Become a world-class expert in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of complex diseases and life-threatening illness.
Medicine is a science and a profession, in which professionals dedicate their lives to diagnosing, preventing, managing and treating disease, disorders and other problems in human health. Medical Professionals apply scientific principles to help people, communities, and society as a whole to overcome illness and improve quality of life.
The interactive map below shows different pathways that highlight the steps taken by real professionals in that field.
Deciding which Medical specialisation to work toward may be easier than you think. Whether you want to perform surgery, discover new illnesses and treatments, help deliver babies, or work with the elderly, you can do it, and much more with Medicine.
The following specialisations include information about what sort of work is involved, a range of related jobs, the type of skills you might expect to come out of, and steps to becoming a registered Medical professional.
Click on each image to find out more about the relevant specialisation
A common first step in the Medicine pathway is undertaking an undergraduate Medicine, Biomedicine or Science degree.
Fourth Year Programs
After completing an undergraduate program, some students elect to continue on to a year of honours, especially if they are interested in pursuing medical academic research.
For those who choose to pursue a fourth year, finding a course that accommodates their grades and location preferences can be tough.
For those individuals who completed a Biomedicine, Science or related degree, the opportunity to pursue a Medical career comes with a Postgraduate Medicine Degree.
Some individuals who completed an undergraduate or fourth-year program, yet decided not to continue on a direct Medicine pathway, often pursue alternative careers.
All accredited Postgraduate Medicine degrees require completion of the GAMSAT for entry. Previous experience in relevant fields such as medical reception might also help your chances of being accepted.
Finding a suitable accredited program that suits your needs requires research and time. We have done that work for you!
General registration for medical specialisation includes the following Stages:
Complete a medical degree (Undergraduate or Postgraduate) at an Australian or New Zealand university.
On completing your medical degree, you receive provisional registration
The next step is to enter the workforce as an intern or postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) doctor. This is called pre-vocational training, and lasts for 12 months (full time). Training is usually undertaken in a public hospital – although the Australian Medical Association states that interns will increasingly spend part of their training in general practice, community-based settings and private hospitals.
Learn how to apply for internship programs
At the end of your 1 year program, you will receive general medical registration.
Residency refers to one or two years following an internship that are spent working in hospital or community health settings, in order to gain more clinical experience with increased levels of responsibility.
Some specialist medical colleges accept entrants after successful completion of internship or postgraduate year 1 (PGY-1).
However, most prefer applicants to have completed at least a further 2 to 3 years of pre-vocational training at the level of a resident (PGY-2 to PGY-3 or more).
This is because they prefer additional experience before allowing applicants into a specialist training program.
During this time you may be referred to as any of the following positions:
- Resident Medical Officer (RMO)/Senior Resident Medical Officer (SRMO);
- Junior House Officer (JHO)/Senior House Officer (SHO)/Principal House Officer (PHO)
- Hospital Medical Officer (HMO)
- Trainee Medical Officer (TMO)
Also known as Specialty medical training, this is attained through a specialist medical college, like the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).
After completing internship and one or more additional years as a resident and meeting the pre-requisites for the relevant specialty college, doctors can apply for admission to a recognised medical specialty training
For specific specialty training information, see each individual specialisation.
Successful completion of a specialty medical training program results in a fellowship in the specialty.
This is an endorsement that the fellow may practise independently in that specialty. This also provides access to an unrestricted Medicare provider number and Medical Board specialist registration.
For specific specialty registration information, see each individual specialisation.
All medical practitioners must maintain the currency of their skills and knowledge through continuing professional development.
Medical practitioners with general registration (who do not have specialist registration) must continue to complete a minimum of 50 hours CPD per year to be facilitated at their own discretion and a logbook to be kept in the case of an audit or disciplinary action.
Below are some alternative pathways you may consider if you decide medicine is not the right career for you.
