Adult Medicine
The Advanced Training Program in Neurology allows adequate time for you to gain the necessary learning experiences across a range of relevant rotations during your 3-year total training period (36 months FTE).
Core training
A minimum of 24 months FTE required in accredited core clinical training positions, under the supervision of 2 Fellows of the RACP.
Trainees are expected to complete their 2 years of core training at different hospitals, unless there are exceptional circumstances which prevent this.
Emphasis is given to the management of inpatients, outpatients and on-call emergency neurology, and exposure to neuropathology, neurophysiology and neuroimaging.
The minimum requirements to be achieved in the 24-month period:
| Area of training |
Minimum requirement FTE
|
| Direct responsibility for emergency assessment and inpatient care of general neurology patients |
8 months |
| On-call for neurological emergencies |
12 months |
| Neurology consultations within a general hospital |
12 months |
| Neurology ambulatory care at a minimum of 1 clinic per week, or the equivalent number over a shorter duration |
24 months |
The frequency of training and teaching required per subspecialty:
| Subspecialty |
Frequency |
| Neuroimaging |
1 neuroimaging teaching period per month for 2 years
OR
Attendance at 2 neuroimaging teaching courses |
| Neuropathology |
1 neuropathology teaching period per month for 2 years
OR
Attendance at 1 neuropathology teaching course, for example a postgraduate ANZAN/BMRI neuropathology course |
| Neurorehabilitation |
1 neurorehabilitation period per week for 6 months, preferably at an approved rehabilitation facility
OR
In-rehabilitation activities in a general hospital |
Non-core training
A maximum of 12 months of non-core training can be undertaken in an approved non-core training position. You’re to have 2 supervisors, at least one must be a Fellow of the RACP who is a practising neurologist.
Non-core training must be directly related to clinical neurology and can consist of a period of neuroscience research.
Non-core training is to allow for experience in a specialty area of clinical neurology or neuroscience research.
The objective of training in neuroscience research is to help you develop the ability for critical appraisal of specific research and publications, and to promote research within the neurosciences by clinicians.
It is recommended that your non-core training take place following the completion of your core training. This is to ensure that you can gain the maximum training benefit from your non-core year.
The Advanced Training Committee does recognise that in some circumstances an earlier non-core year may be beneficial, for example when a person is engaged in neuroscience research.
Commencing with a non-core year
If you commence your neurology training with a non-core year, and wish to have the training considered, you must apply prospectively for provisional approval of the position.
Provisional approval of your first non-core year of training doesn’t guarantee that you’ve been formally accepted into the Advanced Training in Neurology program.
Your first non-core year of training will only be certified towards the RACP requirements for Advanced Training in Neurology after you’ve:
- participated in the ANZAN match/interview process
- been matched to an accredited core training position
- satisfactorily completed a first core year of training
High standards of training are maintained by the accreditation of both training hospitals and individual neurology training positions.
Training time
You must complete at least 24 months of Advanced Training in Neurology program in Australia and/or Aotearoa New Zealand, to ensure that you receive adequate exposure to local practices and health services.