Becoming a Fellow
Learn about applying for Fellowship, the College Ceremony, and resources to support your success.
Overview
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
Pathways to Fellowship
There are 2 pathways to Fellowship depending on your background.
Advanced Trainees
You’ll be considered for Fellowship only after you’ve completed all the requirements of your first Advanced Training program. Your Training Committee will review your training and decide whether to recommend you. You can’t receive a provisional Fellowship if any requirements are still incomplete.
Once you’re recommended, you’ll be invited to apply for Fellowship, and after everything is finished, it usually takes about 6–8 weeks for your admission to be finalised.
When to submit your requirements
When to submit depends on which curriculum you’re training under.
PREP
If you’re completing training in February (at the end of a training year), submit your final requirements from 15 October. If you’re completing training at any other time of year, submit them about 1 month before your training end date.
Submitting at these times helps us process your recommendation sooner.
New Curriculum
If you’re in the Transition to Fellowship phase, we recommend submitting all your requirements by the end of the third quarter of the phase. This will support a smooth transition to Fellowship.
This includes your:
- learning requirements, such as logbooks, resources and learning courses
- assessment requirements, such as Observation Captures, Learning Captures and Rotation Progress Reports.
Once you’ve submitted everything, the relevant Training Program Committee will review your training record for progression to Fellowship.
When your final Rotation Progress Report isn’t required
You don’t need to submit your final Rotation Progress Report if you meet all these criteria by the end of the third quarter of the phase.
- Your validated rotation plan shows you’ll finish training within 3 calendar months, in the same training setting.
- You’ve completed all Transition to Fellowship learning and assessment requirements.
- You’ve completed all other Rotation Progress Reports for this phase.
- None of your Rotation Progress Reports for this phase show training concerns.
- Your most recent report shows you’re meeting the expected standard for all Learning Goals, and your supervisor has rated you “Trainee progressing satisfactorily”.
- If you have 3 month rotations: the earliest you can submit your final report is 1 month after the start of your last rotation of the phase.
If you think you meet all these criteria, email your specialty inbox so we can review your record for Fellowship.
If your program has 2 Rotation Progress Reports per phase
Your final report is still required. If you’re scheduled to finish training within 3 calendar months and would like to finish sooner, you can choose to submit it early if you meet the criteria above, at the end of the third quarter of the phase.
Overseas Trained Physicians (OTPs)
You can be recommended for Fellowship after successfully completing a specialist assessment to practise in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand.
Explore OTP pathways
Steps to becoming a Fellow
These steps apply to both Advanced Trainees and Overseas Trained Specialists.
Recommendation to Fellowship
4–6 weeks
If you're an eligible Advanced Trainee or OTP, the relevant Committee will review your training or application and recommend you for admission to Fellowship once all requirements are complete. You'll receive confirmation when the recommendation has been made.
Apply for Fellowship
1–2 weeks
Once your recommendation is confirmed, Member Services will email you instructions to apply for Fellowship via MyRACP.
You'll need to complete your application, pay the Admission to Fellowship fee, and ensure any outstanding College fees are paid before finalisation.
Confirmation of Admission
Within 5 days
After submitting your application and payment, you'll receive an email from the College President confirming your admission to Fellowship.
Your admission letter is also sent to the relevant regulatory body (Ahpra or MCNZ) for registration purposes.
Fellowship Certificate
2–3 months
Your Fellowship certificate (testamur) will be sent by registered post within 2–3 months of admission.
Once you're a Fellow
Once you’re a Fellow, you can use your post-nominals, register with a regulatory body and attend a College Ceremony.
Using your Fellowship marks
Once you become a Fellow, you're awarded RACP post-nominals (FRACP, FAFPHM, etc.). You can download the Fellowship mark through MyRACP.
You may only use a post-nominal if you're a member of the College.
Registering with a regulatory body
Before you can practice as a specialist or consultant physician, you must register with a national regulatory body, Ahpra in Australia or MCNZ in Aotearoa New Zealand.
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
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, your family and friends, to attend.
You’ll receive an email invitation to register for the ceremony after becoming a Fellow.
Find out more about College Ceremonies
Further training and re-admission
If you’re a current or former Fellow, find out what happens if you complete more Advanced Training or want to rejoin the College.
Completing another Advanced Training Program after Fellowship
You can only be admitted to Fellowship of the College once. If you complete additional Advanced Training, you won’t receive another Fellowship or testamur.
Instead, you’ll receive a letter confirming completion of the program, which you can use to update your specialty registration records with the relevant regulatory body in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand.
Re-admission to Fellowship
If you're a former Fellow, you can apply for re-admission to the College. Requirements depend on how long you've been out of Fellowship.
Re-admission for unpaid subscriptions (within 6 months)
- a letter to the Executive General Manager, Member Engagement and Value, 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 (after 6 months) or resignation
- 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