The Workplace Based Assessment program is an alternative to the AMC Clinical Exam

for International Medical Graduates seeking general registration.

About the Workplace Based Assessment (WBA) Program at Armadale Health Service

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) seeking general registration with the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) via the standard pathway require an Australian Medical Certificate (AMC). 

There are two ways to achieve AMC Certificate under this pathway.  Both ways require IMG applicants to successfully pass the AMC Computer Adaptive Test Multiple Choice Questionnaire (external site) (AMC CAT MCQ) plus:

• AMC clinical examination (external site) OR
• Workplace-based assessment (external site) of clinical skills and knowledge through an AMC accredited authority.  

Successful completion of the pathway (AMC CAT MCQ examination + Clinical Examination or AMC CAT MCQ examination + WBA) results in awarding of the AMC Certificate.

For further information, visit Gaining medical registration in Australia (external site).

A WBA Program will commence in 2024 at Armadale Health Service as part of the WA Health IMG Pathway to Registration Project.

This is a time limited project running until 2026 and aims to prioritise WBA for suitably qualified overseas trained doctors who:

• reside in WA
• are already Australian citizens or permanent residents
• and are not currently registered as a medical practitioner in Australia.

The WBA program offered at Armadale Health Service (AHS) is 12 months in duration and based on self-directed, adult-learning principles, and aims to provide guidance and support to enable the enhancement of clinical skills and professional qualities essential to practising safely within the Australian health care environment and the cultural setting of the broader Australian community. Regular feedback to candidates allowing self-assessment, self-correction and reflection is a critical element of the WBA program. The feedback loop supports candidates to identify their strengths and development areas to demonstrate a level of competence equivalent to that of an Australian medical graduate at the end of Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY1), or internship level across the six different clinical areas of adult medicine, adult surgery, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology (women’s health), paediatrics (child health) and psychiatry (mental health). The WBA is an assessment program, not a bridging or a training course.

WBA provides an alternative mechanism for IMGs to achieve the AMC Certificate and be eligible for general registration with the Medical Board of Australia, assessing on knowledge, clinical skills and professional attributes across the six clinical areas assessed by the AMC Clinical Exam. Candidates are expected to prepare for WBA assessments as they would the AMC Clinical Exam. The rigour of the WBA assessment provides candidates with the opportunity to modify and improve performance over time; a significant benefit not obtained from the AMC Clinical Examination.

The content and the assessment standard of all accredited WBA programs are approved by the AMC and overseen by the AMC Board of Examiners to ensure consistency across programs and with the AMC examinations.

Throughout the WBA program, IMGs are assessed by experienced senior clinicians across a range of clinical areas, skills and domains. Using multiple assessors broadens the scope of assessment and ensures a more robust assessment process.

Assessments comprise of a combination of Mini-Clinical Examination (Mini-CEX), Direct Observation of Clinical Skills (DOPS), External Assessment (Report), Case Based Discussion (CBD), Supervisor Reports and Multi-Source Feedback (MSF). All assessments are reviewed and signed by the WBA Program Director, uploaded to the AMC WBA assessment portal and reviewed by the AMC following the completion of the program.

Successful completion of the WBA program results in the candidate being awarded the AMC Certificate. Participation in the WBA program does not guarantee general registration; candidates must meet all requirements stipulated by the Medical Board of Australia prior to being granted general registration.

The WBA Program supports:

• Monitored progress through the required supervised pathway,
• Identification of, and guidance in addressing, specific learning needs, and
• Determination of candidate readiness to proceed to independent (or more independent) practice in Australia. 

A candidate who accepts a place in a WBA program cannot apply for the AMC Clinical Exam during the 12-month period of the WBA Program.  If a candidate is already enrolled in the AMC Clinical Exam for the year of WBA commencement, they will need to withdraw to be accepted into the WBA program for that year. 

It is the responsibility of each IMG to: 

• Ensure they obtain sufficient experience across the six clinical areas of emergency medicine, adult surgery, adult medicine, paediatrics, women’s health, and mental health.
• Complete all assessments in accordance with the AMC approved WBA requirements.
• Undertake pre-reading and appropriate clinical experience to develop skills in preparation for assessments.

All IMGs on the Program are thoroughly supervised in their clinical practise by senior medical practitioners through a structured supervision and assessment program. WBA Programs are accredited by the Australian Medical Council to ensure they meet the required standards for supervision and assessment.

Eligibility to apply for WBA at Armadale Health Service:

1. Essential: Have you successfully completed an Observership Program.
2. Essential:  Have you completed a medical degree and internship from an overseas training institution recognised by the AMC (external link).
3. Essential: Not have current registration with the Medical Board of Australia
4. Essential:  Australian citizenship or permanent residency.
5. Essential:  Have passed the AMC Computer Adaptive Test Multiple Choice Questionnaire (AMC CAT MCQ) examination. 
6. Essential:  Have met the English Language skills registration standard (external link) of the Medical Board of Australia.

About Observerships

Completion of an Observership Program is a pre-requisite to applying for the AHS WBA program.  The Observership Program at AHS is part of a broader WA Health initiative – the IMG Pathway to Registration Project – which aims to support eligible IMG’s. The AHS Observership Program is for IMGs who are not currently employed as a medical practitioner in the WA healthcare system and have not worked elsewhere in Australia as a medical practitioner.  Observerships are unremunerated positions. Completion of an unpaid observership program is not a guarantee to entry in the AHS WBA Program. Application to participate in the AHS WBA program is separate to the application for the AHS Observership Program.

How to Apply

Applications for both AHS Observership Program and AHS WBA Program are advertised through Medical Jobs WA (external site).

Cost

All successful WBA candidates at AHS will receive a 12-month employment contract and are required to pay a candidate fee to the hospital to cover administration costs, currently set at $12,500. This can be paid in instalments.

Applicants are also required to pay an administration fee directly to the Australian Medical Council (external site).

For further information about the WBA and IMG Observership Program at Armadale Health Service, please email.