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Date set for IMG English language test changes
From 18 March, AHPRA changes will allow doctors from 30 countries to work in Australia without automatically having to complete the test.
AHPRA’s suite of changes includes expanding its list of recognised English-speaking countries from seven to 30.
International medical graduates (IMGs) from select countries will soon be exempt from having to automatically sit an English language test to work in Australia, thanks to changes expected to come into effect on 18 March.
Announcing the plan’s start date on Wednesday, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) said the changes are aimed at ‘cutting red tape for qualified practitioners’.
Its suite of reforms includes expanding its list of recognised English-speaking countries from seven to 30 nations, while South Africa will be removed from the list.
AHPRA will also reduce the accepted score for the writing component of approved English language tests to International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 6.5, add the Cambridge English language skills test, and improve flexibility for applicants to meet the National Boards’ English language skill requirements.
With these changes to rollout within days, AHPRA says transition arrangements are in place for practitioners with applications being assessed at the time they into effect.
For applicants from South Africa, there will be a 12-month transition period for this change.
However, the RACGP has previously spoken out against many of the changes, saying it ‘strongly opposes’ reducing the score for the writing component of IELTS.
‘High-level writing skills are essential for all medical professionals. The risks of adverse outcomes due to miscommunication in written records is significant,’ the college said in a 2023 submission.
‘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.’
This lowered score is a direct recommendation of the Kruk Report, which predicted the change would improve the success rate of test takers from 26% to 40%.
As of 18 March, the full list of recognised English-speaking countries and territories is:
- 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
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