Hear from the would-be Iranian Australian doctors prevented from taking the AMC multi-choice exam by a US treasury directive.
The Australian Medical Council still has not identified a path forward for the nearly 300 doctors living in Iran who are blocked from taking their first steps toward practising in Australia last month.
“At first, I felt really angry and upset,” Iranian clinician Dr Zahra Hosseinpour told The Medical Republic.
“I was overwhelmed, disappointed, and deeply frustrated by how unfair everything seemed.
“I also felt trapped, as though every path we tried to take towards a better future was gradually being closed off, one after another.”
The 286 Iranian doctors, who were scheduled to take the AMC multiple choice question exam at a testing facility in Istanbul in mid-September, have found themselves caught up in escalating global tensions.
In late August, United States president Donald Trump directed the country’s Department of Treasury to launch an “unprecedented, whole-of-government, economic campaign” against Iran.
As part of this, it suspended several general licenses. One of these licenses allowed for academic exchange and the exportation or importation of some educational services.
Pearson Professional Assessments, the company which was set to run the AMC exam in Istanbul, is headquartered in the US.
Iranian exam candidates were told they were only permitted to sit the exam if they could prove that they resided outside of Iran.
“We are reviewing the available options for affected candidates,” a spokesperson for the AMC told TMR.
“Any alternative will need to meet the AMC’s assessment standards, security requirements and deliver a consistent experience for candidates.”
All doctors who were unable to sit the exam received a full refund from the AMC, but many had already organised leave, flights, and accommodation in order to sit the exam in Istanbul.
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Not to mention the sunk cost of time spent studying.
Dr Farkhondeh Poursoltan told TMR she had spent nearly four years preparing for the opportunity to practise medicine in Australia.
“Just as I became able to afford the examination and move forward, a barrier beyond my control halted my plans and left my professional future uncertain,” she said.
“I understand that sanctions-related restrictions are complex, but their impact on qualified professionals should not be overlooked.
“I am not seeking special treatment—only the opportunity to demonstrate my knowledge by sitting the required examination, as other eligible international medical graduates can.”
Dermatologist Dr Rahil Hamedpour told TMR that he had studied to sit the AMC MCQ for a full year and had already purchased flights to Türkiye.
Dr Hosseinpour, meanwhile, said the AMC cancellation added an unexpected challenge to what was already a “difficult and upsetting” time in Iran.
“We worked hard, followed the available legal pathways, and invested a lot of time and savings in our plans,” she said.
“It’s discouraging when you do everything you’re supposed to do, but circumstances beyond your control can suddenly change everything.”
After working through her initial frustration, Dr Hosseinpour told TMR that she had tried to focus on academic opportunities.
Some of her friends have looked into obtaining residency in another country, just to be eligible to sit the exam.
“Personally, I can’t afford to take such an expensive and complicated route,” she said.
“As Iranians, we’re already dealing with so many difficulties and uncertainties at home.
“When we try to pursue opportunities abroad through legal pathways, we often face additional restrictions instead of the understanding and support we hope for.
“It feels like we’re facing obstacles both at home and abroad.”
TMR will publish a full interview with Dr Hosseinpour later this week.
