EMedBuddyPassing the AMC CAT MCQ (AMC Part 1) is a real milestone. After the relief settles, there are actions you can take right away to keep your momentum and prevent the weeks from slipping while the next stage organises itself. This is what to do, in order.
Key takeaways
- Download and save your result immediately, you'll need it repeatedly for registration and employer paperwork.
- Book the clinical exam or a WBA place as early as you're eligible, not once you feel ready, seats fill fast.
- Start spoken clinical-exam practice now. It's a different skill from MCQ knowledge and isn't something you can cram in the final fortnight.
- The two things people delay too long: booking the exam, and starting spoken practice.
1. Confirm your AMC Part 1 result and save it
Your result will be available through your AMC candidate portal. Download and keep a copy somewhere safe as soon as it is accessible. You will need this document for registration applications, employer onboarding and multiple future steps, so make it easy to find.
2. Check the status of your credentials verification
Primary-source verification of your medical qualifications is a prerequisite for moving through the standard pathway. If verification is still in progress, follow it up actively. If you used ECFMG to verify credentials for the AMC, confirm they have transferred your record. Any delay here stalls everything downstream.
3. Book the AMC clinical exam, or apply for a WBA place
The AMC clinical examination (AMC 2) is the most common next step. Sittings are held at specific locations on specific dates, places fill quickly, and there can be a waiting list. If you are considering Workplace-Based Assessment (WBA) as your AMC 2 route instead, applications for accredited WBA programs are competitive too.
- Clinical exam: check upcoming sitting dates in the AMC portal. Book as early as you are eligible, rather than waiting until you feel ready.
- WBA: research accredited WBA sites in your area or target location and make contact early. Places are limited.
Our pathways guide explains the clinical exam and WBA options and how to choose between them.
4. Start clinical exam preparation now
The gap between your AMC 1 result and the clinical exam date is your preparation window. The clinical exam tests a fundamentally different skill from the MCQ: structured, spoken performance under time pressure, with a live-reacting patient in an OSCE format. That fluency is not something you can cram in the final fortnight.
- Learn the station types you will face: history-taking, focused examination, explaining and consenting, breaking bad news, the acutely unwell patient and ethics.
- Practise out loud, against the clock, with honest feedback. This is the core of clinical exam preparation.
- Work on the habits that lose marks: skipping the safety screen, running out of time, using jargon, forgetting to explore the patient's concerns.
Practise spoken AMC clinical stations with Vivora →
5. Look into limited registration
Depending on where you are on the pathway, you may be eligible to apply for limited or provisional registration with Ahpra once your AMC credentials are in order. This allows you to work in a supervised medical role while you complete the rest of the pathway, giving you income and clinical exposure during what is otherwise a long waiting period. Confirm the current eligibility and process at ahpra.gov.au.
6. Begin your job search
Finding a supervised medical post takes longer than most people expect. Starting the search early gives you more options.
- Regional and rural hospitals commonly have more openings and are often a good starting point for IMGs.
- Tailor your CV to the Australian format and the specific role - generic applications get filtered out quickly.
- Build connections: many posts are filled through personal contact with supervisors and recruiters.
- Coordinate your registration status with employer start dates - having an offer can help move paperwork along.
Our guide to working as a doctor in Australia covers the registration and job-search process in more detail.
The two things most people delay too long
- Booking the clinical exam. Available dates fill faster than candidates expect. A few weeks of hesitation can mean waiting an extra sitting, adding months to your timeline.
- Starting spoken clinical practice. Every week of practice now is worth significantly more than the same time compressed into the month before the exam.
What should I do first after passing AMC 1?
Download and save your result, then check the status of your credentials verification, since any delay there stalls everything downstream.
When should I book the AMC clinical exam or a WBA place?
As early as you are eligible. Sitting dates and WBA places fill up quickly, and waiting until you feel fully ready commonly adds an extra exam cycle to your timeline.
Can I start clinical exam preparation before I have a booked date?
Yes, and you should. The clinical exam tests a different skill from the MCQ, structured spoken performance under time pressure, and that fluency builds far better over consistent weeks than in a last-minute sprint.