Medical Training Review Panel: thirteenth report
Medical College Training Requirements
Up to Health workforce resources
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Table of contents
- Foreword
- Acronyms
- Executive Summary
- Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: University Medical Education and Training- Chapter 3: Prevocational Medical Training
- Chapter 4: Vocational Medical Training
- Chapter 5: International Supply
- Chapter 6: Special Purpose Training Programs
- Chapter 7: Medical Training Review Panel Subcommittees and National Projects
Appendices
Appendix B provides summary information about each medical college’s training requirements.
The training requirements for vocational trainees vary between colleges. Tables B1 to B3 provide a consolidated summary of the length of vocational training and training program entry requirements, as well as the guidelines for part-time training and interrupted training.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this appendix is correct at the time of publication and relevant for the data period that the report covers. However, these requirements change over time, and information should be checked with the relevant college or training organisation if current information is required. Website contact details for each college or training organisation are provided in the summaries for the colleges below.
In order to improve general understanding of medical college training requirements, the MTRP has decided to use common language in describing each college training program. Accordingly, the descriptors used in this summary may vary from the information provided by the individual college, faculty or vocational training organisation.
Table B1: Summary of medical college/faculty training and entry time, 2008
College/Faculty | Training requirements |
| Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) | 5 years full-time (2 years basic, 3 years advanced) |
 | Can enter after completing PGY1, but may not accredit any training time until completion of PGY2. |
| Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists - Faculty of Pain Medicine (ANZCA-FPM) | 1-3 years part-time, depending on prior specialist training and experience (minimum 50% commitment of full-time) |
| Can enter during specialty training |
| Australian College of Dermatologists (ACD) | 5 years full-time - trainees who pass both written and clinical fellowship examinations and satisfy all other training requirements in their fourth year are not required to undertake a fifth year of training |
| Can enter after completing PGY2 |
| Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) | 2 years basic training full-time (which can compromise PGY1 and PGY2) |
| 1 year provisional training full-time equivalent |
| 4 years advanced training full-time equivalent |
| Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) | 3 years full-time |
| Optional 4th year for Advanced Skills training and for academic post |
| Can enter after completing PGY1, with most entering after PGY2 |
| Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine | 3 year basic training full time |
| Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and Royal Australasian College of Physicians (JFICM) | 3 years advanced training full-time |
| Can enter after completing PGY1 |
| Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA) | 3 years full-time |
| Can enter after 3 years clinical experience |
| Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) | 6 years full time |
| Years 1-4 in the Integrated Training Program |
| Years 5-6 in the Elective Program |
| Can enter after completing PGY1 |
| Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) | 5 years full-time |
| Can enter after completing PGY2 |
| Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) | 5 years full-time |
| Can enter after completing PGY1 |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | 3 years basic training full-time |
| Adult Medicine Division (RACP-AMD) | 3 or more years advanced training full-time |
| Can enter after completing PGY1 |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | 3 years basic training full-time |
| Paediatrics and Child Health (RACPPCH) | 3 or more years advanced training full-time |
| Can enter after completing PGY1 |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | 4 years full-time |
| Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (RACPAFOEM) | Can enter after completing 3 years general clinical experience |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | 3 years full-time |
| Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (RACP-AFPHM) | Can enter after completing at least 3 years of postgraduate medical experience and completion of, or enrolment in, a Masters of Public Health Medicine (or comparable degree), which includes the faculty's core discipline areas |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | 4 years full time |
| Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (RACP-AFRM) | Can enter after completing PGY2 |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | 3 years full-time |
| Chapter of Palliative Medicine | Can enter with fellowship of a faculty or college approved by the Chapter or completion of FRACP basic training, including written and clinical examinations. |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | 3 years full-time |
| Chapter of Addiction Medicine | Can enter with fellowship of a faculty or college approved by the Chapter or completion of FRACP basic training, including written and clinical examinations |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | 3 years full-time |
| Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine | Can enter with fellowship of a faculty or college approved by the Chapter or completion of FRACP basic training, including written and clinical examinations. |
| Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) | 5 years full-time, which comprises 3 years basic training and 2 years advanced training |
| Optional additional advanced training certificate programs in addiction, adult, child and adolescent, consultation-liaison, old age, psychotherapy and forensic psychiatry |
| Can enter after completing PGY1 |
| Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists | 5 years full-time |
| Radiodiagnosis (RANZCRR) | Can enter after completing 2 years of basic training |
| Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists | 5 years full-time |
| Faculty of Radiation Oncology (RANZCR-FRO) | Can enter after completing 2 years of basic training |
| Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) | 4 years full-time |
| Can enter after completing PGY1 |
| Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) | 5-6 years full-time |
| Can apply from PGY2 to commence in PGY3 |
| Surgical Education and Training (SET) occurs in nine specialty ares:
|
Source: Medical colleges and GPET
Table B2: Summary of medical college/faculty part-time training requirements, 2008
College/Faculty | Requirements for part-time training requirements, 2008 |
| Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and Faculty of Pain Medicine | Minimum 50% of full-time commitment |
| Must result in FTE time |
| Australasian College of Dermatologists | Minimum 50% of full-time commitment |
| Must result in FTE time |
| Australiasian College for Emergency Medicine | Minimum 50% of full-time commitment |
| Must result in FTE time |
| Royal Australian College of General Practitioners | Minimum three sessions per week |
| General Practice Education and Training | Approval provided by regional training providers and College censors |
| Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine | Minimum 20% of full-time commitment |
| Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Must result in FTE time |
| Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators | Must result in FTE time |
| Complete within 6 years |
| Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists | Minimum 50% of full-time commitment First year of training must be full-time |
| Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists | Approved on a case-by-case basis |
| Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia | Minimum 8 hours per week/20% of full-time commitment |
| Minimum 2 years of the complete training program must be full-time |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | A minimum of 2 years of the complete training program be full-time |
| Adult Medicine Division | Any part-time training must be to a minimum of 20% FTE |
| Basic training must be completed within 7 years |
| Advanced training must be completed within 7 years |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | A minimum 2 years of the complete training program must be full time. |
| Paediatrics and Child Health | Recommended that two thirds of the 3 year basic training program be full time and continuous. |
| Any part-time training must be a minimum of 20% FTE |
| Basic training must be completed within 7 years |
| Advanced training must be completed within 7 years |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Minimum 50% of full-time commitment |
| Australasian Faculty of Occupational & Environmental Medicine | Must result in FTE time |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Minimum 20% full-time commitment |
| Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine | Must result in FTE time |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Minimum 50% of full-time commitment |
| Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine | Must result in FTE time |
| Complete within 8 years |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Minimum 20% of full-time commitment |
| Chapter of Palliative Medicine | Complete within 7 years with a minimum average of 0.5 FTE |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Minimum 50% of full-time commitment |
| Chapter of Addiction Medicine | |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Minimum 20% of full-time commitment |
| Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine | |
| Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists | Minimum 50% of full-time commitment, although in rare instances part time training at less than 50% of full time commitment may be approved for Advanced Training post-Fellowship |
| Must result in FTE time |
| Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists | Minimum 50% of full-time commitment |
| Radiodiagnosis | Must result in FTE time |
| Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists | Minimum 50% of full-time commitment |
| Faculty of Radiation Oncology | Must result in FTE time |
| Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine | Allowed, providing a minimum of three sessions per week maintained |
| Minimum 50% of full-time commitment |
| Royal Australasian College of Surgeons | Trainees on a SET Program who wish to apply for part-time training must apply to the relevant Specialty Board at least 6 months prior to the proposed commencement of the part-time training |
| The overall duration of the training program must not exceed the published expected minimum duration of training plus 4 years |
Source: Medical colleges and GPET
Table B3: Summary of medical college/faculty interrupted training requirements, 2008
College/Faculty | Requirements for interrupted training |
| Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and Faculty of Pain Medicine | Considered on an individual basis |
| Australian College of Dermatologists | Considered on an individual basis |
| Australian College for Emergency Medicine | Allowed up to 2 years and possibly beyond this, depending upon circumstances |
| General Practice Education and Training | Allowed up to a maximum of 2 years |
| Royal Australian College of General Practitioners | |
| Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine | Allowed |
| Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Advanced training must include at least 2 years interrupted only by normal holiday or short term (eg. study, conference) leave |
| If training is interrupted for between 1 and 2 years, there must be a minimum of 1 core advanced training year as part of subsequent training |
| If training is interrupted for between 2 and 4 years, 2 advanced training years, including one core year must be completed as part of subsequent training |
| If training is interrupted for 4 years or more, 2 core training years must be completed as part of subsequent training |
| Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators | Allowed |
| Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists | Allowed up to 2 years without loss of credit for previous training |
| Training must be completed within 11 years |
| Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists | Considered on an individual basis |
| Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia | Allowed - no limit is placed on the time taken to complete training, but if the final Part II examination has not been passed within 5 years of passing Part I examination then the Part I examination must be sat and passed again |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Allowed up to 2 years |
| Adult Medicine Division | |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Allowed up to 2 years |
| Paediatrics and Child Health | |
| Royal Australiasian College of Physicians | Considered on an individual basis, but usually no more than 2 years |
| Australasian Faculty of Occupantional & Environmental Medicine | |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Allowed up to 1 year deferral at a time, with a maximum of 2 years deferment |
| Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine | Training must be completed within 7 years |
| Extensions relating to maternity leave may be granted |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Allowed up to 2 years |
| Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine | Training must be completed within 6 years (8 years for part-time trainees) |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Allowed up to 2 years |
| Chapter of Palliative Medicine | |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Allowed up to 2 years |
| Chapter of Addiction Medicine | |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Allowed up to 2 years |
| Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine | |
| Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists | Allowed |
| Basic Training must be completed within 8 years or may need to repeat or complete the training experiences lapsed |
| Advanced Training must be completed within 6 years or may result in a review of overall training and assessment. |
| Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists | Allowed |
| Radiodiagnosis | |
| Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists | Allowed |
| Faculty of Radiation Oncology | |
| Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine | Allowed - generally for up to 12 months |
| Longer periods by negotiation with the college |
| Royal Australasian College of Surgeons | With the exception of leave for medical or family reasons, trainees cannot apply for leave in the first 6 months of their training program |
| Trainees on a SET Program who wish to interrupt their training must apply to the relevant Specialty Board at least 6 months prior to the proposed commencement of the training year in which the interruption will commence |
| Trainees applying for interruption due to medical reasons may do so at any time if supported by medical evidence |
Source: Medical colleges and GPET