Infectious Diseases and Microbiology

Program
overview
Apply
or re-register
Program
requirements
Additional
resources

Program overview

ProgCov-Infectious-Diseas&Microbiology-joint-handbook-2017-18 In Advanced Training in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, you will explore a depth of specialty training in the various clinical, laboratory and public health aspects of infectious diseases medicine and microbiology. You will train under supervision and prepare for independent practice as a consultant. The program builds on your skills through work-based assessments and learning tools

The Advanced Training in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology program is a joint program between the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and Royal College of Pathologists Australasia (RCPA).

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 guidelines during your training. You can find the latest changes in the 2017-18 program updates

Entry requirements

Prospective trainees must have:

completed RACP Basic Physician Training (including written and clinical exams)
hold a current medical registration
been appointed to an appropriate Advanced Training Position

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

Duration

The Advanced Training in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology program requires five years of full-time equivalent (FTE) training. The program combines two years advanced infectious diseases training
with three years laboratory training in microbiology.

General Principles of the Joint Training Programs

It is RCPA policy that trainees with Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) are not eligible to undertake joint RACP/RCPA Advanced Training programs. Similarly, trainees who choose to receive FRACP before completion of a joint RACP/RCPA Advanced Training program will not be eligible to continue training in any joint RACP/RCPA program.
Joint trainees must be registered with both the RCPA and the Committee for Joint College Training (CJCT) in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology.
Joint trainees are required to sit the same examinations as RCPA trainees in microbiology and to attain the same standard.

Qualification

Successful trainees will be admitted to the Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) and the Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (FRCPA). 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 an application form (DOC 0.5MB) to IDMicro@racp.edu.au

New Zealand

New Zealand trainees can email their application form (DOC 0.5MB) to IDMicro@racp.edu.au

Advanced Training positions

Core training generally 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

Variations in training processes cover dual, joint, conjoint and post-fellowship training.
Flexible training option information covers 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 Detailed Amendment Form (DOC 0.2MB)

Key dates

Closing dates for applications:

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.

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

Late applications

Late applications may be considered up to one month after the deadline but must include an application for consideration of exceptional circumstances outlining your reasons. Late applications incur a late fee.

Fees

The standard annual membership fees apply to the Advanced Training in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology program.

Program requirements

By the end of Advanced Training, you must have completed 60 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 Infectious Diseases training
(minimum 24 months)

Supervision

Per rotation:

1 supervisor with FRACP
a second supervisor who may or may not have FRACP or FRCPA

Teaching and learning requirements

Per year:

2 Learning Needs Analysis
2 Professional Qualities Reflections

Assessments

Per rotation:

1 Supervisor’s Report (2 for 12-month rotations).

Per year:

4 Case-based Discussions

Core Microbiology training
(minimum 36 months)

Supervision

Per rotation:

1 supervisor with FRCPA
a second supervisor who may or may not have FRACP or FRCPA

Teaching and learning requirements

Per year:

Assessments

Per rotation:

1 Supervisor’s Report (2 for 12-month rotations)
other workplace-based assessments and activities as required by the RCPA

By the end of Advanced Training

You will have completed 60 months of certified training time consisting of:

24 months of core infectious diseases training
36 months of core microbiology training (minimum)
RCPA Part I Examination
RCPA Part II Examination
2 Research Projects

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 five years (60 months FTE).

Training rotations

The 60 months of certified training time consists of:

24 months of core infectious diseases training
36 months of core microbiology training

Core Training

Core infectious diseases training rotations

A minimum of 24 months FTE must be spent in accredited clinical infectious diseases training positions.

Core microbiology training rotations

A minimum of 36 months FTE must be spent in accredited laboratory microbiology positions.

Training time

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

Additional requirements

The RCPA allows a maximum of 12 months of core laboratory training to be completed outside Australia and New Zealand, and all training in non-accredited laboratories must be pre-approved. You should refer to the RCPA Trainee Handbook for more information.

Work-based learning and assessment tools

Open All

Advanced Life Support course (ALS)

This is a requirement for New Zealand Paediatrics & Child Health trainees only.
ALS training provides Paediatrics & Child Health trainees with the necessary skills and guidelines to support patients requiring resuscitation.

Requirement

Trainees must complete one ALS course, or equivalent, prior to the completion of Advanced Training. Trainees must submit a certified copy of their ALS certificate to the Advanced Training Unit as proof of their completion of the course.

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

Four CbDs are to be completed per year (one per quarter) and are due by 31 January of the following year
This is a requirement during core infectious diseases rotations only.

More information

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

Developmental and Psychosocial Training

This training assists Paediatric & Child Health trainees in developing a sophisticated understanding of child development, encompassing physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioural and social areas, which should be gained from the perspective of the child within the family and in the context of the community.

Requirement

This is a requirement for Paediatrics & Child Health trainees only.
Australia: Once over entire training period (Basic Training and Advanced Training) for six months due by the end of Advanced Training.
New Zealand: Once over entire training period (Basic Training and Advanced Training) for three months 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, plan your learning objectives, and evaluate your progress in your practice.

Requirement

Two per year (one per six-month period, early in the rotation) due by 31 January of the following year.
This is a requirement during core infectious diseases rotations only.

More information

Complete and submit the LNA via the Advanced Training Portal
See Learning Needs Analysis for information sheets and other resources

Logbook

Over the course of your training, you need to compile a logbook of cases to ensure that you have an adequate breadth of exposure to Infectious Diseases cases throughout the duration of your training. The purpose is not to capture all cases seen but rather to help identify the areas you may need more exposure to.

Requirement

One logbook is to be kept throughout Advanced Training in which you compile of clinical consultations performed (both inpatients and outpatients), including whether the consultations were supervised or not.

The accuracy and currency of the logbook are of the utmost importance. Any consultation numbers logged should be precise, not estimated. Trainees are expected to document all consultations performed.

The logbook must be maintained and made available at all times for review by supervisors. The logbook will assist supervisors in completing the Supervisor’s Report. The overseeing committee will only request to view a trainee’s logbook in exceptional circumstances.

Professional Qualities Reflection (PQR)

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

Requirement

Two per year (one per six months, early in the rotation) due by 31 January of the following year.
This is a requirement during core infectious diseases rotations only

More information

Complete and submit the PQR via the Advanced Training Portal

RCPA Part I and Part II Microbiology Examination

Full details of these examinations are available in the RCPA Microbiology Trainee Handbook.

More information

See Additional resources for the RCPA Microbiology Trainee Handbook and more RCPA resources

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

Requirement

Two projects are to be completed over the course of the 24 months of Infectious Diseases training due by 15 September.

Certification of Infectious Diseases & Microbiology training is dependent upon trainees submitting a satisfactory project. If a project is not submitted before the completion of the second year of training, periods of training will not be certified.
Trainees must submit projects before the 15 September deadline for results to be received before 25 December of the same year. If a project is not received by the deadline, there is no guarantee that the trainee will be notified of an outcome before the end of the year.

Additional requirements

The same work must not have been used for any other purpose, such as a project for another Advanced Training Program. The projects are a major requirement for physician training, and should be of an appropriate standard.
Each project will be assessed by at least two independent reviewers. Projects are assessed upon their scientific merit, relevance to the field of infectious diseases, and on their unique and honest intellectual content. The research must have been conducted within a reasonable time period (generally within three years or less prior to commencing Advanced Training).

Guidelines for submission of project

Research projects are a major requirement for physician training, and should be of an appropriate standard and submitted in an accepted format. Joint trainees must submit their projects using the project cover sheet, and refer to the project guidelines and grading table.

One original copy of the project with a project cover sheet must be posted to the College (which is to have original trainee and supervisor signatures) and a second copy must be submitted electronically to IDMicro@racp.edu.au

Although projects should be generally submitted contemporaneously with the time of training, the overseeing committee may give consideration on a case-by-case basis to a significant prior piece of published research, including work carried out in pursuit of a higher degree, e.g. Masters or Doctorate (MD, PhD), as long as this work otherwise fits project criteria.

Role of the supervisor

Projects are to be overseen by a nominated supervisor of the training period. The role of the supervisor is to assist the you in selection of the project and project design, and to guide you in completion of the project. Your supervisor is asked to certify that the project is ready for submission by signing the project cover sheet.

Acceptable project formats

Projects should be presented in a format suitable for publication and should adhere to usual norms for scientific writing. Projects should be written in sound English and be free of grammatical and typographical errors. A standard, consistent method of citing the literature should be used. For acceptable project types and formats, trainees must refer to the most recent version of the Infectious Diseases’ project guidelines and grading table.

More information

See Additional resources for Research Project Guidelines, Cover Sheet and more

Supervisor’s Reports

This formative assessment guides your learning and achievement of competency in procedural skills through direct observation and the provision of structured feedback by an experienced assessor.

Requirement

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

For core infectious diseases rotations:

Trainees must complete the Core Infectious Diseases Rotation Supervisor’s Report

For core microbiology rotations:

Trainees must complete the Microbiology Rotation (RACP/RCPA trainees) Supervisor’s Report

When to submit the report:

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 and 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 calendar 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.

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.
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:

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.
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 all Supervisor's Reports

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

January - March

15 February: Applications for Approval of Advanced Training due
mid-February: Applications for RCPA Examinations due – trainees must apply to the RCPA directly
Learning Needs Analysis (core infectious diseases training only)
Case-based Discussion (core infectious diseases training only)

April - June

Learning Needs Analysis (core infectious diseases training only)
Case-based Discussion (core infectious diseases training only)
Professional Qualities Reflection (core infectious diseases training only)

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: Infectious Diseases research project due
Learning Needs Analysis (core infectious diseases training only)
Case-based Discussion (core infectious diseases training only)

October - December

15 October: Supervisor’s Report and all PREP tools due for trainees eligible for December Fellowship
Learning Needs Analysis (core infectious diseases training only)
Case-based Discussion (core infectious diseases training only)
Professional Qualities Reflection (core infectious diseases training only)

January

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

More information

Curricula, docs and assessment tools

Curricula / handbooks

Program & Professional Curriculum

Program Handbook

Infectious Diseases and Microbiology 2017-18 Handbook (PDF 0.5MB)
Note: this is a PDF version of this online handbook.
Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Handbook 2019-20 (PDF 0.5MB)
RCPA Microbiology Trainee Handbook (PDF 0.7MB)

Forms and reports

Supervisor’s Report

Research Projects

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.

Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases
The Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases is the peak professional body representing Infectious Diseases physicians/paediatricians in Australia and New Zealand.

Infectious Diseases and Microbiology

Program overview

The Advanced Training in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology program is a joint program between the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and Royal College of Pathologists Australasia (RCPA).

Program updates

Entry requirements

Duration

General Principles of the Joint Training Programs

Qualification

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