Interview process

Attending an interview is part of your interim assessment. Suitably qualified Fellows of the RACP will discuss your training and experience with you. They’ll assess how prepared you are to practise.

Interviews last about 1 hour and are mainly conducted by video conference. An interview in person, at an RACP office, cannot be guaranteed. Times are arranged based on availability of your interview panel. We’ll send you video conference details when your interview date is confirmed.

You’re responsible for all costs related to your interview, including but not limited to:

• access to a fast and secure internet connection for video conference interviews
• travel to an RACP office for in-person interviews

There will be a waiting period for your interview. We process applications in the order they’re received. Your Case Officer will advise the timeframe when they confirm your interview availability.

Prepare for your interview

Research the Australian healthcare system and ask questions during the interview. Familiarise yourself with:

• Professional Practice Framework | Interviewers assess you by considering technical clinical skills and non-technical professional attributes described here.
• Advanced Training Programs | This helps you demonstrate how your training, assessment and experience compares.
• Curricula | Look at Basic Training curricula and relevant Advanced Training curricula.
• Interview resource | Information on local selection and interviews.

Based on your application, interviewers might ask about your:

• basic or core training
• advanced or specialist training
• specialist practice and your recency of practice (see the MBA's registration standard)
• participation in continuing professional development
• quality assurance practices
• higher qualifications
• contributions to the field of medicine
• readiness for practice in Australia
• cultural competence, cultural safety and health equity knowledge specific to Australia

After your interview

Within 21 working days of your interview, you’ll get a copy of your interview report and redacted versions of your referee reports. You can review these before they’re considered by an RACP Assessment Subcommittee, the decision-making body.

You’ll have 21 days to provide additional documentation to support your application.

Your Case Officer will advise when your application will be considered.

Comparability definitions

Substantially comparable | Maximum 2 years to begin requirements

If we determine you’re substantially comparable in the full or limited scope, you:

• are suitable for the full or limited scope of practice
• can take full responsibility for individual patients with peer reviewer (supervised practice) oversight
• have satisfied requirements in previous training, assessment, recent specialist practice and CPD

You'll undertake up to 12 months full-time equivalent practice under approved peer review (supervised practice), including workplace-based assessment. During this period, we ensure your performance is similar to an Australian trained specialist, assist with your transition to the Australian health system, provide professional support and help you access CPD.

After completing all requirements, you could be eligible for Fellowship without formal examination and you can apply for specialist registration.

Note: You cannot apply for specialist registration during the peer review period.

Partially comparable | Maximum 2 years to begin requirements

If we determine you’re partially comparable, you:

• are suitable to undertake a supervised defined scope of practice
• have partially satisfied requirements in previous training, assessment, recent specialist practice and CPD
• should be able to reach the standard of an Australian trained specialist within 24 months full time equivalent

During this period, you’ll upskill and take assessments under RACP-approved supervisors. You’ll also transition to the Australian health system, receive professional support and have access to CPD.

After completing all requirements, you could be eligible for Fellowship and specialist registration.

Note: You cannot apply for specialist registration during the peer review (supervised practice) period.

Not comparable | Assessment process ends

If we determine you’re not comparable, you:

• do not meet the requirements in previous training, assessment, recent specialist practice and CPD
• would require more than 24 months full-time equivalent practice to be at the level of an Australian trained specialist

You could still register to practise in Australia. Contact AHPRA for advice.

Try these resources instead

English language testing requirements

AHPRA and National Boards | English language skills

Finding employment

• RACP | Medical positions vacant
• Contact hospitals directly
• Contact medical recruitment agencies
• DoctorConnect
• Australian Capital Territory | ACT Government Health
• New South Wales | NSW Health Careers
• Northern Territory | Department of Health
• Queensland | Queensland Health job search
• South Australia | SA Health
• Tasmania | Tasmanian Government Department of Health
• Victoria | Department of Health Victoria job search
• Western Australia | Country Health Service employment opportunities
• Western Australia | Department of Health job search

Immigration or visa requirements

Australian Government | Department of Home Affairs

Medical registration matters

• Medical Board of Australia | Assessment pathways
• AHPRA | Registration

Medicare provider status for Australia

Services Australia | Applying for a Medicare provider number

MCNZ supervision and vocational practice assessment for Aotearoa New Zealand

• Medical Council of New Zealand
• RACP | Practice in New Zealand

Primary source verification of overseas qualifications

AMC | Primary source verification

Short-term specialist training

RACP | Short-term specialist training

Timeframes

We’ll give you clear timeframes for completing requirements.

Your assessment will expire if you do not successfully complete all requirements within the maximum timeframes, including extensions.

We follow the MBA guidelines on assessment timeframes (PDF).

Extensions

Before you begin requirements, you can apply for an extension where there are extenuating circumstances preventing you from beginning practice in Australia. Extenuating circumstances do not include being unable to secure a position. You must apply before your application expires.

During ongoing assessment, you can apply for an extension where there are extenuating circumstances or interruptions such as parental leave and sickness. You must apply before your timeframe for completing requirements expires.

To request an extension, email your Case Officer at otp@racp.edu.au.

Top-up training (supervised practice)

If you’re deemed partially comparable in your interim assessment, you're required to undertake top-up training (supervised practice). It's a period of advanced training that allows you to address identified gaps in your competencies.

It usually lasts for 6 or 12 months. It’s assessed at the level of a final year Advanced Trainee and followed by a period of clinical practice under peer review (supervised practice).

Position criteria

The following requirements generally apply:

• You must secure your own position.
• Your position must be approved before you begin.
• Positions must be in an RACP Advanced Training accredited site for the specialty, unless otherwise specified.
• You need at least 2 onsite supervisors who are Fellows of the RACP and registered consultants in the same subspecialty, unless otherwise specified.

Positions are competitive so it may take some time to find an appropriate one. We cannot assist you in securing a position.

Choose your supervisors

You need at least 2 on-site top-up training supervisors who are registered consultants in the same subspecialty. Where only 1 on-site supervisor is in your subspecialty, you must have a second on-site supervisor in a different subspecialty and a third external supervisor in the relevant subspecialty.

At least 1 supervisor must have held Fellowship of the relevant RACP Division, Faculty or Chapter for a minimum of 3 years. All other supervisors must have held Fellowship of the relevant RACP Division, Faculty or Chapter for at least 12 months.

Apply for top-up training (supervised practice)

After you’ve secured a position, you need to:

1. submit a top-up training (supervised practice) application form and job description
2. pay the workplace-based assessment annual fee

Your Case Officer will provide you with these documents when you need them.

We assess the roles and responsibilities of the position and suitability of the supervisors to ensure your requirements will be met.

Top-up training (supervised practice) process

During top-up training (supervised practice), supervisors will:

• directly supervise your clinical practice
• meet with you regularly
• guide and facilitate your development of knowledge and skills as outlined in the Advanced Training Curricula^*
• assess if you’re operating at the level of a final year Advanced Trainee

You must meet the responsibilities for top-up training (supervised practice).

^* Both technical clinical skills and non-technical professional attributes described in the Professional Qualities Curriculum (PDF) are important.

Problems during top-up training (supervised practice)

Most top-up training (supervised practice) relationships are effective and supportive. Occasionally, there can be disagreement between an OTP and supervisors.

You and your supervisors should make every effort to work together professionally to resolve issues, communication problems or disagreements in your regular meetings. Serious issues can be mediated through human resources at your hospital.

Email your Case Officer at OTP@racp.edu.au if there are issues and we’ll review arrangements and make changes if necessary. For example, inform us if:

• you’re not having regular meetings
• a supervisor is not giving you feedback
• you can't reach agreement with a supervisor about your performance
• the relationship is not effective
• your supervisors are not meeting their responsibilities

It’s more effective to raise these issues early than to make a complaint after your top-up training (supervised practice) reports are missing or unsatisfactory.

Peer review (supervised practice)

You’re required to undertake peer review (supervised practice). It's a supportive process that:

• ensures your performance is comparable to Australian trained specialists
• helps you become familiar with the health system
• enables you to access CPD
• connects you with experienced physicians and possible mentors

We determine the nature of assessment and length of peer review (supervised practice), between 6 and 12 months, on a case-by-case basis.

In exceptional circumstances, a reduction may be considered after you’ve practised in Australia in an appropriately supervised environment for more than 6 months and satisfactory reports have been provided by each supervisor.

Position criteria

You’re responsible for securing a suitable peer review (supervised practice) position. The position should:

• be at consultant physician level but at least at senior registrar level
• allow you to practise independently with a supervisor providing oversight and constructive feedback
• expose you to a full range of clinical activities required in your specialty so we can assess your safety and competence
• allow your supervisors to observe and assess your technical clinical skills and professional attributes described in the Professional Qualities Curriculum
• not be more than half-time in private practice

Positions are competitive so it may take some time to find an appropriate one. We cannot assist you in securing a position.

Choose your peer reviewers

You need at least 2 on-site supervisors who are registered consultants in the same subspecialty. Where only 1 on-site supervisor is in your subspecialty, you must have a second on-site supervisor in a different subspecialty and a third external supervisor in the relevant subspecialty.

At least 1 supervisor must have held Fellowship of the relevant RACP Division, Faculty or Chapter for a minimum of 3 years. All other supervisors must have held Fellowship of the relevant RACP Division, Faculty or Chapter for at least 12 months.

Apply for peer review (supervised practice)

After you’ve secured a position, you need to:

1. submit a peer review application form and job description
2. pay the workplace-based assessment annual fee

Your Case Officer will provide you with these documents when you need them.

We assess the role and responsibilities of the position and suitability of the supervisors before you begin.

Peer review (supervised practice) process

During peer review (supervised practice), your supervisors will:

• meet with you regularly
• support you
• orient you to specialist practice in Australia
• assess if you're operating at the level of an Australian trained specialist

They’ll provide us with regular reports on your progress. These reports will be shared with you.

You must meet the responsibilities for peer review (supervised practice).

Problems during peer review (supervised practice)

Most peer review relationships are effective and supportive. Occasionally, there can be disagreement between an OTP and supervisors.

You and your supervisors should make every effort to work together professionally to resolve issues, communication problems or disagreements in your regular meetings. Serious issues can be mediated through human resources at your hospital.

Email your Case Officer at OTP@racp.edu.au if there are issues and we’ll review arrangements and make changes if necessary. For example, inform us if:

• you’re not having regular meetings
• a supervisor is not giving you feedback
• you can't reach agreement with a supervisor about your performance
• the relationship is not effective
• your supervisors are not meeting their responsibilities

It’s more effective to raise these issues early than to make a complaint after your peer review (supervised practice) reports are missing or unsatisfactory.