Progression through training

You complete 1 Oral Examination (maximum of 3 attempts allowed) towards the end of your training.

If you’re unable to successfully complete the exam within 3 attempts, you will be ineligible to continue in 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.

Fees

Australia | AUD $3484.00

To be eligible to sit the exam, you must be up-to-date with all your College training fees. See College Fees Terms and Conditions.

Exam fees support the delivery of the exam and fund the complex operational and logistical requirements involved in managing the assessment across multiple locations, including:

• staffing costs for teams managing the examinations
• examiner training and calibration
• travel, accommodation and catering for examiners and contributors

These costs ensure that each exam is conducted fairly, securely and in accordance with the RACP’s high standards of quality and professionalism.

Special consideration

Throughout RACP training programs, trainees may experience exceptional circumstances that impact their assessment activities. These circumstances are not ordinarily encountered or anticipated and are beyond the trainee’s control and may affect their ability to attend or perform optimally in an exam, or complete or submit a work-based assessment requirement.

We're committed to supporting all trainees by providing reasonable adjustments where necessary to ensure equitable access to assessment activities, in a manner that is transparent, fair, respectful, responsive, accountable and people-focused.

Before the exam

Special consideration may be approved for:

• permanent or long-term disability
• temporary disability due to medical or other relevant conditions
• pregnancy, lactation and infant-feeding needs
• essential religious, cultural, social or legal commitments
• compassionate grounds or other significant disruptive events occurring before the examination

Applications should be submitted as early as possible, preferably at the time of exam application, to allow sufficient time for review and implementation of any approved arrangements.

Applications submitted after the published deadline may still be considered in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the College, and additional supporting documentation may be required.

During the exam

Special consideration may be given for technical or procedural issues. Candidates must notify the examiner or invigilator of the issue immediately so the incident can be acknowledged, mitigated where possible and documented.

After the exam

Special consideration may be requested for:

• technical or procedural issues that could not be resolved during the exam
• temporary disability that occurred during the exam and prevented completion
• racism, discrimination, or bias experienced during the exam

Applications must be submitted within 5 calendar days of the exam and before results are released. Temporary disability, where the candidate elected to continue the exam, isn't eligible for post-exam consideration.

Impaired preparation isn't grounds for special consideration. Candidates who believe their preparation has been significantly affected should withdraw before sitting the exam. All applications require supporting documentation and are reviewed confidentially. Special consideration may result in reasonable adjustments or alternative arrangements but will not change your marks or exam result.

For full details and application requirements, see the Special Consideration for Assessment Policy and the Special Consideration for Assessment application guide and form (PDF).

Withdrawal and refund

Withdrawals aren't counted as exam attempts. You may withdraw up until the start of the exam by contacting the College. Refund rules apply, and details are outlined in the College Fees Terms and Conditions.

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. Refund amounts depend on the timing of your withdrawal, as detailed in the College Fees Terms and Conditions.

Candidates who withdraw can apply to sit the exam the following year, provided eligibility requirements are met. Application fees aren't carried over from one year to the next.

Prepare

Exam format

The exam tests your knowledge and understanding of important issues as set out in the Public Health Medicine Advanced Training Curriculum (PDF).

You must demonstrate your ability to:

• integrate knowledge from multiple areas of the curriculum
• use evidence to analyse and respond to public health issues
• make and justify decisions in the context of uncertainty
• communicate your reasoning clearly and appropriately

The exam is presentation-based.

It consists of 8 questions split into 2, 30-minute sessions. Each panel has a separate set of 3 examiners and addresses 4 questions. Questions 1-4 are addressed in the first panel and 5-8 in the second panel. You can answer each set of 4 questions in any order you wish.

The questions will generally describe realistic public health scenarios. You’re expected to demonstrate how you would respond in a practical sense. Usually there will be 1, or at most 2, key concepts at the heart of scenario questions, for example (but not limited to) evaluation, health promotion or risk management.

Managing time

You’re responsible for managing your response time throughout each 30-minute session. You control how much time you allocate to each question response, based on your 60-minute reading and preparation time. Although there is an average of 7.5 minutes per question, you may choose to spend less time on a question in favour of spending more time on another question.

The examiners ensure you get 30 minutes for each session. They may provide you with a reminder of the remaining time only if they think that you may run out of time.

Clocks are provided in every room. You may bring your own basic timing device.

Follow-up prompts

Examiners may provide a prompt if you haven’t addressed a key part of a question or you need to significantly broaden the scope of your answer. Prompts are general in nature and are not designed to intentionally or inadvertently elicit a specific response.

A series of standardised prompts has been developed specifically for this exam. For example:

• Could you explain that in a little more detail?
• You have covered one part of the question. Can you give us a response to this other part?

Prompts are used sparingly and carefully to prevent the possibility of interrupting your thoughts.

If there's additional time at the end of the 30 minutes, examiners ask if you wish to add anything further to any of your responses before concluding the session.

Preparation tips

Start your exam preparation early

Start preparing as early as possible. Most successful candidates start 12 months ahead of their exam. 

Organise and equip yourself

Read all tabs on this exam webpage for important information on how to apply, the format, focus assessment areas, how to prepare, what to expect on exam day and results.

Familiarise yourself with the learning objectives in the Public Health Medicine Advanced Training Curriculum and the Professional Qualities Curriculum.

Regularly seek and act on feedback on your public health skills and professional behaviours in your  workplace. This could include feedback associated with work-based assessments.

Practice your presentation technique with your peers and supervisor.

Study with others

The shared experience of studying with others has helped many trainees feel more motivated, confident and on track during the crucial preparation period.

Many have joined (or created) a group that was supportive, met regularly, shared resource ideas and provided an environment conducive to constructive feedback.

The RACP Trainee Facebook group (closed group) is a space for you to meet with other trainees and share experiences, tips, events and ideas as well as receive trainee information from the College.

Attempting the exam again

Meet with your supervisor or mentor

If you're actively training, meet with your supervisor, or your mentor if you're on an interruption of training, to talk through your previous attempts at the exam. Your supervisor or mentor is likely to have valuable insights to share about areas you need to focus on and areas to improve.

Use the Improving Performance Action Plan (IPAP) template and plan your study to maximise time spent on these focus areas. For example, once a week, you could spend time on each area to make sure you have a thorough understanding of each topic.

Repeat what worked

What study materials did you use last time? What was helpful and what wasn't? Review your materials as well as look for other valuable study materials and opportunities, especially any onsite learning that's available to you.

Academic integrity

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

• contact potential examiners and seek guidance on improving performance
• contact examiners on exam day
• contact examiners post-exam to get feedback on your performance

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

You’re required to sign an Annual Participant Agreement (confidentiality agreement) before taking the exam. This is emailed to you with your allocation letter.

If your supervisor is an examiner, they must declare a conflict of interest and direct you to an alternative supervisor for exam guidance.

Contact us with questions.

Exam day

Exam day safety

Your safety is a priority during all examination activities, as it is in your workplace. If at any time you feel unsafe, you should stop and seek assistance immediately. Doing so will not adversely affect your assessment. Support is available from examiners and College staff throughout the examination.

In line with the Review of Paediatric Clinical Examination in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, additional measures are being introduced to further strengthen safety for candidates, examiners, patients and their families/whānau/carers. These changes aim to ensure a safe, supportive and respectful environment for everyone involved in the examination.

To learn more, refer to the Review of Paediatric Clinical Examination in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Timetable

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

Arrive and sign in no later than 15 minutes before your session time.

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 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 x highlighter (optional)
• silent timing device such as a basic analogue watch or silent desk-top timer (clocks are provided in each room)
• water in a clear plastic bottle (optional)
• earplugs (optional)

All allowable items will be inspected by staff on arrival.

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)
• recording and electronic devices including digital watches, smart pens, tablets, scanners, dictionaries (that function in a similar way to a tablet) 
• wearable AI devices, e.g. smart glasses, smart watches
• pagers
• laptop computers
• personal communication aids
• calculators
• headphones
• dictionaries
• pencils or pencil cases
• frixton (erasable) pens, gel pens or felt tip pens
• food and beverages (other than still water)
• all other belongings (for example, bags)
  

If you wish to bring any food into the exam due a medical condition or other personal reasons, submit a Special Consideration for Assessment application (PDF). Still water is provided.

During the exam, all electronic devices such as 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, an incident report will be completed, you’ll be automatically disqualified and immediately escorted out of the venue.

Completing the exam

An invigilator is assigned to you for the duration of the exam. They provide instructions and support you through the process.

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. You're provided with a large rectangular desk with an ergonomic chair.

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

On your desk, you get a ring-bound folder containing:

• the full set of 8 exam questions (1 question per page)
• a timetable
• 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, silent timing device and earplugs if desired. 

At the start of the exam, you have 60 minutes to make notes to prepare your responses to the questions.

Before your second exam session, you return to the reading room for a further 20 minutes to review the questions and your notes for the final 4 questions. You may make further notes.

At the end of each reading and preparation period, an invigilator escorts you to a room with your panel of examiners. You may take your entire folder, or just the relevant notes.

Session time

Once you're seated in the room, the examiners will introduce themselves and ask if you wish to change the order of the questions. You'll also have an opportunity to ask the examiners to clarify anything about any of the questions before you begin. 

The examiners will then indicate the start of the 30 minutes and allow you to start your timer simultaneously. 

You discuss 8 questions in total:

• Session 1 | Questions 1 to 4
• Session 2 | Questions 5 to 8

All 3 examiners are involved in your assessment and will take notes during the session.

It’s your responsibility to manage your time appropriately across the 4 questions.

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 four questions within that panel and expand on your response.

Changeover period

After your first exam session, you have up to 5-minutes before the start of your second reading and preparation time.

The break incorporates the walk back to the reading room and an opportunity for a short bathroom break.

All candidates will re-enter the reading room together and start the second reading and preparation session at the scheduled time. You're not allowed to review your notes while waiting to re-enter the reading area.

Roles

Examiners

In addition to their examiner duties, they also note any procedural problems that occur during the session.

Quality Assurer and Observers

An AFPHM-approved Quality Assurer or Observer may also be present. They will be positioned behind you and are not involved in examining or contributing in any way to the assessment.

The Quality Assurer’s role is to ensure the exam procedures and timetable are followed and to observe the examiners’ conduct.

The Observer is present to learn about the exam process on their pathway to becoming an examiner.

Leaving the exam venue

After the exam, your invigilator collects your folder and all papers. Your personal belongings are returned and you're advised when you can leave.

Post-Exam Candidate Survey (PECS)

We email you a link to a survey after the exam 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 the Faculty Assessment Committee – Public Health Medicine, 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
• communicating any part of the exam content, directly or indirectly, to candidates who are scheduled to sit the exam after you

If you breach these requirements, you are excluded from the assessment.

See the Academic Integrity in Training Policy for more information.

Resources

A range of resources is available to help you prepare for the Oral Examination and understand the assessment requirements.

Public Health Medicine Advanced Training Curriculum (PDF)
Professional Qualities Curriculum (PDF)
Education policies
Wellbeing

Member login required

RACP Examiner Code of Conduct (PDF)
Examiner Conduct Management Procedure (PDF)
AFPHM Examiner Conflicts of Interest Management Guide (PDF)
AFPHM Oral Examination – Guidelines for Mock Examiners (PDF)

Sample questions

Member login required

2019 sample questions (PDF)
2021-23 sample questions (PDF)

Exam Information Session

An exam information session will be held on Thursday, 10 September from 12.00pm – 1.00pm AEST. Further information and instructions to register will be emailed in mid-July. 

Member login required

2026 Exam Information Session FAQs (PDF)

RACP Online learning resources

Access a broad selection of interactive, self-paced learning resources developed with RACP Fellows, trainees, and subject matter experts to support your ongoing learning.

RACP Online Learning resources

Commercial exam preparation courses

We don't endorse any commercial preparation courses.