Pre-Employment Structured Clinical Interviews (PESCI)

A Pre Employment Structured Clinical Interview (PESCI) is one of the assessments of clinical knowledge and skills that an International Medical Graduate (IMG) may undergo as part of the nationally consistent assessment process for IMGs.

A PESCI is an assessment of a doctors clinical knowledge and experience and uses a set of structured questions and scenarios in an interview situation.

Who requires a PESCI?
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) progressing via the Standard Pathway to general medical registration and applying to Queensland Health for the following specialties:

• Anaesthetics
• Emergency Medicine
• Intensive Care
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• General Medicine
• Mental Health
• Paediatrics

Will require a PESCI for the following positions:

• Principal House Officer (PHO)/Registrar positions (new employees to Queensland Health)
• Senior House Officer moving to a Principal House Officer position in one of the above specialties (existing Queensland Health employee)
• Principal House Officer who is changing specialties into one of the above specialties (existing Queensland Health employee)
• If you are being employed as a PHO Generalist and will be required to work across any of the specialties listed above
• IMGs who are basic trainees of their relevant speciality college; and may be referred to by the college or the hospital as a Registrar and who are on the Standard Pathway to General Medical Registration and are or will be registered with the MBA as a PHO are to undertake a PESCI if they are new to Queensland Health and or are moving into a PHO / Registrar position in one of the above specialities

Who arranges a PESCI?
Upon acceptance of an employment offer with Queensland Health you will be contacted by the employing Health Service District or Facility who will coordinate a PESCI for you with the Queensland Health PESCI Team.

What is the PESCI format?
The Queensland Health PESCI consists of questions to explore and validate the skills and experience that you provide in your Curriculum Vitae.  A PESCI Panel, consists of three members, will pose between three and five clinical scenario questions relevant to the role you have accepted.  The Panel will use these scenarios to determine your ability to analyse clinical situations and your ability to apply clinical knowledge.

The following competencies will be assessed during the clinical scenarios:

• Clinical history taking
• Clinical knowledge
• Management plan
• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills

The panel will ask questions or may use role plays to elicit information during the interview.

Outcomes of PESCI will be provided by email.  Please note that a successful outcome of a Queensland Health PESCI does not guarantee registration with the MBA.

Contact details:
Queensland Health PESCI Team
Telephone:  +61 7 3636 9912
Email:  PESCI@health.qld.gov.au

The Medical Board of Australia (MBA) currently requires International Medical Graduates (IMG) to complete a PESCI as a pre-registration requirement when they are progressing via the Standard Pathway or Competent Authority Pathway to general medical registration in any of the following positions:

• Any non-specialist position in a private hospital
• All non-specialist senior positions within Queensland Health: 
  • Senior Medical Officer (SMO)
  • Medical Officer Right of Private Practice (MORRP)
  • Medical Superintendent Right of Private Practice (MSRPP)
• Any position in General Practice

Handy links

• Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACCRM)
• Medical Board of Australia (MBA)