General Practitioner (ANZSCO 253111)

    Updated

    What a General Practitioner does

    Diagnoses, treats and prevents human physical and mental disorders and injuries. Registration or licensing is required.

    Also called
    General Medical Practitioner
    Specialisations
    Medical Officer (Navy)

    Key facts

    ANZSCO code
    253111
    Skill level
    1Bachelor degree or higher
    Visas that list it
    189190491482186494
    Assessing authority
    Medical Board of Australia
    National shortage
    Shortage

    Visa options

    Occupation eligibility is one requirement; each visa page links to the rest.

    Main tasks

    • conducting examinations and questioning patients to determine the nature of disorders and illnesses, and recording patients' medical information
    • ordering laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures, and interpreting findings to assist in diagnosis
    • providing overall care for patients, and prescribing and administering treatments, medications and other remedial measures
    • monitoring patients' progress and response to treatment
    • advising on diet, exercise and other habits which aid prevention and treatment of disease and disorders
    • referring patients to, and exchanging medical information with, specialist Medical Practitioners
    • reporting births, deaths and notifiable diseases to government authorities
    • arranging the admission of patients to hospitals

    Shortage by state

    • NationalShortage
    • ACTShortage
    • NSWShortage
    • NTShortage
    • QLDShortage
    • SAShortage
    • TASShortage
    • VICShortage
    • WAShortage

    State and territory nomination

    For the 190 and 491, each state and territory also has its own occupation list.

    Common questions

    What does a General Practitioner do?

    Diagnoses, treats and prevents human physical and mental disorders and injuries. Registration or licensing is required. Also called: General Medical Practitioner. (ABS ANZSCO description.)

    Is General Practitioner on the skilled occupation list?

    Yes. General Practitioner (ANZSCO 253111) is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) (lists in force from 14 December 2024). It is listed for the 186, 189, 190, 482, 491 and 494 visas.

    What is the ANZSCO code for General Practitioner?

    253111. Home Affairs uses ANZSCO codes for skilled visas.

    How can a General Practitioner migrate to Australia?

    The occupation lists Home Affairs publishes include General Practitioner for the Subclass 186, Subclass 189, Subclass 190, Subclass 482, Subclass 491 and Subclass 494 visas. Being on a list is one requirement among several; each visa's page links to Home Affairs for the rest.

    Who assesses General Practitioner for an Australian visa?

    Medical Board of Australia, the skills assessing authority listed for 253111.

    Is General Practitioner in demand in Australia?

    Jobs and Skills Australia rated it "Shortage" nationally in its 2025 Occupation Shortage List, with ratings for each state and territory shown above.

    Sources

    1. 1Department of Home Affairs, skilled occupation listimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au
    2. 2Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO – Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, 2022, CC BY 4.0abs.gov.au
    3. 3Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation Shortage List, 2025 listjobsandskills.gov.au