Anaesthesia

Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists

Competition

Very high

Qualification

FANZCA

Training duration

5 years

Applications

No single national window — ANZCA college admissions are always open. Selection rounds are run independently by each state/territory health department or training network (e.g. NSW applies centrally via NSW Health; Victoria runs the Victorian Anaesthesia Training Scheme with its own annual round — 2027 intake: applications 1 June to 3 July 2026, interviews late August). Check your target network's recruitment page for current dates.

Selection format

Network-based selection: a written application addressing the selection criteria plus CV, an interview, and referee reports (at least two referees). Each network runs its own shortlisting, interviews, and CV-scoring rubric — ANZCA does not run a college-wide selection round or a named CV scoring tool.

When to apply

Most successful applicants are PGY3–5 with at least one dedicated anaesthesia or ICU rotation.

Competition

One of the most competitive specialties in Australia. Metropolitan hospitals are oversubscribed. Building your CV from PGY2–3 is strongly recommended.

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Selection criteria

Clinical experience

Rotations, logbooks, procedures, and exposure

Anaesthesia logbook — case volume and variety (ICU, obstetrics, paediatrics, regional)
ICU experience — the intensive care specialised study unit (at a CICM-accredited unit) is a mandatory ANZCA training requirement; ICU rotations before applying strengthen network applications

Rural & regional

Rural, regional, and remote experience

Nothing captured yet — verify with ANZCA.

First Nations

Selection points and pathways for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Māori applicants

Nothing captured yet — verify with ANZCA.

Academic

Exams, qualifications, courses, and teaching

EMST and Advanced Life Support courses — mandatory during ANZCA training (recorded as clinical anaesthesia time); completing them early strengthens applications
ANZCA-recognised courses (e.g. EDIC, crisis resource management)
Teaching role (formalised, e.g. supervising medical students or interns)

Publications & research

Papers, impact factor, audits, and QI

Research — first-author publication significantly differentiates applicants
Audit / QI project with a documented output (poster, report, or publication)

Extracurricular

Leadership and roles beyond clinical work

Nothing captured yet — verify with ANZCA.

Distinction

Prizes, awards, and academic standing

Nothing captured yet — verify with ANZCA.

Eligibility & application

Prerequisites, referees, interviews, and fees

Referee reports — at least two referees who can address the selection criteria
Minimum 2 years of prevocational medical education and training (PMET) before trainee registration — only 52 weeks of credit accepted from ICU, anaesthesia, or pain medicine work
Training position — a continuous 26-week appointment at an ANZCA-accredited site is required for trainee registration

Score your portfolio against this rubric

Entry tips

01Start an ICU rotation as early as possible — it is almost mandatory and hard to get late.

02Get a prospective audit or research project underway by PGY2. Publications from audits are achievable in 6–12 months.

03Each training network applies its own CV-scoring rubric and selection criteria — obtain your target network's criteria and score yourself against them directly.

04Regional anaesthesia case numbers (epidurals, spinals, ultrasound-guided blocks) are concrete evidence selection panels look for — log every case (no network publishes exact point values).

05Build referee relationships at the hospital where you want to train — consultants who know you personally write the strongest letters.

06Applying broadly (multiple networks/states) substantially increases your odds, especially for first-time applicants.

07Obstetric and paediatric exposure are commonly assessed in network selection — do not leave these until late.

Sourced from Australian medical community discussion. Always verify with ANZCA.

Recent updates

2026-07

Calculator correction (D-022, 2026-07-14): the anaesthesia CV calculator was downgraded from official to indicative — primary-source research confirmed ANZCA publishes no point-based selection scoring (Handbook v2.12 §1.7 contains principles and example criteria only; ANZCA does not appoint trainees) and none of the regional schemes (SANTRATS, Victorian schemes, QARTS, WA RATP, NSW hospital networks) publishes a numeric scoring matrix. Two tips softened to stop implying published direct scoring.

2026-07

Re-verified against anzca.edu.au: there is no national application window (admissions always open; networks/state health departments run their own rounds) and no ANZCA-wide "CV Assessment Tool" — CV scoring is network-specific. ICU, EMST, and ALS are training-program requirements rather than published selection criteria. Eligibility: 2 years PMET before trainee registration (max 52 weeks credit from ICU/anaesthesia/pain terms) and a continuous 26-week appointment at an accredited site. ANZCA supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants via a career navigator network and annual training/exam fee grants (support programs, not selection points).

2024-07

Some networks moved to structured interviews with standardised scoring rubrics. Contact your target network for the current format.

Indicative only. Check the ANZCA website for current information.

Official resources

ANZCA Official Website

College home — college news, training info, CPD

ANZCA Training & Assessment

Official training program details and requirements

ANZCA Anaesthesia Training Program

ATP overview, selection, CV assessment

ANZCA Network Websites

Individual network selection criteria and contacts

Medical Board — Specialist Registration

MBA specialist registration pathways

State workforce data

QLD NSW VIC WA SA TAS ACT NT

2026 first-year selection

51 of 404

eligible applicants selected

Specialists in QLD: 1,232 / 5,524 AU
Trainees in QLD: 418
New fellows in QLD: 76 / 321 AU
Average week: 40.8 hrs

How you reach a post

A centrally coordinated Queensland Health pathway or network
An individual Queensland Health facility accredited for training

Queensland Anaesthetic Rotational Training Scheme (QARTS)

QARTS oversees the four ANZCA-accredited rotations in Queensland and administers the selection and placement of training registrars to accredited training hospitals across the state, working with Queensland Health and a Directors of Anaesthesia Group.

Eligibility — general registration with the Medical Board of Australia, Australian or New Zealand citizenship or Australian permanent residency, and two years of general hospital experience (which may include up to 12 months in anaesthesia or intensive care)
Flexibility — minimum 50% of a full-time commitment, negotiated with the employer and approved prospectively by the ANZCA Director of Professional Affairs; training must be completed within 12 years
Interrupted training — up to 104 consecutive weeks with prospective approval from the ANZCA Director of Professional Affairs

Queensland figures published by Queensland Health (medi-nav). Selection numbers are for first-year entry and vary year to year — confirm the current round with the college and with Queensland Health before relying on them.

Community discussions

Recent discussion about Anaesthesia training from Australian doctors.

Search r/ausdocs and r/doctorsofaustralia

Requirements, windows, and criteria change annually. Verify with Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) before making career decisions. Report an error on this page.