Becoming a Fellow
Learn about recommendation to Fellowship, the College Ceremony, and resources and timelines to support your success.
Each year, we welcome around 1000 new Fellows, offering them the chance to collaborate with peers in improving training, medical care, and health policies.
Fellowship recognises your success in training and provides opportunities to:
- develop skills at the forefront of your profession
- make a positive impact on individuals and communities
- support the next generation of physicians
Support
If you require further information or need any help, don't hesitate to contact us.
Steps to becoming a Fellow
You're eligible for recommendation to Fellowship once you've completed all training requirements of your (first) Advanced Training program. The relevant Training Committee will review your training and recommend you for admission to Fellowship. Please note that the College does not facilitate provisional Fellowships while training requirements remain incomplete.
Once a recommendation to Fellowship is made, you'll be invited to apply for Fellowship. A detailed explanation of the process can be found below.
Once all training requirements are complete, it can take 6-8 weeks before your admission to Fellowship is finalised.
You're eligible for recommendation to Fellowship pending a successful specialist assessment to practice in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand.
Recommendation to Fellowship | If you're an eligible trainee or OTP, the relevant Committee overseeing your training/application will recommend you for admission to Fellowship.
For Advanced Training:
Trainees completing training time requirements in line with the end of the standard clinical year in February are eligible to submit their final training requirements as early as 15 October. Trainees completing training time requirements at any other time of the year are welcome to submit their final requirements approximately one month before their training end date.
The ‘Recommendation to Fellowship’ process can take 4-6 weeks, and you'll receive a confirmation email once the recommendation has been made. The earlier all requirements are completed, the earlier we can facilitate your recommendation to Fellowship.
Apply for Fellowship | Once your recommendation to Fellowship is confirmed, your admission to Fellowship is managed by Member Services. You'll receive an email from Member Services with instructions on how to apply for Fellowship online through MyRACP.
This application will involve the payment of your Admission to Fellowship fee. Please note that any outstanding College fees must be paid prior to your Application for Fellowship being finalised.
Confirmation Letter | Within 5 days of submitting your application and paying the Admission to Fellowship fee, you'll receive an email from the College President confirming admission to Fellowship. This letter will be sent to the relevant regulatory body for your physician registration with AHPRA or MCNZ. Contact us if you need a hard copy.
The ‘Apply for Fellowship’ and ‘Confirmation Letter’ stages of this process can take 1-2 weeks.
Fellowship Certificate | You'll receive your testamur (Fellowship certificate) by registered post within 2-3 months.
Fellowship Marks
The Fellowship Mark is a trademarked symbol designed exclusively for RACP Fellows to use to symbolise their professional qualifications and membership of the RACP to their patients, peers and the community. Fellowship Marks are available for download through MyRACP.
Post-nominals (i.e., FRACP, FAFRM etc.) are awarded to Fellows upon successful admission to Fellowship of the RACP. The right and privilege to use a post-nominal is dependent on maintaining continued membership of the College. This is set out in the RACP Constitution (PDF), (Clause 4.4.1(c)).
Register with a regulatory body
Before new Fellows can practice as a specialist or consultant physician they must register with a national regulatory body.
Australia
Medical Board of Australia
To practice as a specialist or consultant physician in Australia, you need to register with the Medical Board of Australia through AHPRA.
Register
Recognition as a specialist or consultant physician
For Medicare recognition to provide specialist services with benefits at consultant rates:
Apply
Aotearoa New Zealand
Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa | Medical Council of New Zealand
For vocational registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand to practice as a consultant physician.
Apply
Post-FRACP Completion of an Advanced Training Program
You can only be admitted to Fellowship of the College once via the relevant Division/Chapter/Faculty. If you complete an additional Advanced Training program(s), you won't receive an additional Fellowship or a second testamur. Instead, you'll receive a letter to confirm completion of training in the relevant program, which can be used to update your records with the relevant national regulatory body in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand.
Re-admission to Fellowship
Former Fellows can apply for re-admission to the College. The required supporting documents vary as follows:
Re-admission for unpaid subscriptions (within 6 months)
- a letter to the Executive General Manager, Member Engagement and Support, requesting and outlining your reasons for re-admission to Fellowship
- proof of your ongoing registration as a health practitioner
All other reasons, re-admission due to non-payment or resignation (after 6 months)
- a letter to the relevant Division, Faculty, or Chapter President requesting re-admission
- an up-to-date curriculum vitae
- proof of your ongoing registration as a health practitioner and the relevant details
- a letter of reference from a peer who is a Fellow of the College and of the same discipline as the applicant
- evidence of CPD activities undertaken in the previous 2 years that meet the College's CPD Framework requirements
College Ceremony
Each year, around 1000 new members are welcomed into Fellowship at College Ceremonies across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand to celebrate their achievement.
The ceremony is a cherished tradition, and we encourage new Fellows, along with their family and friends, to attend.
New Fellows will receive an email invitation to register for the ceremony after becoming a Fellow.
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