OTS Assessment Information

The Australian Medical Council (AMC), on behalf of the Medical Boards, administers the procedure for assessing the ELIGIBILITY of persons with medical qualifications obtained overseas for registration to practice in Australia.

The AMC refers applications that it determines to be eligible for assessment under the AMC/Specialist Medical College procedure to the Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology (hereafter 'the College') for its assessment and recommendation.

The purpose of the AMC/Specialist Medical College assessment procedure is to determine the eligibility of persons with specialist qualifications obtained overseas for registration, by comparison of competence and safety expected of Australian trained specialists who are entering the Australian workforce. IT IS NOT AN ALTERNATIVE SPECIALIST TRAINING PROGRAM.

The College assesses applications referred by the AMC, but the Australian State or Territory Medical Boards and the MCNZ make the final decision on the appropriate category of registration.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Detailed information and user guides can be located on the AMC's website.

Step 1: Apply to the Australian Medical Council. .

Step 2: AMC refers eligible applications to College for assessment.

Step 3: College assesses applicant's qualification, training and experience.

Step 4: College reports and makes its recommendation to the AMC.

Step 5: The AMC informs the applicant of the outcome of his/her application.

The process is slightly different in New Zealand. Applicants should contact the Medical Council of New Zealand.

FEES

The College assessment process begins when an applicant's complete documentation and the assessment fee are received.

The College's OTS Assessment Process will involve one or more of the following components:

• Documentation assessment
• Consideration of references (at least three recent clinical references are required using the College Reference OTS Form 4)
  
• College examination to assess knowledge (RANZCO Advanced Clinical Examination (RACE))
• A supervised clinical assessment
  
• Face-to-face interview

(Please refer to the College OTS Assessment Pathway)

Please note that if an applicant is required to take College exams, the exam fee will apply.  All applicants must sit for exams in Australia.  Further information about the RANZCO Advanced Clinical Examination (RACE), including past papers, model answers and examiner feedback can be found on the website at RACE Examinations Results and Reports.  Please also refer to the Clinical Curriculum Standards.

The Committee will use the following criteria to assess an applicant:

• Specialist training in comparison with the College's vocational training program with regard to duration, structure, content, curriculum, sub-specialty experience, supervision and assessment. The onus will be on the applicants to provide evidence in this regard.
• Specialist qualifications obtained. There must be documentation of medical registration, specialist qualifications and details of specialist practice in ophthalmology. Experience and qualifications must be substantiated by statements and original or certified copies of diplomas from relevant bodies. The names of relevant professional referees must be provided. Recency of specialists practice is particularly important.
• Experience as a specialist in terms of case mix, use of equipment and drugs, patient management, and compliance with standards of competence and safety of ophthalmic practice expected of Australian trained specialists.
• Evidence of participation in continuing education and quality assurance activities. Continuous involvement in recent years is particularly important.

The College will make one of the following recommendations to the AMC:

• Recommended for specialist recognition (substantially comparable)
  
• Further assessment is required before final recommendation (need more information)
• Not recommended for specialist recognition (not comparable)

The College's determination that an applicant is required to undergo further assessment is valid for 3 years.

If, for whatever reasons, an applicant is unable to complete the assessment components specified by the College within 3 years, an applicant may apply for re-assessment through the AMC. An assessment fee would be applicable in such cases.

APPEALS

There are two grounds for appeal:

• the College failed to follow due process
• the applicant is able to produce additional information that was not available at the time of the initial assessment and has potential to alter the initial determination

There are 3 months post decision in which to appeal.

The College's assessment procedures, process and fees may be subject to change at any time.