We have a range of career options for medical officers.
Your individual career will depend on your training pathway, qualifications, registration status, clinical experience, role requirements, and our appointment processes.
The following chart gives an overview of the medical officer roles and common career pathways.
Roles and requirements
Intern
An intern is in their first year of practice after finishing a medical degree. Interns have provisional registration and rotate through different specialties under supervision. They complete 47 weeks training in our hospitals, health centres and approved training settings.
Junior house officer
A junior house officer (JHO) is in their first year of work after finishing their internship. It’s usually the second postgraduate year.
Senior house officer
A senior house officer (SHO) is in their second year of work after finishing their internship. It’s usually the third postgraduate year.
Principal house officer
A principal house officer (PHO) is a medical officer who isn’t doing accredited study towards a higher medical qualification. PHOs often work in a specific area of clinical practice and usually start in their fourth postgraduate year.
Career medical officer
A career medical officer (CMO) has at least 6 years postgraduate experience. CMOs often work in a specific area of clinical practice and don’t take part in rotational training programs.
Registrar
A registrar is doing an accredited course of study leading to a higher medical qualification.
Senior registrar
A senior registrar has specialist registration with the Medical Board of Australia.
Senior medical officer
A senior medical officer (SMO) has an approved scope of clinical practice, and either:
- specialist registration for their role with the Medical Board of Australia
- qualifications and experience to practice in a role required by the Queensland Health State Recognised Practice Committee (SPRC).
Senior medical officers can work as a:
- GP (general practitioner)
- rural generalist
- staff specialist
- medical officer in advanced credentialed practice.
Their title will depend on the role and their qualifications.
Medical practitioner with private practice
A medical practitioner with private practice (MPPP):
- meets the requirements for appointment as a senior medical officer
- works in our rural, regional, or remote hospitals and health services
- provides services to private medical practices in their community.
Private practice arrangements are agreed in writing with the employing health service.
International medical graduates
You can apply for medical officer roles if you have overseas qualifications. You’ll need to register with the Medical Board of Australia and have the qualifications and experience needed for the role.
Learn more about careers for international jobseekers.
Visiting medical officers
Medical officers who own a private practice with associated ongoing practice costs may be employed as a visiting medical officer (VMO).
How to apply for medical roles
Medical graduates can apply for a medical internship through our intern campaign. We take applications from graduates who trained in Australia, New Zealand and overseas.
You can apply for resident medical officer roles, including SHO, JHO, PHO, registrar or senior registrar through our RMO and registrar campaign.
You can apply for all other medical roles, including CMO, SMO, VMO or MPPP through our careers portal.
This page is general information to help you understand our medical roles. For formal employment conditions, role classifications or appointment requirements see our awards, agreements and orders.