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AHPRA changes IMG English language tests
Doctors from 30 countries will no longer have to sit a test and, for those who do, the writing score will be reduced, but the RACGP is concerned.
Currently, GPs who have trained or lived extensively in seven recognised countries do not automatically have to sit an English language test to be registered in Australia.
International medical graduates (IMGs) from 30 jurisdictions will soon be allowed to work in Australia without automatically having to complete an English language test as part of a new tranche of changes from the health regulator.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) announced on Friday that, from April next year, revised standards will see its list of recognised English-speaking countries expanded.
And for those who do still need to do a test, the incoming changes will see a reduction in the writing component score for the approved English language tests, from an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7, down to 6.5.
Currently, GPs who have trained or lived extensively in seven recognised countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the United States, do not automatically have to sit an English language test to be registered in Australia.
But in a bid to ‘simplify English language requirements while maintaining public safety’, that list will grow to include a total of 30 nations and territories, including Anguilla, Grenada, Jamaica, Malta, and Trinidad and Tobago.
But AHPRA also revealed that ‘after careful consideration’, South Africa will no longer be recognised on that list.
‘The review found that qualifications across the professions are offered in South Africa at various institutions with different entry requirements, many of these substantially below the equivalent Australian entry level ELS requirements,’ it said.
It comes despite the RACGP raising significant concerns about some aspects of these changes.
The college says it is ‘strongly opposed’ to reducing the score for the writing component of IELTS to 6.5, saying it could lead to ‘potential serious adverse impacts on patient safety’.
‘Where possible, the RACGP prefers that practitioners not meeting the writing standard be supported to raise their level of skill in this area, rather than lowering the required standard,’ it said.
‘Maintaining high writing standards are essential for supporting high-quality patient care in an Australian context.’
The RACGP said it does support expanding the list of jurisdictions ‘if evidence clearly demonstrates a level of English skills equivalent to at least IELTS Level 7 band’.
‘If the level of English proficiency of GPs is maintained, there would be a reduced risk of adverse impacts,’ it said.
‘Any reduction in the current level of written English of Australian GPs has the potential to increase management and clinical handover errors, resulting in significantly increased levels of patient harm.
‘A high level of English proficiency is critical to ensure the specialty of general practice maintains the high level of person-centred care and planned coordination of clinical teamwork, resources and services.’
The lowered IELTS score was a direct recommendation of last year’s Kruk Report, which predicted the reduction would improve the success rate of test takers from 26% to 40%, ‘saving candidates time, costs and the need to sit multiple tests’.
AHPRA also announced on Friday that it will add the Cambridge English Language Skills test and extend timeframes for accepting a combined result from two tests from six months to 12 months.
Additionally, it will widen the grounds for extending the validity of English language test results to include continuously working in appropriate roles in recognised countries.
‘It’s important we make the process as simple as possible while maintaining the highest standard of care for the public,’ said Rachel Phillips, co-convener of the Forum of National Registration and Accreditation Scheme Chairs.
They are changes that the RACGP National IMG Committee Chair, Associate Professor Ayman Shenouda, said will give more flexibility to overseas-trained doctors.
‘It’s important to remember that those IMGs go through other ways of assessing their communication skills and assessing how, in general, they consult with English language,’ he told newsGP.
‘It’s good to advantage people who have come from certain countries that are equal to our level of expertise, but I don’t want to see this disadvantage between doctors coming from other countries.
‘We have a lot of shortages here at the moment, we obviously need more doctors, but I think it’s a complex issue and it’s good that we start looking at it seriously.’
AHPRA’s latest announcement comes after general practice was the first of four medical specialities included in its expedited specialist pathway for IMGs, beginning on 21 October.
The RACGP has long raised concerns about the change, saying that despite it already beginning, several questions remain unanswered.
This includes how ‘unsuitable’ candidates are going to be identified and managed, appropriate supervision, pathways of entry into Australia, and how AHPRA will ensure IMGs are employed in identified areas of greatest need.
As of April, the revised standard’s full list of recognised English-speaking countries and territories will be:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Anguilla
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- Falkland Islands
- Gibraltar
- Grenada
- Guernsey
- Guyana
- Isle of Man
- Jamaica
- Jersey
- Malta
- New Zealand
- Republic of Ireland
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- US Virgin Islands
AHPRA said further updates about the exact date the standard will come into effect will be provided in early 2025.
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