What’s the registration process like for Australia?
You’ll go through an RACGP comparability assessment, then apply to AHPRA for registration, alongside a work visa application. We build a step-by-step plan for each stage and work through it with you.
The exact route depends on your comparability outcome (see above), but broadly it involves the comparability assessment, AHPRA registration, English language and criminal history checks if required, securing an approved position (usually in a Distribution Priority Area), and your visa. We manage the sequencing of this so nothing stalls waiting on something else.
How long does GP registration take in Australia compared with other countries?
Australia’s registration route for UK-trained GPs is generally one of the faster international pathways, largely because of the mutual recognition between the GMC-based CCT and RACGP’s comparability framework. We can’t give you a precise like-for-like timeline against Canada or New Zealand here, since it varies by province in Canada and by individual circumstances in both countries, but as a general pattern, Australia tends to be quicker than most Canadian provincial routes and broadly comparable to New Zealand’s. If you want a direct comparison for your own situation, we’d rather talk it through properly than give you a generic number. See our Canada and New Zealand FAQ pages for those pathways specifically.
How long does the whole process take, start to finish?
On average, 9 to 12 months from starting the process to arriving in Australia, though this varies with your comparability outcome, visa processing times and how quickly you secure a placement.
When should I start the process if I want to move?
Ideally at least 12 months before your planned move, so registration, visa approval and relocation logistics all have room to complete without rushing.
