A Singapore national who worked as a doctor in Alice Springs with forged qualifications has been sentenced to more than a year in prison.

Balaji Varatharaju, 29, was employed as a doctor at the Alice Springs Hospital for nine months.

The Northern Territory Supreme Court has heard other medical staff became suspicious of his lack of clinical knowledge.

After further investigation it was discovered that he had forged his medical degree from Adelaide University.

The court heard Varatharaju also pleaded guilty to the aggravated assault of a patient during a medical procedure.

His defence lawyer told the court his motivation was not money.

The lawyer said Varatharaju wanted to help people and he is remorseful for his actions.

But Justice Jenny Blokland said he had breached the trust of patients and the medical board.

She said Varatharaju had indulged in deception that required "some significant confidence and audacity".

"The breach of faith with the Alice Springs Hospital and the medical board are of a high order given the deplorable consequences that can flow from such deception," she said.

She sentenced Varatharaju to two years in custody, suspended after 14 months.