Introduction:
It is usually pretty challenging to move to a new country and build a career there. And if you’re a doctor, it becomes even more difficult for you. Besides figuring out the tedious immigration process, you also need to obtain a license by passing the licensing exam for that country. But if moving to a new country promises a great career, all the hassles are more than worth it.
In this article, we will be decoding the differences between moving to Australia and moving to India (after studying abroad in countries such as Russia, China, Nepal, etc.).
What are AMC and FMGE?
The AMC (Australian Medical Council) and FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) are both crucial assessments in the field of medicine. They both serve the same purpose for medical professionals in distinct regions of the world.
First, let’s talk about AMC, then we will look into FMGE. Then we will try to understand the differences and similarities between the two.
AMC (Australian Medical Council): The Australian Medical Council is responsible for assessing the qualifications of international medical graduates (IMGs) who wish to practice medicine in Australia.
The AMC conducts a series of exams and assessments to ensure that foreign-trained doctors meet the country’s standards for medical practice, and thus patients’ safety is maintained.
Who is eligible for AMC?
You are eligible to take the AMC exam if you are a certified doctor in your home country or any other country. You must have completed your MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery), MD (Doctor of Medicine), MS (Master of Science), or any such relevant degree.
What is the AMC Exam Pattern?
The pattern of the AMC test is divided into two parts. The AMC MCQ is the first phase, and the clinical examination or workplace-based assessment is the second. The primary components of the AMC assessment include:
- AMC MCQ (Multiple Choice Question) Exam: This is a computer-based multiple-choice test that evaluates the theoretical knowledge of medical graduates.
- Clinical Exam: The clinical examination assesses clinical skills, including history taking, physical examination, and communication with patients.
- AMC CAT (Clinical Assessment Task): This is a comprehensive assessment of clinical skills, involving interactions with standardized patients.
What Does the AMC Exam Syllabus Include?
The MCQ test is a thorough evaluation of practical medical knowledge and practice. This test covers adult health (medicine and surgery), women’s health, child health, mental health, and community health. The 150 MCQs selected for this examination are weighed in the following manner.
AMC MCQ Syllabus | Weightage |
Adult health (medicine) | 30% |
Adult health (surgery) | 20% |
Women’s health (OBs, Gyn) | 12.5% |
Child health | 12.5% |
Mental health | 12.5% |
Population health | 12.5% |
Total | 100% |
Is the AMC exam difficult to qualify for?
The AMC part has a 50–60% selection rate, which is decent. But the overall pass rate is about 28%. The great thing is that even after AMC Part 1, you do qualify for some jobs. You can work and prepare for the part 2.
Now let’s talk about FMGE Exam:
The Foreign Medical Graduates Test (FMGE), commonly known as the Medical Council of India Screening Test, is a licensing test conducted by India’s National Board of Examinations (NBE).
The exam is one of the requirements for an Indian citizen with a medical degree from an institution outside India to practice medicine in India.
Again, the primary objective is to ensure that doctors who are receiving their education outside India meet the Indian standard. Key points about FMGE include:
- It’s a two-part examination: FMGE comprises two parts – a written test and a practical/clinical exam. The written test evaluates theoretical knowledge, while the practical assessment assesses clinical skills.
- It has a certain pass requirement: To pass FMGE, candidates need to achieve a minimum score of 50% in each part.
What is the eligibility criteria for FMGE?
The eligibility criteria for FMGE is pretty simple. The criteria are as follows:
- Candidates must be a citizen of India or an overseas citizen of India.
- Candidates need to possess a primary medical qualification that is confirmed by the Indian embassy to be recognized as a qualification for enrollment as a medical practitioner in the country in which the institution awarding the said qualification is situated.
- It is mandatory for the candidate to show proof of passing the primary medical qualification on or before the cutoff date.
What is the FMGE exam pattern?
If you are an aspirant, it is imperative to know the exam pattern so that you’re prepared for what to expect in the exam. It also helps to know how the paper is constructed, and what the overall grading scheme is, etc.
- There are two papers; each paper consists of 150 MCQ questions. And you get 2 hrs 45 mins per paper (with a 15 min tutorial). The total length of the exam is 6 hrs.
- It is a computer based test. The medium of the test is English.
- Also, unlike NEET, there is no negative marking in FMGE
What is the FMGE syllabus?
The FMG Exam Syllabus is based on the Graduate Medical Education Regulations released by the Medical Council of India and with prior clearance from the Government of India. The exam will assess applicants’ understanding of all disciplines covered throughout their MBBS program, including pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical topics.
Difficulty level of FMGE:
The FMGE requires a 50 percentile or above to pass. The difficulty level of the question paper is moderate. If you are determined and well-prepared, you will easily pass the exam.
AMC VS FMGE:
AMC | FMGE | |
Licensing Country | Applies to practicing medicine in Australia | It applies to practicing medicine in India |
Exam pattern | AMC exam Comprises of two parts that is AMC MCQ and clinical exam,Exam is computer based and held in English | Exam comprises of Written and clinical tests.Exam is computer based and held in English language |
Difficulty level | It has less than a 28% pass rate. | It requires a 50 percentile or above to pass |
Eligibility Criteria | Anyone who has done Bachelors degree in medicine from their home country is eligible | Indian nationals are eligible |
If you are an Indian who has done bachelors in medicine from Russia,China,etc.You can go for any of these exam.
Thus,in conclusion, we can say that both the AMC and FMGE exams play a vital role in maintaining the quality and safety of medical practice. They help bridge the gap between medical education systems in different countries and ensure that doctors, whether in Australia or India, are competent to provide healthcare services in compliance with the respective country’s medical standards.
For more details you can reach us at: https://coachminister.com/amc-1-exam-prep-course/
5 Responses
I am a student from India who completed Medical bachleors from Georgia so am I eligible for AMC exam without FMGE in india?
or else I will have to complete FMGE and then only go for AMC
Dear student – our apologies for missing out on your comment & delay in the reply. The eligibility for AMC is – you should have an MBBS (or an equivalent) degree from an AMC recognized university/college. You can check if your college is recognized by AMC on this link – https://www.amc.org.au/check-eligible-medical-school-medical-degrees-and-graduation-years/
Kindly note – For appearing in AMC, FMGE is NOT required. You can directly go for AMC exam if –
1. You have completed your medical degree
2. And your college is listed among the AMC recognised colleges.
Please let us know if you have any more questions. All the best! 🙂
Is fmge required to give Amc?
Dear Seemin – thank you very much for your question. Kindly note that FMGE is not required to give AMC. All you need to you MBBS degree from a recognized university. You can check if your university is recognised or not by AMC on this link – https://www.amc.org.au/check-eligible-medical-school-medical-degrees-and-graduation-years/
Hope this was helpful. Kindly let us know for any other questions.
All the best! 🙂