AHPRA trial to ease upfront registration costs for medical graduates
09 Sep 2026
The fee deferral pilot will be available to Australian and New Zealand medical school graduates applying for provisional registration for the first time. AHPRA says the trial will help reduce the financial pressure graduates can face when moving from study into the workforce.
AHPRA CEO Justin Untersteiner said upfront registration costs can be difficult for some graduates and the pilot will help test more flexible payment options.
The move has been welcomed by the RACGP, particularly following concerns about the financial pressures faced by medical students and graduates.
RACGP GPs in Training faculty Acting Chair Dr Madeleine Wilkie said the change would help reduce some of the financial pressure on medical students.
She also highlighted the costs associated with unpaid placements, registration, professional expenses, conferences and equipment.
The deferral option will be available from 9 October 2026 to 4 January 2027.
Graduates who request a fee deferral before applying for provisional registration will still need to pay the application fee upfront. However, they will have until 31 March 2027 to pay the registration fee.
The pilot will also allow AHPRA to assess demand, implementation requirements and the impact on its systems. The findings could help guide future decisions about flexible payment options for other health professions.
Medical Board of Australia Chair Dr Susan O’Dwyer said the trial recognises that graduates may not begin earning a full-time income until they start working as doctors.
For 2026–27, Australian and New Zealand medical school graduates are required to pay a $332 application fee and a $543 registration fee.
AHPRA and the National Boards already offer other forms of financial support, including a 30% rebate on annual renewal fees for practitioners taking parental or other protected leave.
AHPRA trial to ease upfront registration costs for medical graduates
Source: AHPRA and RACGP newsGP