AMC Primary Source Verification

What Is Primary Source Verification?

Primary source verification (PSV) means your medical qualification is confirmed directly by the institution that issued it — not simply by you presenting a certificate or transcript. The Australian Medical Council (AMC) requires PSV so that every candidate's degree is independently verified at the source before they can sit the AMC Part 1 examination.

The AMC manages PSV through the ECFMG's EPIC system (Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials), operated by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. You create an EPIC account, nominate the AMC as a recipient, and ECFMG contacts your medical school directly to confirm your qualification. Until PSV is complete and the AMC has confirmed your eligibility, you cannot register for the exam.

PSV is the single most common source of delay in the AMC application process. It should be the first thing you start — before study planning, before booking an exam date, and ideally before you begin intensive preparation.

Timeline

PSV typically takes 4–12 weeks, and in some cases longer. The total duration depends almost entirely on factors outside your control:

• Your medical school's responsiveness — This is the biggest variable. Some institutions respond to ECFMG's verification request within days; others take weeks or months. Institutions with high volumes of international graduates or limited administrative capacity tend to be slower.
• Document completeness — If your submitted documents are incomplete, incorrectly formatted, or have name discrepancies, ECFMG may need to follow up with you before contacting your institution, adding weeks to the process.
• ECFMG processing time — Once your institution responds, ECFMG processes the verification and sends the report to the AMC. This step is generally faster (days to weeks), but can take longer during peak periods.

Practical advice: When planning your AMC Part 1 timeline, assume at least 3 months from the day you create your EPIC account until verification is confirmed and your AMC eligibility is approved. If your institution is in a country or region known for slow administrative processes, allow more. Do not book an exam date until you have received formal confirmation of eligibility from the AMC.

Documents Required

The EPIC system requires specific identity and qualification documents. Based on the current AMC and ECFMG requirements, you will need to provide:

• Colour photograph — A recent passport-style photograph meeting ECFMG's specifications
• Scanned passport — A clear, full-colour scan of your current passport's biographical page
• EPIC Identification Form — A form generated within the EPIC system that you must complete and upload
• Qualification documents — Your medical degree certificate and academic transcripts, uploaded when ECFMG advises you to do so (timing is managed within the EPIC workflow)

The name on all documents must match your AMC application exactly. Even minor discrepancies — a missing middle name, a different spelling, a name change due to marriage — can cause delays. If your name has changed since graduation, prepare supporting legal documentation (such as a marriage certificate or deed poll) before you begin the process.

Some medical schools charge a fee for responding to verification requests or issuing official transcripts. Check with your institution's registrar in advance so this does not become an unexpected delay.

How the Process Works

The PSV process through EPIC follows a defined sequence:

1. Create an EPIC account — Register at the ECFMG EPIC portal. You will receive an EPIC ID, typically confirmed within 2–3 working days.
2. Nominate the AMC as a recipient — Within your EPIC account, designate the AMC to receive your verification status. This connects your EPIC record to your AMC application.
3. Provide identity documents — Upload your colour photograph, scanned passport, and completed EPIC Identification Form as required.
4. Upload qualifications when advised — ECFMG will prompt you to upload your medical degree and transcripts at the appropriate stage in the workflow. Follow their instructions on format and timing.
5. ECFMG contacts your medical school — This is the step you cannot control. ECFMG writes directly to your medical school to confirm that you hold the degree listed in your application and that the documents are genuine.
6. Your institution responds — Your medical school confirms (or queries) the information. The method of response (secure portal, official letter, or other channel) is determined by ECFMG's protocols.
7. Verification report sent to AMC — Once ECFMG has received confirmation from your institution, the verified report is transmitted to the AMC. The AMC then completes your eligibility assessment and, if approved, you can apply for your exam authorisation.

Throughout this process, you can track the status of your verification through your EPIC account. If a step appears stalled, the tracking information will help you identify where the delay is occurring.

ECFMG and EPIC (International Verification)

ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) operates the EPIC system, which is used internationally for primary source verification of medical qualifications. While ECFMG is best known for USMLE certification in the United States, the EPIC platform is used by medical regulatory bodies in multiple countries — including the AMC in Australia.

If you have already completed EPIC verification for another purpose (for example, USMLE eligibility or another country's licensing process), your verified credentials may already be in the EPIC system. In this case, you may only need to nominate the AMC as an additional recipient rather than repeating the full verification process. However, the AMC may have specific requirements about what verification they accept and whether additional documentation is needed. Always confirm with the AMC what is required for your application before assuming prior EPIC verification is sufficient.

If you have not used EPIC before, the AMC pathway will be your first interaction with the system. The process is straightforward but time-dependent — the key variable is always how quickly your medical school responds.

If Verification Is Delayed

Delays are common, and the most frequent cause is a slow response from your medical school. To minimise the risk:

• Start immediately — Begin your EPIC registration and AMC application as soon as you decide to pursue the AMC pathway. Do not wait until you feel "ready" for the exam to start the administrative process.
• Contact your institution proactively — Before ECFMG sends the verification request, contact your medical school's registrar or credentials office. Let them know a verification request is coming, ask what their typical response time is, and identify the specific person or department responsible for responding.
• Keep records — Note your EPIC ID, submission dates, reference numbers, and the names of anyone you correspond with at your institution or ECFMG.
• Follow up at 4 weeks — If your EPIC account shows no progress on the institution verification step after four weeks, contact your medical school directly to check whether they have received the request and when they expect to respond.
• Escalate if necessary — If your institution is consistently unresponsive, contact ECFMG's support team and the AMC to make them aware of the situation. They may be able to send follow-up communications or suggest alternative verification routes.

Do not assume you can sit the exam on a specific date until you have received formal confirmation of eligibility from the AMC. The exam authorisation (valid for 12 months) only begins once your eligibility is approved — not when you submit your application.