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Application process

You can apply now for pAT if you’ve already met the eligibility requirements.

If you're in your final year of Basic Training, you can apply for an AT position during the annual recruitment period if you'll have met all pAT eligibility requirements by the time you would start your position. This includes satisfactorily completing all other BT requirements:

• 36 months of certified BT
• mandatory (core) requirements of the BT program, outlined in the Basic Training handbooks

Once you’ve secured an AT position, prospectively apply for approval of your training from your chosen specialty (per the Progression Through Training Policy). See application dates below. Approval of training periods will be determined by the overseeing committee.

The pAT approval periods (time that can be counted towards pAT) are based on what would have been the 2020 exam dates and are provided in the second table below.

Note: All recruitment into AT positions follows existing Health Department recruitment and selection processes. The College has limited involvement in this process.

Training Support Pathway

If you’re on the Training Support Pathway in 2020, you must remain on the Pathway and continue to complete IPAPs and any additional requirements determined by your Training Committee or supervisor.

If you wish to apply for pAT and you’ve met all other pAT eligibility requirements, your relevant supervising Committee will determine if you can progress to pAT or should remain in BT. Committees will send you a letter with their decision before you apply for AT positions.

Application dates

For Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand AT recruitment, check for specific dates on Health Department/District Health Board websites.

Training application dates

Your training applications must be submitted by the following dates.

pAT approval periods

The maximum amount of pAT that can be claimed is 12 months. The pAT approval periods (time that can be counted towards pAT) are based on what would have been the 2020 exam dates.

Fees

If you're in pAT and you pass the first sitting of the DCE in late 2020/early 2021, you must pay the standard membership fee for the full year of AT.

If you fail the DCE, you do not pay any AT fee for that year. Instead, you'll pay the Continuation or Interruption of Training fee to remain in training.

Fees must be paid within 30 days of your exam result notification (not your training approval notification).

See our current fees.

Note: All other trainees must pay the standard membership fees within the normal payment deadlines.

Sitting the Divisional Clinical Examination

While preparing for the exam, you’re still required to meet your AT program requirements, including work-based assessments.

If you’re approved for pAT, you must sit the exam on the postponed date for the 2020 cohort in late 2020/early 2021. You’ll be able to re-sit the exam later in 2021 if you don’t pass.

If you're not applying for or in pAT, but were eligible to sit the 2020 DCE, you’re encouraged to sit the first DCE in late 2020/early 2021. Alternatively, you can choose to wait and sit later in the year with the 2021 cohort instead.

If you pass the Divisional Written Examination in 2021, you’re not eligible to sit the DCE in late 2020/early 2021.

All trainees have been granted a 12-month extension to complete their current training program.

Special considerations

When you apply for pAT, you’re making a commitment to sit the first available DCE in late 2020/early 2021.

Some trainees may be unable to keep this commitment due to unforeseen exceptional circumstances at the time of (or just prior to) the DCE. In these circumstances, the Special Consideration for Assessment policy (PDF) applies.

Exceptional circumstances covered in the policy include:

• Temporary impairments: acute medical condition or serious injury that may cause substantial disruption to your preparation or performance during the exam or prevent you from attending the exam.
• Non-medical compassionate grounds or serious disruption: situations that may cause substantial disruption to your preparation or performance during the exam or prevent you from attending the exam.

If a special consideration is granted, the pAT completed up to the date of the first available DCE in late 2020/early 2021 can be considered by the relevant supervising AT Committee. Further AT time after this date will not be considered under any circumstances until the DCE is passed.

If a special consideration is not granted, no pAT time will be considered.

Note: We’ll provide more details on how to apply for a special consideration when they’re available.

Exam outcome

Successful

You’ll be granted certification of your prospectively approved pAT and continue in your AT position if:

• you pass the DCE at the first sitting in late 2020/early 2021
• meet the performance criteria of your Advanced Training program
• comply with the Progression Through Training Policy

The maximum amount of pAT that can be claimed is 12 months.

Unsuccessful

Modular exam format candidates (all Australian trainees and Aotearoa New Zealand Adult Medicine trainees) who do not score above a Band 0 in the Long Cases cannot pass the DCE and will not be eligible to sit the Short Cases. As a result, you’ll be unable to proceed into provisional Advanced Training for the 2021 clinical year.

Traditional exam format candidates (Aotearoa New Zealand Paediatrics & Child Health trainees) who fail the DCE also are unable to proceed into pAT for the 2021 clinical year.

If you have accepted a pAT position for the new clinical year but fail the Long Cases, you will need to discuss employment implications with your current/future employer. Health departments are aware of this scenario and are working through options.

If you are already in a provisional Advanced Training position and do not pass the DCE, any training provisionally approved as 'conditional upon passing the DCE' will not be accepted as AT.

You’ll be classified as a ‘Continuing Basic Trainee’ (per the Progression Through Training Policy). The implications on your employment will be determined by your employer and can differ by jurisdiction, network or training setting. For example, you may be able to continue in the same role but in an unaccredited position.

You’ll be able to re-sit the DCE later in the same year with the 2021 exam cohort, exam attempts limits allowing.

If you re-sit the exam later in 2021 and you pass, you’ll only be able claim AT from the date of passing that exam, not any of the pAT you’ve undertaken earlier in the year. Recognition of Prior Learning for previous provisional AT time won’t be accepted at any time in the future.

Attempt limits

If you’re unsuccessful in the postponed 2020 exam, it will not be counted as an official exam attempt. This does not apply to the 2021 exam which will be scheduled for later in the year.

All trainees have been granted a 12-month extension to complete their current training program. See current attempt limits in the AIM handbook and PCH handbook.