SLEEP MEDICINE

Advanced Training Program in Sleep Medicine - Level II

General Principles

1. Level II advanced training in sleep medicine qualifies trainees to practise predominantly or solely in sleep medicine.
   
2. Career training in sleep medicine consists of a structured three-year program with expectations from training different from those of trainees spending one year in sleep medicine as part of their training in respiratory medicine (Level I training). Advanced training commences with the approval of a submitted program. At least two-years experience in clinical sleep medicine is necessary. The third year of training may be spent in research or an approved complementary year in a related discipline. Approval of complementary training will not be considered until at least one year of core sleep training has been completed.
   
3. For thoracic medicine trainees who wish to gain dual recognition (ie. Level II sleep plus thoracic medicine), a minimum of four years of advanced training would be required (two years core training in each discipline). In this case, the clinical sleep medicine component may precede or follow approved thoracic advanced training.
   
4. Advanced trainees from a non-thoracic background (e.g. neurology) who wish to gain dual recognition should prospectively seek the advice of the SAC in Thoracic and Sleep Medicine as to the suitability of their prior training as approved complementary training in sleep medicine. Retrospective approval of non-relevant complementary training will not normally be granted. For non-thoracic trainees undertaking sleep medicine advanced training, at least one year of their sleep training must involve substantial experience in sleep breathing disorders and their commonly associated respiratory diseases.
   
5. Trainees are encouraged to become conversant with all diagnostic procedures available, with the current literature and with research activities in the sleep field.
   
6. It is desirable that training be undertaken at more than one institution, and it is envisaged that this will be necessary for many trainees, to enable them to acquire a sufficient breadth of exposure and experience.
   
7. Advanced trainees transferring to the Thoracic and Sleep Medicine SAC for sleep medicine training may be advised to undertake some post-FRACP supervised training in sleep medicine to complete their training program.
   
8. Normally at least one year of advanced training should be undertaken in Australia and New Zealand.
   

Successful completion of Level II training will enable trainees to reach a satisfactory level of experience and competence to report sleep studies and direct a sleep laboratory.

[ Back to Vocational Advanced Training Menu ]

[ Home ] [ General Information ] [ Basic Training ] [ Advanced Training ]
[ Advanced Vocational Training ] [ Training outside Australia & New Zealand ]
[ Return to RACP Homepage ]

bl