register medical practitioners and medical students
develop standards, codes and guidelines for the medical profession
investigate notifications and complaints
where necessary, conduct panel hearings and refer serious matters to Tribunal hearings
assess International Medical Graduates who wish to practise in Australia
approve accreditation standards and accredited courses of study

Accreditation Standards and Approved Programs Of Study

The Board will approve accreditation standards.
It has published a list of approved programs of study that meet the qualifications for general registration and for specialist registration.

State and Territory Boards and Committees

The Medical Board of Australia is supported by Boards in each State and Territory. These Boards make individual registration and notification decisions, based on national policies and standards set by the Medical Board of Australia. The National Board has formally delegated the necessary powers to the State and Territory Boards. The National Board has also appointed a range of Committees in each State and Territory to deal with the registration of individuals and with notifications. These Committees have also been formally delegated powers to make certain decisions. Committees include:

Registration Committee
Notifications Assessment Committee
Health Committee
Performance and Professional Standards Committee

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

The Board is supported by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). AHPRA has a National office based in Melbourne and offices in every State and Territory to support local Boards and Committees. For information about the legislation governing the operations of the Medical Board of Australia and matters relating to AHPRA, see AHPRA's Legislation & Publications. After 1 July 2010, every doctor practising medicine in Australia must be registered with the Medical Board of Australia. The Board keeps up-to-date public registers:

of all registered medical practitioners with general, provisional, limited and non-practising registration
of all medical practitioners who are recognised as specialists

There is a range of different types of registration to match different levels of training and experience. Most doctors have general registration and there are specific categories for medical students, newly trained doctors and some international medical graduates. National registration came into effect on 1 July 2010. Medical practitioners with general registration can practise in any state or territory in Australia.

Types of Medical Registration

Under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009, there is a range of registration categories under which a doctor can practise medicine in Australia. Different categories apply to different types of registration. More information about these categories is published below. Categories of medical registration are:

The Board can also grant student registration to medical students undertaking an approved program of study.

Endorsement for Acupuncture

In Victoria, it is currently an offence to use the title ‘acupuncturist’ or to hold oneself out as a practitioner who is qualified to practise acupuncture unless the person is registered by the Chinese Medicine Board of Victoria or endorsed in relation to acupuncture by a health regulation Board. The Victorian government has decided to retain these provisions for acupuncture after 1 July 2010. After 1 July 2012, all registrants who wish to use the title ‘acupuncturist’ or to hold themselves out as a practitioner who is qualified to practise acupuncture, will be required to be endorsed for acupuncture by the Medical Board of Australia or be registered with the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia, when this is established. The Board is currently consulting on a draft registration standard for acupuncture.

Obligations on Medical Practitioners

Obligations on medical practitioners include:

English language skills registration standard
Proof of identity
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) registration standard
Recency of practice registration standard
Professional indemnity insurance registration standard
Criminal history registration standard

For more information, please contact one of our offices

Last Updated: 01 October 2012

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