Aotearoa New Zealand Prospectus
Kia ora, welcome to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP).
This page contains key information for prospective Aotearoa New Zealand members.
Find out more about becoming a physician, training pathways, available scholarships and grants, and how we'll support you on your journey in becoming a specialist physician.
On this page
Become a physician
Physicians perform a unique and vital role in the healthcare of communities in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. As a physician, you'll have the opportunity to work in clinical and community healthcare settings focusing on one of 33 diverse medical specialties from public health to cardiology.
As one of the largest medical colleges in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, we provide a strong, united voice for specialist medicine. We support our members throughout their career and we're on the journey with you from the first year of training until retirement.
As you train to be a specialist physician, membership gives you access to important resources like the College Learning Series and exam preparation tools. We also host lectures, webinars and seminars to strengthen your clinical expertise.
Most importantly, we guide you through your journey to becoming a specialist physician and provide access to wellbeing resources, flexible training policies and a trainee support team. We’re only a phone call, email or webchat away.
Learn more about applying for physician training and how to become a College member.
Training pathways
We facilitate training at accredited training sites in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and overseas for over 9,000 trainees in 33 diverse medical specialties, including 6 joint training programs.
Your training pathway to become a physician will depend on your chosen medical specialty. Each specialty has specific entry requirements that you must meet before applying.
The training pathway is divided into 2 parts: basic and advanced. For a visual representation of the RACP training programs, see the
training pathways flowchart
(JPG).
Basic Training
Basic Training is the first step to becoming a physician.
To be eligible to start Basic Training at the RACP, you must:
-
Complete a medical degree accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) or Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ)
-
Have a general medical registration with the Medical Board of Australia, or a medical registration with a general scope of practice with the MCNZ
-
Have satisfactorily completed at least an intern year (postgraduate year one)
-
Be employed by an
accredited hospital (where you will do your Basic Training)
-
Discuss your application and receive approval from the site (or network)
Director of Physician Education (DPE)
Prevocational training and entry to Basic Training
Medical graduates in Aotearoa New Zealand are required to complete prevocational training programs.
Doctors in their first and second postgraduate years must undertake a 2-year intern training program established by the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ).
First year Basic Trainees starting from 2025 onwards will use the Basic Training new curricula. The curricula standards and learning teaching and assessment (LTA) programs for the training programs using a new curriculum are accessible on the RACP Online Learning platform.
Advanced Training
Advanced Training allows trainees to continue developing their knowledge and skills through a chosen clinical specialty.
Your eligibility to apply for Advanced Training depends on the Advanced Training specialty program that you would like to enter. For most Advanced Training programs, you'll need to complete Basic Training before you can start Advanced Training.
Each Advanced Training program requires a minimum of 36 months of full time equivalent (FTE) experience in accredited training rotations. We offer the following Advanced Training programs:
| Division training programs |
Qualifications |
|
|
FRACP |
| Joint training programs |
Qualifications |
|
|
FRACP and FAFRM |
|
|
FRACP and FRCPA |
|
|
FRACP and/or FACEM |
| Chapter training programs |
Qualifications |
|
|
FAChAM |
|
|
FAChPM |
|
|
FAChSHM |
| Faculty training programs |
Qualifications |
|
|
FAFRM |
|
|
FAFOEM |
|
|
FAFPHM |
P Trainees must complete Basic Training in Paediatrics & Child Health to enter this program.
A Trainees must complete Basic Training in Adult Internal Medicine to enter this program.
1 Training program must be undertaken with another division training program or undertaken post-RACP.
2 Trainees who have entered Advanced Training in Palliative Medicine via a RACP Basic Training Program will be awarded FRACP upon completion and may subsequently be awarded FAChPM. Trainees who have not entered Advanced Training in Palliative Medicine via a RACP Basic Training Program will only be awarded FAChPM upon completion.
3 Entry to these training programs can be via Basic Physician Training or through other pre-requisites.
Visit our Advanced Training page for each Advanced Training specialty program's entry requirements, how to apply or re-register and requirements to complete training.
Contact us
You can contact us by:
We're available 8.30am to 7.30pm,
Monday to Friday.
Aotearoa New Zealand office address
Level 10, 3 Hunter Street
Wellington 6011