1) Does internal medicine residency(3 year residency program in US) qualify me for specialist pathway? Is it equal to general medicine? Because we only do adult medicine and have little or no experience in OBGYN and peds. I know family medicine in US does take care of such people.
I'd suggest asking the Royal College of Physicians directly.
[email protected]
Rather than asking randoms on the internet.
Have you tried visiting the Royal college of physicians website?
In particular, refer to the one directed towards overseas trained physicians:
Overseas trained physicians and paediatricians in Australia
Internal medicine is called "basic physician's training" in Australia. It is also 3 years in length.
however, after you do the "internal medicine exit exams" in your 3rd/final year in Australia, you still have to do 3 years of additional advance training in internal medicine. Then do more exit exams. Then you're able to call yourself an attending or consultant. Or apply for fellowship for further training, to boost the CV, before working as an 'attending'. Internal medicine in Australia applies to only adult medicine.
Pediatrics and OBGYN are their own respective specialties, with different requirements.
Family med in Australia does involve peds and OBGYN to a degree.
2) Will I have to take PESCI if I apply for specialist pathway?
For everyone's reference, a PESCI is:
RACGP - Pre-Employment Structured Clinical Interview (PESCI).
Answer: I don't know. Have you asked AHPRA? What was their answer?
3) Do i need to look for a job first and then apply for specialist pathway?
I would highly recommend you thoroughly read CP's thread:
US doctor moving to Australia.
And the official source:
Medical Board of Australia - Specialist pathway - specialist recognition.
Also go through this part of the AHPRA website:
Medical Board of Australia - Guides and reports
You can work under provisional registration in the interim (I believe), and wait for a specialist royal college to assess your credentials to determine if you can work as a specialist.
But you cannot work as a specialist until the relevant royal college reviews your credentials and determines if it is equivalent to Australian training.
I don't know if you need a job per se in order to apply for specialist training.
have you tried asking AHPRA?
4) Do i need to look for a job first and then apply for registration in case I am going for competent authority pathway
You can apply for registration first. You don't have to have a job to apply for registration.
I would suggest you get registration asap if you qualify. Easier for hospitals to hire you, because you'd be able to work straightaway. No registration means you'll be delayed from starting work until you do.
You legally cannot work without registration.
5) My husband and I have applied for work visa (through his work) and if we get the visa, is it wise to apply after we have visa or does it not matter
It's always better to have a VISA first. Many hospitals prefer this. It means you can start work pretty quickly. Otherwise, it's potentially a long process, even if you find a hospital that will sponsor you. Even the odd UK grad are starting to struggle to get a VISA in time to start work nowadays. Not all, but some.
6) I will finish my residency next year in June. I have done >2 years. Can I still apply for specialist pathway.
Residency in what? Internal medicine?
As above. Ask the royal college of physicians.
I'm not an IMG. So I'm not really sure what happens when you apply to these pathways or what's involved. I do know that it can take months, like 9 months, for a college to determine if your previous training is equivalent to Australian training. It doesn't mean the outcome will be in your favor either. Even the website quotes that. Outcomes could be - 1) they find it's non-equivalent and you have to start residency from scratch all over again (less likely if you've completed training in the US), 2) mostly equivalent, but will ask you to do 1-3 more years of additional training/'residency', 3) find it equivalent and you're ready to apply for attending jobs.
Even if you get specialist recognition, it's not easy to find attending jobs in the cities presently.
Very, very likely, you will have to work rural at least for a couple of years. To work in the cities it's about research and connections, very generally speaking. It's hard for even domestic Australians to remain at large metro hospitals. Many are now doing PhDs, or trying to pick up fellowships overseas to boost their CVs. It's competitive now. If your husband's job requires him to be in a city, you may have to make some compromises.