Apply

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.

Progression through training

You can't continue Advanced Training if you exceed the exam attempt limit, which is based on when you started 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

The application form will be available here closer to the exam date. 

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.

Final confirmation

You'll 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.You may withdraw up to the start of the exam by contacting the College.

Withdrawal on medical or compassionate grounds may be eligible for a refund. To request this, submit the required application form under the Special Consideration for Assessment Policy.

Candidates who withdraw can apply to sit the exam the following year, provided eligibility requirements are met.

To withdraw from the exam, contact faculty.examinations@racp.edu.au

Prepare

Exam format

8 questions | 2 sessions | 5 min reading time | 30 min interview time | 1 hour 20 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, don't 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.

Timetable

The exam is held in up to 4 sessions during the day, dependent on candidate numbers. Exact times are confirmed in your candidate allocation letter.

Example timetable

No changes can be made to exam session allocations after allocation letters have been distributed.

To protect exam confidentiality, candidates may be briefly held on-site until the next session candidates arrive. You should factor this time into your travel arrangements. You may not access your mobile phone or any other communication device during this time. RACP staff will advise when you may leave.

Personal items

Bring

• printed or digital copy of your candidate allocation letter confirming your name, candidate number and session time
• current valid photo ID with your full name and signature, for example a passport or driver licence
• 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 (optional)

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

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 and preparation time

Candidates are seated in a large room, with a privacy screen between neighbouring candidates. A maximum of 4 candidates will be in the room. Each candidate is provided with a large rectangular desk and an ergonomic chair. 

An RACP invigilator is present in the room to provide timing instructions and to note any incidents. 

On your desk, you'll get a clipboard containing:

1. a short information sheet including the 4 question topics
2. the clinical case scenarios and lead-in question for the first 2 topics only
3. notepaper (loose leaf, A4; lined on one side and unlined on the other) 

Water, mints, tissues, pens and an analogue clock are also provided. You may also bring your own bottle of water, pens, highlighter, timing device and earplugs if desired. 

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

Exam sessions

The examiners introduce themselves briefly then announce the start of the 30 minute-session and start their timer.

You discuss 8 questions in total:

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

The examiners may alternate 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 throughout the session, for example, test results to interpret.

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

If you have time remaining after addressing all questions, you may revisit any of the 4 questions within that panel and expand on your response.  

Break

Between exam sessions, there is a 10-minute break for you to refocus and to use the bathroom. Your invigilator will regroup all candidates and take everyone back to the reading room together for the next 5-minute reading time.

After the break, you are given a new clipboard with the four question topics and the case scenarios and lead-in questions for the first 2 questions for the next session.

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

At the end of the 5-minute reading time, you are moved into a room with your second panel of examiners.

Observers

An AChSHM-approved observer may also be present. This may be the Chief, or Deputy Chief, Examiner monitoring the session for quality assurance processes, or an AChSHM Fellow in training to become a future examiner.

They'll be positioned behind you and are not involved in examining or contributing in any way to your assessment.

Leaving the exam venue

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

Post-Exam Candidate Survey (PECS)

We'll email you a link to a survey at the end of the exam day 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.

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.