The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Introduction
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) is the principal organisation representing the medical specialty of psychiatry in Australia and New Zealand and has responsibility for training, examining and awarding the qualification of Fellowship of the College to medical practitioners.
There are currently 2600 Fellows of the College who account for approximately 85 per cent of all practicing psychiatrists in Australia and over 50 per cent of psychiatrists in New Zealand.
The vision of the College is:
"A fellowship of psychiatrists working with and for the general community to achieve the best attainable quality of psychiatric care and mental health."
Through the various structures, the College:
Conducts a training and examination process for qualification as a consultant psychiatrist.
Administers maintenance of professional standards program for practicing professionals.
Holds an annual scientific congress and various sectional conferences throughout the year.
Supports continuing medical education activities at a regional level.
Publishes a range of journals, statements and other policy documents.
Liaises with government, allied professionals and community groups in the interests of psychiatrists, patients and the general community.
Governance Structure of the College & Trainee Representation
The General Council governs the College and only Fellows can approve changes to policy or initiate policy. In May 2007, the General Council established the RANZCP Board of Education. The College operates in a continually changing context and the Board represents a sustainable education structure. The Board brings together the education related activities of the RANZCP and is responsible for formulating and developing strategic education policy advice for General Council.
The Board Executive comprises the Chair and two Deputy Chairs (who each carry responsibility for three related committees):
- training, examinations and specialist international medical graduate education comprise the Fellowship Attainment Committee (FAC)
- continuing medical education, education projects and external liaison and reporting comprise the Education, Projects and Reporting (EPR).
- a registrar representative, overseas trained psychiatrist and relevant secretariat directors complete the membership.
Training
The Fellowship Training Program takes a minimum of five years full-time equivalent and is divided into 3 years basic training and 2 years advanced training.
Rotations
Basic trainees are required to undertake 36 months of clinical rotations as follows:
12 months FTE in Adult psychiatry, of which 6 months FTE must be in an acute setting;
6 months FTE in Child and Adolescent psychiatry;
6 months FTE in Consultation-Liaison psychiatry;
12 months FTE in any specialty.
The College Training and Assessment Regulations require trainees to undertake significant experience in rural mental health service delivery. This can be undertaken by completing 15 outreach visits to a rural training post or as a minimum 3 months FTE rotation in a rural training post.
Local Branch Training Committees accredit training posts, which comply with the College Training and Assessment Regulations.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Up to 12 months FTE of training may be retrospectively accredited upon entry into the training program if trainees meet certain requirements.
Flexibility in Training
The College allows training on a part time basis at a minimum commitment of 0.5 FTE and may be undertaken at 0.6, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, and 0.9 FTE commitment. Interrupted training is permitted.
Assessment
The two case histories may be submitted at any point during Basic Training and relate to the management of two patients under supervision, as outlined below:
a) First Presentation case criteria: a person who the trainee has personally managed, presenting for the first time to the mental health service.
b) Psychological case criteria: a person(s) for whom the predominant mode of intervention has been psychological.
The written examination may be attempted at any time during BPT and consists of two, three-hour papers conducted over two non-consecutive days.
The trainee clinical examinations can be attempted after 30 months FTE of accredited Basic Training rotations and all other Basic Training requirements have been completed. The trainee clinical examination is based on an Observed Clinical Interview (OCI) and presentation; and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) conducted over two non-consecutive days.
Costs
|
Initial Registration Fee/Re-entry Fee |
$ 290.00 |
|
Basic & Advanced Training |
|
|
Annual Fee - Full time |
$ 880.00 |
|
Annual Fee - part time (=0.5 FTE over a training year) |
$ 680.00 |
|
Annual Fee - Break |
$ 290.00 |
|
Retrospective Accreditation |
$ 495.00 |
|
Dual Fellowship Training Program |
|
|
One-off Registration Fee |
$ 570.00 |
|
Examination Fees |
|
|
Written |
$1,950.00 |
|
Trainee Clinical Examination |
$2,550.00 |
|
Cases (per Case history) |
$ 290.00 |
|
Administration Fee for Withdrawrals from Examinations (Written or Clinicals) |
Refer schedule |
|
Overseas Specialists Fees (costs inc GST) |
|
|
Specialist Assesment |
|
|
Exemption Application |
$2,950.00 |
|
Extension of Exemption Status |
$ 610.00 |
|
Review of Expired Exemption Status |
$1,480.00 |
|
Area of Need |
|
|
Application for Area of Need Statements for Medical Boards |
$1,900.00 |
|
Extension of Area of Need Statements for Medical Boards |
$ 610.00 |
|
Occupational Trainee Visa/Postgraduate Medical Board Endorsement |
|
|
Application |
$ 350.00 |
Contact details
The College is based in Melbourne.
Address:
309 La Trobe Street
Melbourne Vic 3000
Phone: (03) 9640 0646
Toll Free: 1800 337 448 (Australia only)
Fax: (03) 9642 5652
Email: ranzcp@ranzcp.org
Website: www.ranzcp.org
