Posted June 2 2026
By Alasdair Spinner
The Medical Board of Australia’s 2025 Specialist Pathway data has been released earlier than expected, which is always welcome.
It provides a very interesting picture of Australia’s international specialist workforce applications to the various medical colleges.
Aside from wishing all these specialists were registering with my agency 😁 what I found interesting was the following:
• There were 3,082 SIMGs (specialist international medical graduates) on the Specialist Pathway in 2025, up from the 2,711 in 2024.
• The highest application volumes were through RACGP, RACP, RANZCP, ANZCA, RACS and RANZCR.
• The largest number of applications from source countries by specialist qualification were the UK, India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.
By the way, the country data refers to where the doctor gained their specialist qualification/training — not necessarily where they are currently based or applying from.
There seems to be more applications from USA than ever before. I wonder why? 🤔
Across recorded interim assessment outcomes, roughly one-third were assessed as substantially comparable, just over half as partially comparable, and around one in ten as not comparable. By comparable, they mean how comparable the training and experience is to the Australian standard.
It is important to note comparability implications on workforce vary across specialty.
For example, in psychiatry, RANZCP substantially comparable candidates are the only option for Consultant / Staff Specialist appointments, whereas in radiology, RANZCR partial comparability outcome allows the radiologist to work in an eligible Consultant / Staff Specialist jobs depending on the setting and supervision requirements.
This is also the first full reporting year for the college data where the Expedited Specialist Pathway is starting to influence the picture across eligible specialties (although not across all specialties).
This data reinforces what we know: SIMG recruitment in Australia needs to be approached with a clear understanding of pathway, timing and comparability implications.
-Alasdair