Moving to a new country and establishing a job might be difficult. It gets considerably more challenging if you are a doctor. Not only must you navigate the complicated immigration procedure, but you must also secure a licence by passing the licencing test for that nation.
But if moving to a new nation means a better job, the headaches are well worth it.
This article is for Indian students who are pursuing their medical degree from abroad and would need to write FMGE when they return to India to practice medicine. We will be decoding the difference between moving to Australia and moving back to India (after studying abroad in countries such as Russia, China, Nepal, etc.).
The AMC (Australian Medical Council) and FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) are both important medical evaluations that serve similar goals for medical professionals in different parts of the world.
First, let’s talk about AMC, and then we will look into FMGE and 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?
If you are a certified doctor in your own country or another nation, you are qualified to take the AMC test. You must hold an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery), MD (Doctor of Medicine), MS (Master of Science), or equivalent degree.
What is the AMC Exam Pattern?
The AMC exam pattern is separated into two parts. The first step is the AMC MCQ, and the second is the clinical examination or workplace-based evaluation.
The following are the key components of the AMC assessment:
AMC MCQ (Multiple Choice Question) Exam: This is a computer-based multiple-choice test that assesses medical graduates’ theoretical knowledge.
Clinical Exam: The clinical examination evaluates clinical abilities such as history-taking, physical examination, and patient communication.
AMC CAT (Clinical Assessment Task): This is a thorough evaluation of clinical abilities that includes encounters with standardised 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 Part 2.
Now let’s talk about the 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 are the eligibility criteria for FMGE?
The eligibility criteria for FMGE are 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 that you 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, what the overall grading scheme is, etc.
- There are two papers; each paper consists of 150 MCQ questions. And you get 2 hours, 45 minutes per paper (with a 15-minute tutorial). The total length of the exam is 6 hours.
- 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 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 It consists of two parts: the AMC MCQ and clinical exam,Exam is computer-based and held in English | The exam comprises written and clinical tests. The 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 a 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 in Russia,China,etc., you can go for any of these exams.
You should evaluate your career goals and life plans and accordingly decide which exam is closer to your career and life goals, and then you should focus on the preparation of that exam.
If you want CoachMinister’s guidance, please enroll here, and we will get in touch with you to help you out.
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.
