NT PESCI

Northern Territory Pre Employment Structured Clinical Interview
Assessment of the Suitability of Overseas Trained Doctors to Work in GP Positions in the Northern Territory

Purpose of NT PESCI
The Northern Territory Pre Employment Structured Clinical Interview (NT PESCI), formally known as the International Medical Graduates Pre-employment Assessment Committee, was established in June 2006 in conjunction with the Medical Board of the Northern Territory to conduct a comprehensive pre-registration assessment of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) seeking to work in general practice in the NT. 

The purpose of the NT PESCI process is to increase the number of IMGs able to work as GPs in the NT.  Recruitment to the NT, both to rural and remote areas and to Darwin, has become increasingly difficult due to national and international competition for doctors, however it is essential to maintain the quality of the practitioners recruited.  While many IMGs who apply to work in general practice in the NT are clearly unsuitable, others are potentially employable but their CV does not provide sufficient information for the Medical Board to grant registration.  NT PESCI provides a clinical assessment process for this group which assists the Medical Board in determining their suitability for registration and the type of practice and location in which those who are successful should be permitted to work.  (A small number of IMGs have qualifications from specific countries which allow them to be registered to work as GPs without NT PESCI assessment.)

Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for NT PESCI assessment an IMG must have:
 

• At least 5 years equivalent Australian general practice experience as assessed by the Royal Australian College of General Practice (RACGP) and 
• A documented high level of proficiency in the English language, demonstrated by achieving the following results:
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components of the IELTS examination (Academic Module). 
• Alternative English proficiency tests that will be accepted are: 
  • Occupational English Test (OET) administered by the Centre for Adult Education with grades A or B in each of the four components, 
  • Professional Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) examination in the United Kingdom, 
  • Or a pass in the English language proficiency component of the New Zealand Registration Examination (NZREX).  
    The results for all English Language tests must have been obtained in one sitting within 2 years from the time of applying for registration.
• A documented pass in the Australian Medical Council Multiple Choice Questionnaire (AMC MCQ)
• The candidate must also have been offered and accepted employment, conditional on obtaining NT registration.

NT PESCI Process
The application process begins with a detailed self-assessment of the IMG’s procedural skills, sent with the application form.  A clinical interview is then arranged; the interview is conducted by a panel of three experienced GPs and convened by a GPNNT Medical Advisor.  The candidate is assessed on their performance in 5 clinical scenarios in which their history-taking, examination, diagnosis, investigations and treatment, as well as their communication and empathy with the “patient” are considered.  A member of the panel plays the role of the patient in each scenario and another provides information on any examinations and investigations the candidate requests.  The scenarios are selected to be appropriate for the circumstances in which the candidate will potentially be employed.

Results of Assessment
After the interview the panel discusses the candidate’s performance and decides whether to recommend them for registration.  The convenor then sends a detailed report of the assessment and the panel’s recommendation to the Medical Board.  The Medical Board retains the right to decide on an applicant’s suitability for registration but generally gives considerable weight to the NT PESCI recommendation.

A letter is also sent to the candidate informing them of their result and giving detailed feedback on their performance.  This feedback is intended to give information that will either be useful to the candidate in their work in the NT or help them if they choose to re-apply.  It can take up to 3 weeks for the results to be issued.

Cost
NT PESCI is a rigorous and time-consuming process involving the input of four experienced GPs as well as other staff; it is therefore costly to administer.   For IMGs being recruited to general practices and health services in rural and remote settings the costs may be covered by GPNNT.  For those being recruited to practices in metropolitan Darwin or to positions employed by NT Health and Families, situations GPNNT is not funded to support, a fee is charged to the employer.  The fee is currently $1,500 plus GST.

More Assessors needed
There are currently sometimes delays in arranging NT PESCI clinical interviews. This is because the workloads and other commitments of the approved assessors can make it difficult to convene a panel.  More assessors are needed to ensure more reliable availability and more rapid processing of candidates.   To be eligible to become an assessor applicants must have at least 3 years experience in NT general practice and have some experience in teaching and/or supervision.

If you are interested in participating in this assessment process or you would like more information, please contact: