​Requirements overview — Australia

Go to Additional resources for this program's curricula

​Requirements overview — New Zealand

Go to Additional resources for this program's curricula

Time-based requirements — Australia

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 three years (36 months FTE).

Required rotations

Minimum of 18 months of Basic Training must be spent in specified required rotations. All rotations must be approved by the DPE.

Please also refer to the Location of Training to ensure you are aware of the minimum and maximum amount of time a trainee may spend at various accredited hospitals.

Developmental and Psychosocial Training

Developmental and Psychosocial Training may be completed during either Basic Training or Advanced Training:

• No minimum during Basic Training (optional in Basic Training)
• 18 months in total required by the end of Advanced Training
• Maximum of 6 months in any one specialty

Allowed rotations:

• Developmental/behavioural paediatrics
• Community paediatrics
• Disability/rehabilitation paediatrics
• Child protection
• Child and adolescent mental health
• Palliative medicine

Note: Rotations can only be certified towards one requirement. For example, rehabilitation would be considered for either Developmental and Psychosocial Training or paediatric specialty training. If you would like this counted towards a particular requirement, please state this clearly on your application form for Basic Training.

Optional rotations

The remainder of the 36 months of Basic Training may be made up of required or optional training rotations, specified below. All rotations must be approved by the DPE.

Please also refer to the Location of Training to ensure you are aware of the minimum and maximum amount of time a trainee may spend at various accredited hospitals.

Training time in Australia/New Zealand

At least 24 of the 36 months of training must be undertaken in Australasia. This is to ensure that trainees receive adequate exposure to local practices and health services.

If training overseas, you must comply with all requirements for Basic Training, including completion of assessment, achieving learning objectives and receiving appropriate supervision.

Time-based requirements — New Zealand

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 three years (36 months FTE).

Required rotations

The remainder of the 36 months of Basic Training may be made up of required or optional training rotations, specified below. All rotations must be approved by the DPE.

Please also refer to the Location of Training to ensure you are aware of the minimum and maximum amount of time a trainee may spend at various accredited hospitals.

Optional rotations

The remainder of the 36 months of Basic Training may be made up of required or optional training rotations, specified below. All rotations must be approved by the DPE.

Please also refer to the Location of Training to ensure you are aware of the minimum and maximum amount of time a trainee may spend at various accredited hospitals.

Training time in Australia/New Zealand

At least 24 of the 36 months of training must be undertaken in Australasia. This is to ensure that trainees receive adequate exposure to local practices and health services.

If training overseas, you must comply with all requirements for Basic Training, including completion of assessment, achieving learning objectives and receiving appropriate supervision.

Location of training

Australia

Basic Training in Paediatrics & Child Health takes place at accredited training sites.

Level 3 teaching hospitals

• Up to 36 months of Basic Training may be undertaken in Level 3 paediatric teaching hospitals
• At least nine of the 36 months of Basic Training must be spent in a Level 3 paediatric teaching hospital

Level 2 teaching hospitals

• Up to 27 months may be spent in Level 2 paediatric teaching hospitals

Secondment hospitals

• Training in a paediatric secondment hospital is on rotation from a Level 3 or Level 2 paediatric teaching hospital
• A maximum of 12 months may be undertaken per paediatric secondment hospital

New Zealand

Basic Training in Paediatrics & Child Health takes place at accredited training sites.

Basic Training must be undertaken in an accredited training hospital. Before beginning training at a new training site, trainees should confirm with their DPE the maximum period of Basic Training permitted in their hospital.

Supervision Requirements

Supervisors provide you with appropriate support and guidance to complete your training program. For more information ​see Basic Training Supervision.

Requirements for Continuing Basic Trainees

Continuing Basic Trainees are those who have completed the time-based training requirements but have other requirements (such as examinations) to complete before progressing to Advanced Training.

Unless in a period of approved interruption, Continuing Basic Trainees must continue to complete training requirements, including assessments and learning activities under supervision, until they pass the Clinical Examination.

Paediatric Advanced Life Support (ALS) course or equivalent

Developmental and Psychosocial Training

Learning Needs Analysis (LNA)

Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (mini-CEX)

Professional Qualities Reflection (PQR)

Progress Report

Ward/Service Consultant Report

Written Examination

This summative assessment ensures that you have achieved a standard of knowledge that allows you to progress to an Advanced Training Program.

Requirement

Once after certification of 24 months of Basic Training.

Timing and location

The Written Examination is held in February each year in capital cities and main centres in Australia, and in several sites in New Zealand.

Eligibility requirements

To sit the Written Examination, you must:

• be registered with the College by the due date
• have 24 months FTE of certified Basic Training before the beginning of the clinical year in which the exam is held
• have completed all necessary training requirements
• comply with the limit on the number of examination attempts and other requirements for progression through training, which are detailed in the Progression through Training policy (for trainees commencing from 2017, the limit is three attempts at the Written Examination)
• comply with the relevant Written Examination application closing date
• be fully current with all College training fees.

More information

• Instructions to Candidates and Frequently Asked Questions

Clinical Examination

This summative assessment ensures that you have achieved a standard of knowledge and skill that allows you to progress to an Advanced Training Program.

Requirement

Once after passing the Written Examination.

Timing

Australia: July each year.
New Zealand: June each year.

Eligibility requirements

You must:

• have passed the Written Examination
• be registered with the College by the due date
• have 24 months FTE of certified Basic Training before the beginning of the clinical year in which the exam is held
• have completed all necessary training requirements
• comply with the limit on the number of examination attempts and other requirements for progression through training, which are detailed in the Progression through Training policy (for trainees commencing from 2017, the limit is three attempts at the ​Clinical Examination)
• comply with the relevant Clinical Examination application closing date
• be fully current with all College training fees.

More information

• Instructions to Candidates and Frequently Asked Questions

Examination Attempt Limits

As part of recent policy changes, the number of examination attempts has reduced from five to three effective from 2017. For more information please see Trainee and Supervisor Guide — Progression through Training and Flexible Training policies.

The full policy document, summary and FAQs can be found on the Education Policies page.

About work-based learning and assessment tools

Formative assessments focus on learning through feedback and guidance. The College’s formative assessments aid you and your supervisor through a formal feedback discussion, prompting areas for discussion highlighted by your 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

February

• 28 February: Applications for Approval of Basic Training (including Continuation of Registration and interruptions) due
• Learning Needs Analysis
• Written Examination held

March

• Written Exam results released
• Clinical Exam applications open and close
• Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise

April

• Learning Needs Analysis self-evaluation

May

• 1^st May — Applications for assessment of recognition of prior learning close. Refer to the RPL Policy
• Clinical Exam
• Learning Needs Analysis

June

• Clinical Exam results released 
• Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise
• Mid-year applications for Basic Training open

July

• Learning Needs Analysis self-evaluation

August

• 31 August: Applications for Approval of Basic Training for the second half of the year due
• Learning Needs Analysis
• Mid-Year Progress Report (optional)

September

• 1 September: Applications for assessment of recognition of prior learning close. Refer to the RPL Policy.
• Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise

October

• Professional Qualities Reflection​

November

• 1 November: Annual Applications for Basic Training for the following year open
• Written Exam applications for following year open
• Learning Needs Analysis

December

• Written Exam applications for following year close
• Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise

January

• 31 January: Previous year's Annual Progress Report and all PREP tools due

Important dates — New Zealand

February

• Written Examination held

March

• Clinical Exam applications open and close
• Written Exam results released
• Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise

April

• Learning Needs Analysis self-evaluation​

May

• Clinical Exam held​

June

• Clinical Exam results released
• Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise

July

• 31 July: Applications for second half of the year for Basic Training due
• Learning Needs Analysis

August

• Professional Qualities Reflection

September

• Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise

October

• Learning Needs Analysis self-evaluation

November

• Written Exam applications for following year open
• Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise

December

• 20 December: PREP assignments due
• 20 December: Annual Progress report due
• Written Exam applications for following year close

January

• 31 January: Applications for Basic Training in the first half of the year
• Learning Needs Analysis to be completed