Preparation for the Australian Standard Pathway

AMC, prepared the way it's actually examined.

The AMC exam is the Standard Pathway assessment for international medical graduates seeking registration in Australia. This page covers what the AMC exam is, how its two parts work, and the preparation we offer at Empower Academy.

Standard Pathway to AHPRA registration· MCQ sittings in India· No prior specialty needed
2
Exam parts
India
MCQ sittings available
AHPRA
Australian registration body
Melbourne
Clinical exam location
About the exam

What the AMC exam is, and why it matters.

The Australian Medical Council (AMC) exam is the assessment process used to evaluate whether international medical graduates have the medical knowledge, clinical reasoning and professional skills required to practise safely in Australia. It is the core of the Standard Pathway to registration with the Medical Board of Australia, via AHPRA.

Passing the AMC exam doesn't by itself grant registration — it's one major step in the broader assessment and registration process, alongside primary source verification (via MyIntealth, which replaced EPIC) and English language requirements.

The exam is built in two parts: the AMC MCQ (Part 1), a computer-adaptive written test, and the AMC Clinical Examination (Part 2), a practical OSCE. The MCQ can be sat at Pearson VUE centres in India; the Clinical Exam is held exclusively at the AMC's National Test Centre in Melbourne, Australia.

AMC Standard Pathway — at a glance

Unlike MRCEM, the AMC Clinical Exam has no India sitting — it's held only in Melbourne. Candidates should budget for travel to Australia as part of their preparation timeline, not just the exam fee.

A Workplace-Based Assessment (WBA) exists as an alternative to the Clinical Exam for a smaller group of candidates already working in Australia — ask us if this might apply to you.

The exam

AMC MCQ, AMC Clinical — what each one tests.

Component 1

AMC MCQ (CAT)

A computer-adaptive test assessing the applied medical knowledge and clinical judgment expected of a final-year Australian medical student.

Format150 A-type MCQs (120 scored)
Duration3.5 hours
LocationPearson VUE — India + worldwide
EligibilityPost-MBBS, MyIntealth verified
Component 2

AMC Clinical Examination

A practical OSCE testing history-taking, physical examination, communication and management across simulated patient scenarios.

Format16 assessed stations
Timing8 min + 2 min reading/station
LocationMelbourne, Australia only
EligibilityAMC MCQ passed

Exam fees, current sitting dates and application windows are published by the AMC. Please confirm against the official AMC portal before applying.

Our preparation programmes

Two components, two focused courses.

Each Empower programme is built for the part it prepares you for, taught against the Australian clinical context, not just re-badged UK content.

AMC MCQ

AMC MCQ Course

Online self-study material plus live web lectures, built around the applied clinical knowledge and Australian guideline context the CAT actually tests.

AMC Clinical

AMC Clinical Course

Online self-study material and live web lectures, plus face-to-face mock drills and practice covering the full OSCE circuit.

Is this for you?

Who our AMC courses are for

Doctors Targeting Australia

Fresh graduates or early-career doctors

  • No prior specialty commitment needed
  • MCQ can be sat from India before you travel
  • Structured preparation aligned to Australian clinical guidelines
  • Career mentoring built into every cohort

Doctors With Some Clinical Experience

Internship or junior postings completed

  • Reframe existing clinical knowledge against Australian standards
  • Build communication style aligned to Australian patient-care norms
  • Understand whether a Workplace-Based Assessment route applies to you
  • Plan realistically for the Melbourne travel requirement
Why train with Empower

Faculty who understand the exam, and the system behind it.

Our AMC preparation is taught specifically for the Australian clinical context — not adapted from UK-focused content.

Australia-specific teaching

Content built around Australian clinical guidelines and practice norms, not repurposed NHS material.

AMC-aligned

Every session maps to the current AMC exam format — no padding, no out-of-syllabus material.

Small cohorts

For Clinical exam prep, we cap seats to protect faculty-to-candidate ratio and meaningful feedback.

Beyond the exam

Guidance on MyIntealth verification, registration and next steps — not just passing the test.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to pass the AMC MCQ before booking the Clinical Exam?

Yes — you must have a confirmed pass in the AMC MCQ before you're eligible to book a Clinical Exam place.

Is the AMC exam the same as PLAB?

No. PLAB leads to GMC registration in the UK. The AMC exam leads to registration with the Medical Board of Australia via AHPRA — they're separate systems for different countries, so your choice depends on which country you're targeting.

Do I need my qualifications verified before starting AMC MCQ preparation?

You can start preparing at any time, but you will need primary source verification via MyIntealth (which replaced EPIC) before you can actually sit the exam.

Can I sit the Clinical Exam in India?

No — the AMC Clinical Examination is held exclusively at the AMC's National Test Centre in Melbourne, Australia. This is a key difference from MRCEM, which does offer India sittings for its OSCE.

What is a Workplace-Based Assessment (WBA)?

A WBA is an alternative to the Clinical Exam for a smaller group of candidates already working as a doctor in Australia, run by AMC-accredited providers. It doesn't apply to most candidates preparing from India — ask us if you think it might apply to you.

Ready to start?

Talk to us before you commit to a pathway or a course.

Whether you're weighing Australia against the UK, or planning your Melbourne travel around the Clinical Exam, a short call clears it up. No sales pitch — just a doctor's perspective on your specific situation.