If you’re an International Medical Graduate (IMG) trying to enter the Australian medical workforce, a gap in clinical experience can feel like a red flag - but it doesn’t have to be.
Whether your gap is a few months or several years, there are strategies to help you strengthen your application and meet the Medical Board of Australia’s Recency of Practice requirements. Here’s how fellow IMGs navigate this challenge, and what you can do too.
What Is a “Gap” and Why Does It Matter?
A clinical gap refers to the time since you last worked as a practising medical doctor. The Medical Board typically expects that doctors have at least three months of clinical experience in the past two years, especially when applying for limited or provisional registration.
If your last clinical role was 3+ years ago, this may delay your ability to work in Australia, unless you take steps to address it.
Elena’s Story: A 13-Year Gap, and Still Moving Forward
One previous HEAL student, Elena, hadn’t worked clinically in 13 years. Her plan? She arranged to return to China for a three-month supervised placement in a hospital.
Why? Because the Medical Board accepts recent overseas clinical practice, as long as it:
- Is clearly documented
- Involves hands-on medical care
- Includes a supervisor who can provide a letter confirming your duties
“The hospital must provide a letter confirming the department, duration, and supervisor’s details.” — Elena, HEAL student
What If You Can’t Get Back into Clinical Work Immediately?
Even if you're not currently working as a doctor, you can still build a case for medical recency by engaging in related activities:
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD): Attend courses, workshops, or webinars. Track everything.
- Observerships: Shadow a clinical team in an Australian hospital (note: unpaid). Great for networking and understanding local systems.
- Volunteering or Adjacent Health Work: Roles involving patient contact, even outside medicine, can help bridge the gap.
Short-Term Options to “Close the Gap”
If you need formal recency experience:
- Return to your home country for a short-term placement (like Elena)
- Apply for observerships at Australian hospitals (some have formal IMG programs)
- Join bridging or internship-style IMG programs, e.g., at Townsville, Monash, or other regional hospitals
These options may take effort to arrange, but they show initiative and commitment, and that counts.
What to Say in Your CV & Interviews About Gaps
Avoid hiding or skipping over your gap. Instead, explain:
- Why the gap occurred (e.g. migration, study, caregiving)
- What you did do to maintain your knowledge or skills
- How you’re now preparing to return to clinical work
The goal is to demonstrate ongoing professional engagement, even during your gap.
Whether your clinical gap is one year or ten years, what matters most is what you do next. Stay active, stay focused, and know that many IMGs have overcome similar obstacles.
Need help filling the gap? HEAL offers AMC-recognised CPD courses and Clinical preparation courses, providing valuable feedback.