Endocrinology

Program
overview
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or re-register
Program
requirements
Additional
resources

Program overview

Cover-endocrinology-handbook17-18 In Advanced Training in Endocrinology, you will explore in-depth specialty training in the physiology and pathophysiology of hormones and hormone-producing tissues. You will train under supervision and prepare for independent practice as a consultant. The program builds your skills through work-based assessments and learning tools

Program updates

All our Advanced Training programs are evaluated biennially by overseeing committees to ensure they are in line with educational best practice. Changes in program requirements may occur and could impact your training plan. Please ensure you are following the correct requirements during your training. You can find the latest changes in the 2017-18 program updates

Entry requirements

Prospective trainees must:

have completed the RACP Basic Physician Training (including the RACP Written and Clinical Examinations)
hold a current medical registration
have an appointment to an appropriate Advanced Training position

New and current trainees need to apply for Advanced Training each year.

Duration

The Advanced Training in Endocrinology requires a minimum of three years of full-time equivalent (FTE) training, with a minimum of two years of core-training at an accredited training site.

Qualification

Successful trainees will be admitted to the Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP). Eligibility is dependent on the completion of all requirements of training. Once the overseeing committee has recommended you for admission, the College will invite you to apply for Fellowship.

New Fellows will receive formal notification from the College that they have been admitted to Fellowship and receive a letter confirming the completion of their training. All Fellows in Australia, New Zealand and overseas in active practice must meet the requirements of a Continuing Professional Development program.

Apply or re-register

Australia

When open, Australian trainees can use the Advanced Training Online Registration.

Apply Online

Alternatively email your application form to Endocrinology@racp.edu.au

New Zealand

New Zealand trainees can email their application form to endocrinology@racp.org.nz

Advanced Training positions

Core training usually needs to be undertaken at accredited training sites.

Approval and certification of training

Once you have secured a training position, you must prospectively apply for approval as per the Progression through Training Policy.

Approval of training periods will be determined by the overseeing committee. To be approved, your individual training program must be consistent with the training requirements and appropriate for the stage in training.

Upon completion of each rotation or calendar year of training, the overseeing committee considers your progress according to the program requirements. If all requirements of training have been satisfactorily completed, the overseeing committee will certify the period of training.

Variations to your training

See Variations in training for processes covering dual, joint, conjoint and post-fellowship training.
See Flexible training options for information on part-time training, interruptions to training or withdrawing from training, exceptional circumstances and time limits.

Changes to rotation or supervision

If there will be a change to your rotation, re-submit a registration form (if the online registration is not open).
Change to supervision must be notified as soon as possible by submitting a Supervisor Details Amendment Form.

Key dates

Closing dates for applications in Australia:

15 February - Applications for prospective approval of rotations in the current year.
31 August - Applications for prospective approval of rotations in the second half of the current year.

Closing dates for applications in New Zealand:

31 March - Applications for prospective approval of April to August rotations.
31 May - Applications for prospective approval of rotations in the second half of the current year.
31 October - Applications for prospective approval of rotations in the first half or whole of the following year.

Trainees must organize the timely submission of all necessary documentation and keep a copy of the application for future reference. See important dates for trainees and supervisors.

Late applications

Late applications may be considered up to one month after the deadline. Applications received one month after the deadline will not be considered unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated in line with the special considerations for assessment policy. Late applications incur a late fee.

Fees

The standard annual membership fees apply to the Advanced Training in Endocrinology program. Visit MyRACP to pay or view prior payments.

Program requirements

By the end of Advanced Training, you must have completed 36 months of certified training time consisting of several work-based learning and assessment tools. These PREP (Physician Ready for Expert Practice) teaching and learning activities are designed to support you in your reflective practice and self-directed learning. A variety of teaching and learning activities and assessments are used, catering to a range of learning needs, styles and situations that may arise in your workplace training.

Requirements overview

Go to Additional resources for this program's curricula

Core training
(minimum 24 months)

Supervision

Per rotation:

1 supervisor with FRACP who is a practising endocrinologist
a second supervisor may or may not have FRACP

Teaching and learning requirements

Per year:

2 Learning Needs Analysis
1 Professional Qualities Reflection

Assessments

Per rotation:

1 Supervisor's Report (2 for 12 month rotations)
1 Trainee's Report (NZ only)

Per year:

2 Case-based Discussions
2 mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercises

Non-core training
(maximum 12 months)

Supervision

Per rotation:

1 supervisor with FRACP who is a practising endocrinologist
a second supervisor may or may not have FRACP

Teaching and learning requirements

Per year:

2 Learning Needs Analysis
1 Professional Qualities Reflection

Assessments

Per rotation:

1 Supervisor's Report (2 for 12 month rotations)
1 Trainee's Report (NZ only)

Per year:

1 Case-based Discussions
1 mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercises

By the end of Advanced Training

You will have completed 36 months of certified training time consisting of:

24 months of core training
- 12 months required clinical training (Adult Medicine trainees only)
- 12 months core training
12 months of non-core training
Meeting attendance as required
1 Trainee interview (Australian trainees only)
1 Logbook (Paediatrics & Child Health trainees only)
Developmental and Psychosocial Training (Paediatric & Child Health trainees only)
1 Research Project (for trainees commencing training in 2017 onwards)
2 Abstracts (for Australian trainees commencing training in 2017 onwards)
3 Abstracts (for Australian trainees who commenced training before 2017)
2 Case reports (for New Zealand trainees commencing training in 2017 onwards)
3 Case reports, small projects or audits (for New Zealand trainees who commenced training before 2017)

Time based requirements

This program ensures adequate time for you to gain the necessary learning experiences across a range of relevant rotations during the total training time of 3 years (36 months FTE).

Training rotations

36 months of certified training time consisting of:

24 months of core training
- 12 months required clinical training (Adult Medicine trainees only)
- 12 months core training

12 months of non-core training

Trainees may commence the training program in either a core, a Required Clinical Year (RCY) (Adult Medicine trainees only) or a non-core training position.

It is strongly recommended that trainees complete their Advanced Training at more than one training site.

Core training

A minimum of 24 months (FTE) must be spent in accredited training positions.

For Adult Medicine trainees, of the 24 months of core training, 12 months must be in a Required Clinical Year (RCY) position. No more than 12 months or RCY training is to be counted towards Advanced Training. Any additional RCY training undertaken will be certified as Core Training.

Non-core training

A maximum of 12 months of non-core training may be undertaken in clinical training in other disciplines or in research. This includes, but is not limited to:

chemical pathology
genetics
nephrology
transplant/autoimmune pathology
nuclear medicine
obstetric medicine (Australia only)
general medicine.

Attendance at two clinic sessions per week (endocrine or diabetes) is recommended with one clinic per week accepted under special circumstances, e.g. a research year or certain paediatric rotations.

Child & Adolescent Psychiatry terms may also be counted towards non-core endocrine training if it meets non-core training requirements. Trainees undertaking Developmental & Psychosocial Training in other paediatric terms must complete the 6 months of training in addition to the 36 months of endocrine training.

Training time

At least 12 months of Advanced Training in Endocrinology must be undertaken in Australia and/or New Zealand. This is to ensure that you receive adequate exposure to local practices and health services.

Work-based learning and assessment tools

Open All

Case-based Discussions (CbD)

This formative assessment will guide your learning through structured feedback and help the supervisor evaluate the expertise and judgement exercised in clinical cases.

Requirement

Australia: Two per core year (one per six-month period, later in the rotation), one per non-core year due by 31 January of the following year
New Zealand: Two per core year, one per non-core year due by the end of each training rotation.

More information

Enter CbD rating form data into the Advanced Training Portal
See Case-based Discussion for information sheets, workflow, ratings and other resources

Developmental and Psychosocial Training

This training assists you in developing a sophisticated understanding of child development, encompassing physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioural and social areas.

Requirement

This is a requirement for Paediatrics & Child Health trainees only.

Australia: A six-month training is to be completed once over entire training period (Basic Training and Advanced Training), due by the end of Advanced Training.
New Zealand: A three-month training is to be completed once over entire training period (Basic Training and Advanced Training),due by the end of Advanced Training.

More information

Developmental & Psychosocial Training

Learning Needs Analysis (LNA)

Learning Needs Analysis (LNA) assists you in identifying your learning needs, planning your learning objectives, and evaluate your progress in your practice.

Requirement

Australia: Two per year, early in the year/rotation due by 31 January of the following year (core and non-core).
New Zealand: Two per year, one per six-month period, early in the year/rotation due by the end of the rotation (core and non-core).

More information

Submit the LNAs via the Advanced Training Portal
See Learning Needs Analysis for information sheets and other resources

Logbook

Paediatrics and Child Health trainees need to compile a logbook of cases to ensure an adequate breadth of exposure to Endocrinology cases throughout the duration of training. The purpose is not to capture all cases seen but rather to help identify the areas you may need more exposure to.

Requirement

This is a requirement for Paediatrics & Child Health trainees only.

One logbook is to be kept over the course of training

The logbook will be reviewed at the trainee's interview with a paediatric representative of the relevant committee.

You may be asked to submit the logbook for review by the committee at any time during training.

Meeting attendance

This requirement ensures participation and interaction with other endocrinology trainees and endocrinology experts throughout your training.

Requirement

Australia

Adult Medicine trainees

Attendance is required at one of each of the following by the end of the training program (three in total):

Endocrine Society of Australia Seminar
Australian & New Zealand Bone & Mineral Society Bone Densitometry Course, The Annual Scientific Meeting of Australian & New Zealand Bone & Mineral Society or The Australian & New Zealand Bone & Mineral Society Advanced Clinical Postgraduate Meeting
Australian Diabetes Society John R Turtle Diabetes Clinical Skills training course.

Paediatrics & Child Health trainees

Attendance is required at two of the following by the end of the training program:

Fellows School by Australian Paediatric Endocrine Group (at least once)
Fellows School by Asia –Pacific Paediatric Endocrine Society
Fellows School by European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology
Science School by International Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes.

New Zealand

Adult Medicine trainees

Attendance* is required at the following meetings by the end of the Advanced Training:

NZSE clinical meeting + trainee day (all meetings)
NZSSD (at least once during training period)
one American or European Endocrine meeting OR Clinical Endocrinology Update with Board Review Course (preferably during final year of training)
Endocrine Society of Australia Seminar Meeting (at least once during advanced training)
one clinical bone densitometry course
Bone meeting e.g. Rotorua bone meeting, ANZBMS annual meeting (one meeting during training period)
any additional NZ endocrine/diabetes trainee days.

Paediatrics & Child Health trainees

Attendance* is required at the following meetings before completion of Advanced Training:

annual APEG meeting (Australasian)
bi-annual APPES meeting (Asia and Pacific)
ESPE meeting (European)
PES meeting (North American).

Paediatric trainees should note that attendance at some of the meetings recommended for Adult Medicine trainees may be very useful but is not essential.

* Trainees are required to submit an abstract for poster/oral presentations to all meetings they are attending (except where no abstract submission is available).

Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (mini-CEX)

This formative assessment is used to evaluate your clinical performance in real life settings. The mini-CEX ensures you receive timely, structured feedback on how to improve your communication, history taking, physical examination and professional practice.

Requirement

Australia: Two per core year (one per six-month period, later in the rotation), one per non-core year due by 31 January of the following year.
New Zealand: Two per core year, one per non-core year due by the end of each training rotation.

More information

Submit the mini-CEX via the Advanced Training Portal
See mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercises for information sheet, workflow, rating forms and other resources

Professional Qualities Reflection (PQR)

This reflective exercise helps you articulate and formalise ideas and insights about your professional development.

Requirement

One PQR is to be completed once per year (core and non-core) due any time during the year.

More information

Submit the PQR via the Advanced Training Portal

Research requirements

Research requirements enable you to gain experience:

in research methods
in interpretation of research literature
in participation in research at some stage of your career
to develop quality improvement skills

Submission of a research project provides:

evidence of the skills of considering and defining research problems
the systematic acquisition, analysis, synthesis and interpretation of data
effective written communication

Requirements for trainees commencing training in 2017 onwards

Australia:

One RACP Research Project is to be completed over the course of training, due by 15 September in any year before the end of Advanced Training.
Two case reports over the course of training are due by 15 October for trainees applying for Fellowship in December.

New Zealand:

One RACP Research Project is to be completed over the course of training, due by 31 October in any year before the end of Advanced Training.
Two case reports over the course of training are due by 31 October in the final year of training.

Requirements for trainees who commenced training before 2017

Australia:

Three abstracts are to be submitted over the course of training, due by 15 October for trainees applying for Fellowship in December – two of the three abstracts may be case reports, but at least one of the three abstracts submitted must be a research study or clinical audit.

New Zealand:

3 case reports, audits or small projects over the course of training, one per year due by 31 October.

About the RACP Research Project

The research project must be marked as satisfactory prior to admission to Fellowship. It is recommended that trainees submit their research project by the annual submission date in their penultimate year of training to allow time for marking and resubmission of research projects initially marked ‘Resubmit’.

About Abstracts

An abstract can be either an abstract submitted to a scientific meeting or a summary of a presentation at a regional, state or national meeting. Presentations made within the trainee’s own hospital (e.g. Hospital Grand Rounds, journal club etc) are not acceptable.

The abstract should be 200–300 words and be submitted with the Supervisor’s Report. The submitted abstract should be accompanied by documentation of where the case was presented. Or, if published, a copy of the publication should be attached.

About Case reports

Generally, this report should describe a new or novel aspect of a particular case. The cases may be sourced from any aspect of endocrinology. The cases should include a detailed description of the case and a detailed review of the available literature. Published case reports that are essentially “letters to the editor” of a medical journal are usually too short on detail and inadequately referenced to be satisfactory.

About Audits

This should be an audit of an area of interest to the trainee. It may audit a novel project or a program within the hospital and a detailed discussion of the findings.

About Small projects

Small projects will generally consist of a smaller body of work completed within one year. These may take several forms, including:

case series illustrating a novel clinical finding or problem
departmental audit
narrative review
a cross-sectional study relevant to endocrinology.

More information

Supervisor’s Reports

These summative assessments provide you with structured feedback on your performance and informs the certification of training decision.

Requirement

One Supervisor’s Report is due per rotation, two per 12-month rotations (core and non-core).

Australia:

For Advanced Trainees in 12-month positions:

One Supervisor’s Report is to be submitted by 15 July for the first six months of the calendar year.
One Supervisor’s Report is to be submitted by 31 January of the following year covering the final six months of the calendar year.

For Advanced Trainees in positions of six months or less with separate supervisors, or at separate sites:

One Supervisor’s Report should be completed for each rotation and submitted to the College by 15 July (for first half of the year) and 31 January the following year (for the second half of the year).

Advanced Trainees approaching the end of their training should submit a report that covers the whole second half of the year by 15 October.

New Zealand

For Advanced Trainees in 12-month positions:

One Supervisor’s Report is to be submitted by 31 May for the first six months of the rotation.
One Supervisor’s Report is to be submitted by 31 October covering the full 12 months.

For Advanced Trainees in three, four, or six-month positions:

One Supervisor’s Report must be completed for each rotation and submitted by 31 May (for rotations in the first half of the year) and 31 October (for rotations in the second half of the year).

Supervisor's responsibilities

The Supervisor’s Report must be completed by supervisors who have directly supervised the trainee.
If the supervisor has not directly supervised the trainee throughout the whole rotation, the supervisor should obtain individual reports from those who have directly supervised the trainee and provide a composite report.
Supervisors should discuss the report with the trainee prior to both parties signing the report, and trainees should be provided with a copy of each report.

Trainee's responsibilities

It is the trainee’s responsibility to ensure that all supervisors receive a copy of the Supervisor’s Report. Failure to do this may result in delays or non-certification of a period of training.
Trainees must provide copies of previous Supervisor's Report(s) to the next year's/rotation’s supervisor. The College may provide subsequent supervisors with copies of past reports (and any other documents deemed relevant to the trainee’s training).

Progression to the next year of training is dependent upon the College receiving satisfactory Supervisor’s Report(s) covering the full year/period of training completed.

More information

Advanced Training Progress Reports
Education Policies
See Additional resources for the Supervisor Report and other forms

Trainee Interview (Australia only)

During the course of Advanced Training, each Endocrinology trainee will undergo an interview with a member of the overseeing committee. This permits the committee to take a formative assessment of your training undertaken to date; assist you in the planning of future training directions; and allows feedback from you to the overseeing committee.

Requirement

This is a requirement for Australian trainees only.

One over the course of training in the first core training year of Advanced Training.

Trainee's Report (New Zealand only)

This report provides feedback to the College for use in future training program evaluations and encourages you to reflect on your training.

Requirement

This is a requirement for New Zealand trainees only.

One per rotation (core and non-core) submitted with the Supervisor’s Report at the end of each rotation and due by 31 May/31 October.

More information

Trainee's Reports
See Additional resources for Trainee Report Guidelines and Cover Sheets

Course overview

About work-based learning and assessment tools

Formative assessments focus on learning through feedback and guidance. The College’s formative assessments aid the trainee and supervisor through a formal feedback discussion, prompting areas for discussion highlighted by the trainee’s performance. The College’s formative assessments are based on existing workplace-based assessment methods and best practice in medical education.

Summative assessments focus on judgements about trainee progression, resulting in pass or fail decisions on a trainee’s performance.

Important dates

Australia

January - March

15 February: Applications for Approval of Advanced Training due
Learning Needs Analysis
Case-based Discussion

April - June

Learning Needs Analysis
Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise
Professional Qualities Reflection

July - September

15 July: Supervisor’s Report due for all trainees
31 August: Applications for Approval of Advanced Training for the second half of the year due
15 September: Research Project submission date for trainees commencing training in 2017 onwards
Learning Needs Analysis
Case-based Discussion

October - December

15 October: Supervisor’s Report and all PREP tools due for trainees eligible for December Fellowship
15 October: Abstract submission date
Learning Needs Analysis
Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise

January

31 January: Previous year’s Supervisor’s Report and all PREP tools due for trainees not applying for Fellowship in December
31 January: Abstract due

New Zealand

December - February

Learning Needs Analysis
Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise

March - May

31 March: Applications for Approval of Advanced Training for April–August rotations due
31 May: Applications for Approval of Advanced Training for the second half of the current year due
31 May: Supervisor’s report due for all trainees
31 May: Trainee’s Report for the first half of the year due
Learning Needs Analysis
Case-based Discussion

June - August

Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise
Learning Needs Analysis
Professional Qualities Reflection

September - November

31 October: Supervisor’s Report and all PREP tools due for all trainees
31 October: Trainee’s Report for the second half of the year, or the whole year, due
31 October: Applications for Approval of Advanced Training for the first half or whole of the following year due
31 October: Research Project submission date for trainees commencing training in 2017 onwards
31 October: Case report/small project/audit submission date
Case-based Discussion
Learning Needs Analysis

More information

Curricula, docs and assessment tools

Curricula / handbooks

Program & Professional Curriculum

Program Handbooks

Endocrinology 2017-18 Handbook
Note: this is a PDF version of this online handbook.
Endocrinology 2019-20 Handbook

Forms and reports

Supervisor's Reports

Trainee’s Reports (New Zealand only)

Logbooks

Endocrinology Paediatric Logbook

Specialty societies

Specialty societies are medical/scientific societies that bring together research and clinical scientists and physicians who are actively involved in a particular area of medical practice, e.g. cardiology, geriatric medicine. The specialty societies are independent organisations that contribute to physician education through their members’ involvement in College education committees and activities.

Endocrine Society of Australia
The Endocrine Society of Australia is one of the peak professional bodies representing endocrinology physicians/paediatricians in Australia and New Zealand.
Australian Diabetes Society
The Australian Diabetes Society is one of the peak professional bodies representing endocrinology physicians/paediatricians in Australia and New Zealand.
Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society
The Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society is one of the peak professional bodies representing endocrinology physicians/paediatricians in Australia and New Zealand.
Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group
The Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group is the peak professional body representing endocrinology paediatricians in Australia and New Zealand.
New Zealand Society of Endocrinology
The New Zealand Society of Endocrinology is composed of students, scientists, clinicians and other health practitioners who have an interest in any aspect of Endocrinology.
New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes
The New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes is the national advisory body on scientific and clinical diabetes care and standards.

Endocrinology

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