Apply

The exam is usually attempted in the third year of Advanced Training.

Eligibility

To be eligible to sit the assessment, you must have:

• completed 24 months FTE certified training
• completed a satisfactory research project
• current general AMC/MCNZ medical registration
• approved registration for the current training period
• comply with requirements in Progression Through Training Policy 

If you have outstanding training fees, you're ineligible to sit the exam. See College Fees Terms and Conditions.

Exam attempt limit

You cannot continue Advanced Training if you exceed the examination attempt limit, which is based on when you commenced training.

See Progression Through Training Policy for more information about examination attempts.

Overseas trained physicians | Check your eligibility requirements with your Overseas Trained Physicians Case Officer before applying.

Application process

Submit your application

Applications have now closed.

Application confirmation

After submitting your application form, we email you to confirm it’s been received. If you don’t get a confirmation email, check your junk/spam folders and contact us if it’s not there.

Payment

Once applications have closed, we email you a link to pay the exam fee and any other outstanding fees. Check your preferred contact details are up to date in MyRACP for important exam communications and to receive updates on exam day.

Final confirmation

You receive a candidate allocation letter via email when your eligibility has been finalised. This confirms your exam registration, venue and session time.

Withdrawal

Withdrawals are not counted as exam attempts. Contact us to withdraw up until the start of the exam.

If you withdraw, you can re-apply to sit the exam the following year if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Special consideration

During RACP training, unexpected events may affect a trainee’s ability to complete assessments. These events are rare, beyond a trainee’s control, and could impact attending an exam, performing at their best, or undertaking a work-based assessment.

We support trainees by making reasonable adjustments to ensure fair access to assessments. You can apply for special consideration before the exam if you’re affected by:

• permanent or long-term disability
• temporary disability due to medical or other relevant conditions
• pregnancy, lactation and infant feeding needs
• compassionate grounds or serious disruptions
• essential commitments (religious, cultural, societal or legal obligations)

Once an exam starts, we’ll only consider technical or unexpected issues that happen during the exam.

If your preparation’s been affected, it’s best to withdraw - special consideration isn’t available after results are released.

Your exam result won’t be changed due to special circumstances. For details on how to apply and possible outcomes, see the Special Consideration for Assessment Policy.

Submit your request before the deadline using the Special Consideration form (PDF).

Prepare

Exam format

8 questions | 2 sessions | 5 min reading time | 30 min interview time | 1 hour 15 mins

The exam is a summative assessment of your knowledge on the practice of sexual health medicine as set out in the Sexual Health Medicine Advanced Training Curriculum (PDF).

It tests your ability to integrate all the relevant issues — diagnostic, individual management and public health — that arise from the cases presented. You’re expected to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of current debate and recent advances in, and ethical dilemmas that arise out of, the practice of sexual health medicine.

The exam is an interview-style structure consisting of 2, 30-minute sessions. You discuss 4 questions in each session, 8 questions in total.

Each question consists of a clinical scenario and a number of sub-questions.

You are given the first two clinical scenarios to read for 5 minutes before each session. The remaining two questions are presented during the interview session.

Each session is conducted by a panel of 2 examiners. To present cases, the examiners could use supporting information such as slides, pathology reports and case notes.

Topics

Common topics include:

• mixed infections, atypical presentations, late sequelae of infection (including persisting problems)
• rationale underlying common management protocol
• management dilemmas imposed by social or logistical factors
• interpretation of pathology specimens
• problems arising out of concurrent pregnancy, immune compromise, sexual assault or psychosexual problems
• health service delivery issues
• public health issues, including health promotion and surveillance
• legal and ethical dilemmas

Core skills

To ensure you've developed the necessary core skills, you must be able to:

• take an accurate general medical, social, sexual and drug use history
• apply an expert level of knowledge to the diagnosis and clinical management (including contact tracing) of a wide range of sexually transmitted infection/human immunodeficiency virus (STI/HIV) infections and other sexual health problems
• apply detailed knowledge of the pharmacology of antimicrobial agents used against STI/HIV infections as well as the diagnosis and management of adverse reactions to these agents
• apply a detailed knowledge of the local and general epidemiology and impact of STI/HIV infections
• apply an understanding of the pathogenesis of STI/HIV infections
• apply a detailed understanding of the methods and limitations of the laboratory diagnosis of STI/HIV infections, including hands-on skills in:
  • specimen collection and handling
  • light, phase contrast and dark field microscopy
  • rapid serological tests for common STIs
• recognise and manage (including appropriate referral) personal and cultural factors relevant to any individual’s sexual health problem
• ensure patients are counselled on appropriate contraceptive cover
• assist patients to minimise the risk of transmission of STI/HIV infections through safer sex and safer drug use
• understand cultural factors that contribute to the persistence of STI/ HIV infections in the community and, in conjunction with community representatives and other health professionals, develop and implement appropriate interventions that minimise the impact of these diseases
• act as an advocate to government and non-government organisations for the promotion of sexual health
• identify the needs and develop and administer an appropriate health service with the aim of improving the sexual health of a local community
• participate in debate and research in the area of sexual health
• participate in community and professional education about sexual health
• provide expert consultancy on sexual health matters
• provide advice to other health professionals (including, but not limited to, general and specialist doctors) regarding clinical management of patients who will not be seen in person by the sexual health physician

Timing

Each session with the examiners lasts 30 minutes. Although this equates to an average of 7 minutes and 30 seconds per question, questions may not be exactly equal in length. The examiners have a timeframe guide for each question and may move you along to ensure you have an opportunity to address all 4 questions. You should manage your time in terms of providing concise responses; however, the examiners will keep time overall.

Follow-up questions

A series of generic follow-up questions and prompts has been developed specifically for this exam. For example:

• Could you explain that in a little more detail?
• What might be the effect of that course of action?

Examiners could prompt you with these types of questions if you haven’t addressed key parts of a question or you need to broaden the scope of your answer. However, do not rely on the examiners to steer your responses.

Examiners may also seek additional information when you give a thorough answer but there’s time for additional discussion.

Academic integrity

Some actions are seen as attempting to gain an unfair advantage. For example, attempts to:

• find out who examiners are
• contact potential examiners and seek guidance on improving performance
• contact examiners on exam day

These actions are a breach of the Academic Integrity in Training Policy (PDF), could lead to your disqualification and affect your progress through training.

Contact us with questions.

Exam day

Timetable

Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled session.

Example timetable

Exact times are confirmed in your candidate allocation letter.

Personal items

Bring

• your candidate allocation letter confirming your name, candidate number, session time and venue
• current photo ID with your full name and signature, for example a passport or driver license
• blue or black ballpoint pens (no pencils, gel or felt-tip pens)
• 1 highlighter (optional)
• water in a clear plastic bottle (optional)
• basic analogue watch

Tip: Dress appropriately. Consider the weather conditions, the venue and your comfort. You don't need to dress formally, but you should look professional.

Not permitted during the exam

• written material (other than your candidate allocation letter)
• calculators
• electronic devices (including smart watches and communication devices)
• food or beverages (water is provided)
• all other belongings (for example, bags)

During the exam, all electronic devices including mobile phones and smart watches must be switched off and placed in your bag. Your bag will be securely stored on-site.

If you’re found with one of these devices on you during the exam, you’re automatically disqualified and immediately escorted out of the exam venue.

Completing the exam

Reading time

Before each interview session, you'll get a clipboard with:

• a short information sheet including the 4 question topics
• the clinical case scenarios and lead-in question for the first 2 topics only
• notepaper 

You have 5 minutes to read, take notes and prepare yourself. At the end of the reading period, you'll move into a room with your first panel of examiners

Interview sessions

At the end of reading time, you're moved into your first interview session. The examiners introduce themselves briefly then start your session.

You discuss 8 questions in total:

• Examiner panel 1 | 4 questions
• Examiner panel 2 | 4 questions

The examiners take turns as the lead questioner. Both examiners assess your responses.

You can ask the examiners to repeat information or to clarify anything about any of the questions.

During certain questions, you are provided with additional documents, for example, test results to interpret.

At the end of the 30 minutes, the examiners wrap up the session.

An AChSHM-approved observer may also be present. They are not involved in examining or contributing in any way to the interview.

Break

Between exam sessions, there is a 5-minute break for you to regroup and use the toilet.

After the break, you’ll receive a new clipboard with the 4 question topics, along with the case scenarios and lead-in questions for the first 2 questions of the next session.

You have 5 minutes to read, take notes and prepare yourself. 

At the end of the changeover period, you'll move into a room with your second panel of examiners

Leaving the exam venue

After you complete the exam, return your materials to the invigilator. Your personal belongings are returned and you can leave.

Conduct

Exam materials and content are confidential. The following actions are considered academic misconduct:

• removing exam materials from the venue
• wilfully damaging or interfering with equipment
• reproducing or distributing the contents of exam material

If you breach these requirements, you are excluded from the assessment. See the Academic Integrity in Training Policy (PDF) for more information.

Results

Post-Exam Candidate Survey (PECS)

We email you a link for a survey to complete before results are released.

We value your feedback on the question quality, exam arrangements and process. Responses are discussed by the College and AChSHM Chapter Training Committee at the post-exam meeting.

Results email

You receive an email with your exam result from 3pm, Thursday 31 July 2025. Ensure we have your current email address and contact number. Contact us if you don’t receive the email.

If you’re unsuccessful, you receive general written feedback compiled from both sessions. Feedback is provided on each question and overall performance.

You do not get written feedback if you’re successful in the exam.

Next steps

To gain Fellowship of the Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine, you must pass this exam and successfully complete all training program requirements.

Refer to the eligibility criteria and exam attempts in the Progression Through Training Policy and the Sexual Health Medicine Training Program handbook.