Medical Practitioner (NT)

Education and Training:

To become a medical practitioner you usually have to study medicine at university. To get into these courses you usually need to gain your NTCET with particularly good results. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English, mathematics, chemistry and physics are normally required. Some universities offer medicine as a double degree and may have additional entry requirements. A number of universities in Australia offer degrees in medicine. Universities have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements. Contact the universities you are interested in for more information as requirements may change.

Entry into these courses is highly competitive and is based on a combination of academic achievement, performance on the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT), and a structured interview. The UMAT is a written test that assesses non-academic personal qualities.

You can also become a medical practitioner by completing a related bachelor degree, followed by a postgraduate qualification in medicine. Entry into the graduate entry courses is based on prior completion of a bachelor degree, performance in the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admission Test (GAMSAT) and a score resulting from a semi-structured interview. Studies in behavioural, social, biological and physical sciences, and humanities are likely to enhance performance in the test and are offered at most universities.

Additional Information:

Following completion of an approved course, graduates must undertake one year of full-time employment (internship) at a recognised teaching hospital to be able to gain full registration as a medical practitioner with the Medical Board. Prior to commencing clinical placements, students will be required to undergo a Criminal History Screening Check and comply with the university's policy on infectious diseases.

It is a legal requirement for graduates to be registered with the Medical Board of Australia before being able to practise as a medical practitioner in any state or territory in Australia. For full details, see the Medical Board of Australia's website.

Entry to the various specialisations requires postgraduate study, experience in approved hospitals and the passing of examinations leading to membership of the appropriate professional college. Specialist training programs and examinations are administered by these colleges.

General practice training standards are set by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and training requires three years following the intern year, with a final examination leading to Fellowship of the College. Rural practice incorporates a further year of special rural skills training.

Related Courses:

While the following courses are related to this occupation, they may not necessarily lead directly to employment, nor provide the most direct pathway to the occupation. Courses which provide preliminary or informal training, as well as those which provide additional job skills following initial qualifications may also be listed.

*Course is offered by more than one institution. Click link for details.

There are no courses currently linked to this job for this state/territory. Please try another state/territory.

Employment Opportunities:

Medical practitioners may work in private practice on their own, in partnership with another medical practitioner, in a group practice, in community health centres and in public hospitals. They work in cities, suburbs and rural townships.

Opportunities for medical graduates depend on a variety of factors such as birth and death rates, population levels and movements, changing patterns of illness and injury, technological advances in health care, the trend towards preventative medicine and the cost to the patient of treatment and health insurance. While most city areas and major towns are well supplied with medical practitioners, there are shortages in some city areas and in almost all rural/remote locations.