Applying for SIMG assessment in Australia

Overview

This assessment eligibility checklist is a guide to help SIMGs assess their potential eligibility. It does not guarantee acceptance into the assessment process. All applications are formally reviewed, and final decisions are based on the complete documentation submitted.

General requirements

To be eligible for SIMG assessment in Australia, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Intend to apply for SIMG assessment in Australia 
• Hold a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS or equivalent) of at least 4 years' duration that's listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
• Intend to apply for assessment in anaesthesia; pain medicine; or both  

Anaesthesia pathway

To be eligible for SIMG assessment in anaesthesia, you must meet all of the following criteria: 

• Completed at least 72 months of training and experience as a registered medical practitioner. 
• Completed a 12-month rotating internship post-basic medical degree, with broad clinical experience (excluding anaesthesia). 
• Completed a specialist anaesthesia training program: 
  • In a comparable health system, of at least 36 months’ minimum duration; or
  • In a non-comparable health service, of at least 48 months' minimal duration
• Eligible for registration as a specialist anaesthetist in the country of training.  
• Actively participating in a continuing professional development (CPD) program.

(Having practised anaesthesia in the last 12 months is desirable)

If you meet the above criteria, you may be eligible to apply for SIMG assessment. Before applying, please review the full SIMG assessment process available on our website and submit a completed application form  CV form and all documents on the application form checklist for the college to undertake a preliminary assessment. 

Pain medicine pathway

To be eligible for SIMG assessment in pain medicine, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Completed a minimum of 84 months FTE combined duration of: 
  • Medical internship 
  • Prevocational medical education and training (PMET) 
  • Vocational (specialist) training 
  • Additional training 
  • Specialist experience 
• Completed a 12-month rotating internship post-basic medical degree, with broad clinical experience (excluding anaesthesia). 
• Hold a primary specialist qualification acceptable to the Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM) . 
• Completed a pain medicine qualification that includes: 
  • At least 12 months FTE training in pain medicine, and 
  • Acceptable evidence of eligibility to work as an independent specialist in both the primary specialty field and in pain medicine in the country where you trained. 
• Actively participating in a continuing professional development (CPD) program. 

If you meet the above criteria, you may be eligible to apply for SIMG assessment. Before applying, please review the full SIMG assessment process available on our website and submit a completed application form  CV form and all documents on the application form checklist for the college to undertake a preliminary assessment. 

Applicants from the UK and Ireland

For UK and Ireland applicants who have a specialist qualification listed on the Expedited Specialist pathway: accepted qualifications list, you may be eligible to apply for the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) Expedited Specialist Pathway. However, you can also choose to apply for our standard SIMG pathway. 

I don't meet the criteria. What are my options?

Overseas-trained anaesthetists and specialist pain medicine physicians who don't meet the eligibility requirements to apply for assessment via the SIMG assessment process are advised to apply to the Medical Board of Australia and Australian Medical Council for assessment via the General Pathway. You may then consider applying to enter the ANZCA/FPM training program.