Apply

Eligibility

Adult Rehabilitation Medicine Advanced Trainees can apply for the exam in the Specialty Consolidation or Transition to Fellowship Phase (third or fourth year of training). 

You don't have to complete the written exam before attempting the Fellowship Clinical Exam. 

To be eligible to sit the exam, you must:

• have completed Specialty Foundation Phase (new Curriculum trainees) or completed 24 months FTE of certified training in adult rehabilitation medicine (PREP curriculum trainees)
• apply by the due date
• pay any outstanding College fees
• not exceed the exam attempt limit and comply with all other Progression Through Training Policy requirements 

See College Fees Terms and Conditions

Exam attempt limit

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

^* Trainees who started before 2018 must successfully pass the Fellowship Written and Clinical Exams within 47 months from their first attempt.

^†  Trainees who started in 2018 onwards are allowed 3 attempts of each Fellowship Written Exam paper – Modified Essay Question (Paper A) and Multiple-Choice Question (Paper B). 

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

Overseas Trained Physicians | Check eligibility requirements with your overseas trained physicians case officer before applying.

Application process

Submit your application

Application confirmation

When your application is processed, you'll receive an email confirmation. If you don’t receive this, 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'll receive a candidate allocation email when your eligibility has been finalised. This confirms your exam registration, venue and timetable.

^* Submit a separate application for the Fellowship Clinical Examination (Adult).

Withdrawal

Withdrawals aren't counted as exam attempts. Contact us to withdraw up until the start of the exam. Refund rules apply. See College Fees Terms and Conditions for more information.

To request a refund for withdrawal on medical or compassionate grounds, submit an application form (DOC) under the Special Consideration for Assessment Policy (PDF).

If you withdraw, you can re-apply to sit the exam the following year if you meet the eligibility criteria. Application fees will not be rolled over from one year to another.

Special consideration

Throughout the course of your training, you may experience exceptional circumstances that impact assessment activities. Such circumstances not ordinarily encountered or anticipated and beyond the control of a trainee may impact 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 way that is transparent, fair, responsive, accountable and people-focused.

Your individual circumstances will be considered prior to the exam, including:

• 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 the exam has started, only technical or other unforeseen issues that occur during the exam will be taken into consideration.

Impaired preparation isn't considered grounds for a post-exam special consideration request. Candidates who believe their preparation has been impaired for any reason are advised to withdraw from the examination. Special consideration requests can’t be accepted once results have been released.

Your mark or result will not be adjusted due to any special circumstances. For more information on application requirements and the possible outcomes, see the Special Consideration for Assessment Policy.

Submit your special consideration request by the closing date using the Special Consideration for Assessment application form and guide (PDF).

Prepare

Exam format

The content is carefully selected to assesses your readiness for competent, independent practice as a Rehabilitation Medicine Physician. 

It consists of 2 papers – Paper A and Paper B – which are separate assessments taken on the same day. The exam will be delivered using Paper-based Testing (PBT).

Paper A - Modified Essay Question (MEQ)

10 min reading time | 3.5 hour exam | 8 clinical, administrative or research-based scenarios

This paper assesses how well you can apply and integrate your medical and rehabilitation knowledge and skills within the Professional Practice Framework.

The exam is prepared by the Examination Panel of the Faculty Assessment Committee. Questions reflect training and current practices in adult rehabilitation medicine.

Paper A (MEQ) consists of 8 clinical, administrative or research-based scenarios, each with a number of related short-answer questions.  The questions will require you to integrate and apply your medical and rehabilitation knowledge.

All Competencies, Entrustable Professional Activities and Knowledge Guides are assessable. The exam requires you to provide clear and succinct answers either in dot points or a few lines which demonstrate your ability to:

• Assess and evaluate complex clinical, administrative or research-based scenarios, including interpretation of investigations and clinical assessment tools.
• Apply critical thinking and sound clinical reasoning.
• Employ a systematic approach to the assessment, prognostication and management of impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions.
• Apply evidence-based medical and rehabilitation knowledge and management.
• Understand the rehabilitation interventions utilised by members of other professions within the medical, allied health and nursing team. 

Resources

• Tips for Supervisors
  
• Tips for trainees
  
• Example questions (PDF)
  
• Example questions and suggested answers (PDF)
• Feedback report 2024 (PDF)
• Feedback report 2025 (PDF)

Paper B - Multiple-Choice Question (MCQ)

10 min reading time | 3 hour exam | 130 MCQs

Paper B consists of 130 single-answer MCQs. Each MCQ includes 4 answer options with only 1 correct answer.

See Paper B MCQ sample questions.

All knowledge guides are assessable. Trainees may be assessed on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical sciences, relevant investigations, procedures and clinical assessment tools associated with each condition and important specific issues. 

Subject weighting

Content relating to the Professional Practice Framework and Entrustable Professional Activities may be assessed.

Note: These weightings are target percentages of topic areas used to develop the MCQ exam. Actual content breakdowns can vary. Questions can belong to more than one topic area.

Preparation tips

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

Familiarise yourself with the new Curriculum Standards and study the Knowledge Guides. If you’re a PREP trainee, you may also find this a helpful resource to act as a checklist when studying. 

Practice your approach

A supervisor or mentor can help you with practice questions. Go through your thought process out loud with them as you construct an answer. Using this approach with them may help you obtain valuable feedback and a better insight into your approach to the questions.

Organise and equip yourself

Having a quiet, comfortable place where you can study is important. Find a way to study that best suits your individual learning style. Develop a study plan and revision timetable. Use different learning approaches such as flashcards, mind maps, diagrams or opportunities to teach others as part of your revision.

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.

Readings

Cifu, D. X. 2020, Braddom’s Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 6th edition, Elsevier.

DeLisa J. A. 2019, De Lisa’s Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation: Principles and Practice, 6th edition, Wolters Kluwer.

American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Suggested learning resources (p 81-93) in General Rehabilitation Medicine Advanced Training Curriculum (PDF).

Attempting the exam again

Meet with your supervisor or mentor

If you are actively training, meet with your supervisor, or your mentor if you are on 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 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.

You could also ask your supervisor or mentor to share trial case studies and cross-reference them with the Adult Rehabilitation Medicine Advanced Training Curriculum,

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.

Exam day

Timetable

Personal items

Bring

• Printed or digital copy of your candidate allocation letter confirming your name, candidate number and venue
• Current valid photo ID with your full name and signature, for example a passport or driver licence – digital valid photo ID is acceptable, a picture of your photo ID isn't acceptable.
• Blue or black ballpoint pens (no pencils, gel or felt-tip pens)
• 1 x highlighter (optional)
• 1 x ruler (optional)
• Basic analogue watch (optional)
• Water in a clear plastic bottle (recommended)

Lunch is not provided, and many venues do not have food vendors on site. You may need to leave the venue to purchase lunch or bring your own on the day.

Tip: Wear additional clothing layers to adjust to the room temperature.

Not permitted during the exam

You may bring a bag to the exam to store your belongings; this will be stored on the floor under your desk. You'll not be permitted to access your bag or the following items during the exam:

• Written material
• Calculators
• Electronic devices (including smart watches and communication devices) 
• Food or beverages (except water) ^*
• Ear plugs
• All other belongings

During the exam, all mobile phones, digital watches, sport watches, smart watches (including but not limited to Apple watch, Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung), pagers and electronic communication devices must be switched off, and placed in your bag on the floor under your desk.

Devices that sound during the exam will be subject to an incident report.

If you’re found accessing these items during the exam, an incident report will be completed, you’ll be automatically disqualified and immediately escorted out of the venue. 

You can't access any items other than the permitted items, during the exam unless you were granted special consideration before the exam. 

^* You can bring food or beverages into the venue and store it securely with your other belongings.

Seating arrangements

Seating lists showing your allocated seat number will be displayed near the venue entrance.

Desks will be labelled with your name and candidate ID number.

Discuss seating enquiries with the Chief Supervisor as early as possible on exam day.

Completing the exam

Issues on exam day

If you experience issues leading up to the exam or on exam day that prevent you from attending, contact us. This may include illness, natural disasters or personal/family issues. 

If you arrive up to 30 minutes late, you can attempt the exam, but you won’t get additional time.

If you arrive more than 30 minutes late, you won’t be permitted to enter the exam.

Leaving the exam room

Don't leave the exam room without an invigilator’s approval. If you need the toilet, an invigilator will escort you. If you want to leave before the end of the exam, stay seated and raise your hand. An invigilator will check your materials and release you.

You can't leave in the first 30 minutes or last 10 minutes of the exam.

On completion of the exam, your exam booklet and/or answer sheet will be collected before you can leave.

Conduct 

Exam materials and content are confidential. You must sign a confidentiality agreement before the exam. 

The following is considered academic misconduct: 

• removing exam materials from the venue
• reproducing or distributing the contents of exam material 

For more information, see the Academic Integrity in Training Policy

Results

Marking

See the AFRM Examinations Glossary (PDF) for more information on setting the pass marks via the Modified Angoff method.

See previous exam pass rates.

Results email

You receive an email with your exam result and can view your outcome on the training portal.

Ensure we have your current email address and contact number. You can update your details via MyRACP. Contact us if you don’t receive the email.

Feedback

Paper A (MEQ)

All candidates receive a copy of the general feedback which provides a cohort overview of key strengths and areas for improvement, as summarised by the examiners when marking the exam. 

For previous years feedback reports, see:

Feedback Report 2024 (PDF)
Feedback Report 2025 (PDF)

A personalised feedback report summarising the performance band you achieved for each scenario will be included in your results email.

For each scenario, there are 6 performance band ranges:

• Excellent performance
• Better than expected standard
• Meets expected standard
• Below expected performance
• Poor performance
• Very poor performance

Paper B (MCQ)

All candidates receive their overall score as a percentage, against the overall pass mark for the assessment.

Unsuccessful candidates receive a summary of the number of correct questions achieved within each Knowledge Guide addressed in the paper.

We understand that you may be interested in further individualised feedback, however we're unable to provide this. We encourage you to speak with your Advanced Training, Supervisor, your colleagues or a mentor about your results to identify your strengths and those areas where you can improve.

To ensure equitable access and fairness to all candidates, the AFRM Annual Trainees Meeting provides sessions on exams, including exam preparation and other aspects of the exam, with opportunity for questions.

Next steps

To gain Fellowship of the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, you must pass this exam and:

• pass the AFRM Fellowship Clinical Examination (Adult)
• complete all other Adult Rehabilitation Medicine Advanced program requirements

If you’re unsuccessful in either paper, you only need to re-sit the unsuccessful paper. The exam fee is for the set of exams and there is no discount for attempting only 1 paper.

Refer to the eligibility criteria and exam attempts set out in the Progression Through Training Policy and your Adult General Rehabilitation Medicine Training Program handbook or LTA Program.