Short-term specialist training
Short-term Training in a Medical Specialty (STT) is a pathway that allows international medical graduates (IMGs) who are qualified specialists or specialists-in-training to undertake up to 24 months of training in a specialty area in Australia.
The STT pathway is appropriate for IMGs who intend to complete a short period of training in Australia (of up to 24 months) and return to their country of practice once their training ends.
Short-term training in a medical specialty is not accredited by the RACP and doesn't lead to Fellowship of the College or specialist recognition in Australia. Additionally, support provided for this pathway doesn't relate to eligibility to join an RACP training program.
Alternatives
To practise in Australia for longer than 24 months involves a different registration pathway. For more information on alternative pathways, contact the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
To become a physician in Australia, you should apply to join an RACP training program.
If you’re already qualified as a specialist in your country of training, you can become accredited to practise in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand.
Eligibility
In line with the Medical Board of Australia’s (MBA) guidelines for short-term training, the pathway is available to IMGs who are applying for limited registration for postgraduate training or supervised practice and:
- are recognised as qualified specialists in another country outside Australia, or
- are specialists-in-training outside of Australia who:
- are likely to be no more than 2 years away from completing their specialist training
- have passed a basic specialist examination or have satisfactorily completed substantial training (generally 3 or more years, such as PGY 5).
Our short-term training in a medical specialty pathway also promotes opportunities for exchange fellowships.
The short-term training process
To secure short-term training in a medical specialty in Australia, you need to follow these steps.
Find a training position
You must find your own training position to apply for short-term training in a medical specialty by directly contacting hospitals or health services in Australia. The position can be at an RACP-accredited training site. The RACP is not responsible for finding training positions for applicants.
Apply for primary source verification
Apply to the Australian Medical Council (AMC) for primary source verification of your primary and specialist medical qualifications. If you have not yet obtained your specialist medical qualification, you must provide a College or State Medical Council letter to confirm you are within 2 years of completion of specialist training. Your qualifications must be verified before your position can be approved.
Apply for approval
Apply to the RACP for approval to commence short-term training in a medical specialty. Allow at least 8 to 12 weeks before your position start date for your application to be processed. You cannot commence your short-term training in a medical specialty without RACP approval.
Get a work visa
After you find a training position, your new employer will contact the Department of Immigration to apply for your work visa. Questions and enquiries about your work visa application process can be answered by your new employer.
Assessment
RACP’s role
Specialist medical colleges are delegated by the MBA to assess whether:
- you’re a genuine specialist-in-training or internationally qualified specialist
- the position is appropriate for your level of training and experience
- that there is adequate supervision and support for your level of training and experience
A recommendation is provided to the MBA for limited registration purposes only.
The RACP assesses short-term training in a medical specialty in:
Addiction Medicine
Cardiology
Clinical Genetics
Clinical Pharmacology
Clinical Haematology
Community Child Health
Endocrinology
Gastroenterology
General Medicine
General Paediatrics
Geriatric Medicine
Clinical Immunology and Allergy
Infectious Diseases
Medical Oncology
Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
Nephrology
Neurology
Nuclear Medicine
Occupational & Environmental Medicine
Paediatric Emergency Medicine
Palliative Medicine
Public Health Medicine
Rehabilitation Medicine
Respiratory Medicine
Rheumatology
Sexual Health Medicine
Sleep Medicine
If your specialty is not assessed by the RACP, another College may be responsible. Browse a list of
Australasian Medical Colleges for more information.
Your responsibilities
To successfully progress in your short-term training position, you’re responsible for:
- securing a suitable position that must be prospectively approved with appropriate supervision arrangements
- having regular meetings with your supervisors
- engaging fully with the training and responding constructively to feedback and areas for development
- communicating with the RACP always about concerns, changes and developments that impact on the arrangements for your training position
- ensuring that any request for an extension (within 24 months on the short-term pathway) is submitted at least 12 weeks before your current approved period of training finishes
An Annual Progress Report (DOC) will be required for renewal and/or extension applications
Communication
Any change in circumstances that impacts your application, final assessment decision or your approved period of short-term training must be communicated to the RACP. This includes any changes to:
- the sites where you are employed
- the duties and responsibilities of your training position
- your supervision arrangements
- your training programs
- the dates specified for your position
Apply
Fees
| Fees |
AUD$ |
| Short-term training in a medical specialty application* |
1114.30 |
| Changes to application after approval* |
277.20 |
*Prices include GST. GST applies to services that must be received by the applicant in Australia but is not applicable if an applicant is residing overseas.
The fee is issued upon receipt of a complete application, including any extension applications. All fees are non-refundable.
Before applying
For short-term training in a medical specialty you must:
- determine if this registration pathway is right for your needs based on the RACP guidelines and MBA’s requirements
- familiarise yourself with the registration requirements in Australia and the documentation that may be requested
- read the RACP Short-term Training in a Medical Specialty Guidelines for Applicants
- have received your primary source verification of your qualification(s) from the Australian Medical Council
All documents must be submitted electronically to IMG@racp.edu.au
Apply
Handwritten documents will not be accepted.
After applying
A Case Officer will contact you upon submission of your application. Instructions on how to pay your application fee will be provided at this time.
Your application won’t progress until all documentation necessary and payment is received by the RACP. Any additional documents that are submitted, but aren’t required for an application, will not be saved. We may also request additional documents if required.
It is your responsibility to communicate all the information required to support your application. You must fully disclose all relevant information throughout the application process and your period of short-term training in a medical specialty.
Non-disclosure of relevant information may result in the RACP rejecting your application or withdrawing support for your position.
Timeframes
Assessing your application can take up to 8 weeks
Assist the process by ensuring that you provide all the required documents at the time of application and responding promptly to correspondence from the OTP Unit.
30 days to pay fees
Payment of the short-term training in a medical specialty fee must be made within 30 days for your application to proceed. If payment is not made, your application will expire.
Maximum training time is 24 months
In compliance with the MBA guidelines, the maximum period of practice permitted on this pathway is 24 months.
Extensions
You can apply for an extension on the short-term training pathway if the total period of your training will be no longer than 24 months.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that any request for extension is submitted at least 8 weeks before your current approved training period finishes, to allow sufficient processing time.
A change in position and/or training location will be treated as a new application and the full Short-term Training in a medical specialty application fee will apply.
Extension applications with no changes to the position and training site will require payment of the Changes to Application after Approval fee. An Annual Progress Report (DOC) is required for all extension applications to determine if further support from the College can be provided.