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RACP
When Clinical Genetics applications run, and what the round looks like.
Feb
RACP registration by the twice-yearly deadlines (28 February and 31 August) is administrative.
Entry is after Basic Physician Training (adult medicine or paediatrics and child health) — there is no single national scored round, and RACP is not involved in recruiting or selecting trainees.
Advanced Training positions are secured at hospital or network level.
Victoria and Tasmania run a centralised PMCV match that does include clinical genetics.
Everywhere else, apply directly to the hospital genetics unit.
Entry is typically PGY5 or later: after 3 years of Basic Physician Training (adult medicine) or Paediatrics and Child Health training, having passed both FRACP Divisional Examinations, holding general (unconditional) AHPRA registration, and having secured an accredited Advanced Training position.
Training positions and workforce figures below are limited to Australian Capital Territory. Selection criteria, requirements and application dates are set by RACP nationally and apply in every state.
Moderate
How Clinical Genetics training is structured.
3 years
To complete
36 months full time equivalent
Competencies
To complete
Approved university genetics course
A program requirement rather than an optional extra.
During Advanced Training
RCPA Basic Pathological Sciences examination
A pass or an exemption, and it is open to medical students, interns and resident medical officers before training starts. Nothing on the clinical genetics side requires it.
Only on the reciprocal route, before the RCPA Part II
Both Fellowships in 8 years
A reciprocal arrangement of the two colleges, with genetic pathology trained concurrently rather than afterwards, and both Fellowships in 8 years. The pathology side is 30 months of supervised laboratory training across at least two accredited services. It is closed to anyone who already holds FRACP, and the application goes to the RCPA during the first year of Advanced Training in clinical genetics. Each Fellowship is awarded on its own, so FRACP can come before the pathology training finishes.
One set of categories across every specialty, so two can be compared. Only those with criteria recorded for this specialty are shown.
Rotations, logbooks, procedures, and exposure
Exams, qualifications, courses, and teaching
Registration mechanics and logistics not covered above
Timed steps, grouped by when each one is worth doing.
Medical school
Basic Training
Before applying
Before you commit
First year of Advanced Training
Advanced Training
Queensland Health is the only state department publishing these figures so far.
No published figures exist yet for Australian Capital Territory. This is being worked on. The selection criteria and requirements above apply Australia wide regardless of state. See the Queensland figures.
Changes published by RACP.
The reciprocal training arrangement with RCPA is now set out as routes rather than mentioned in passing. It offers two genetic pathology pathways, medical genomics or biochemical genetics, and the window to enter it is the first year of Advanced Training in clinical genetics.
Advance notice: a new clinical genetics curriculum takes effect for trainees starting from 2027. The core-training minimum drops from 30 to 24 months, the non-core maximum rises from 6 to 12 months, and required case reports reduce from 12 to 6.
RACP applied a 4% fee increase for the 2026 training year. The Advanced Training annual fee is AUD $4,230 (up from $4,067 in 2025).
No Clinical Genetics training positions recorded in Australian Capital Territory. See all 17 across Australia.
Published by RACP and the Medical Board unless stated.
Colleges, portals and rubrics
Connected to this specialty by the Medical Board’s specialty structure, by college, or by a shared training pathway.
Requirements, windows, and criteria change annually. Verify with RACP before making career decisions. Report an error on this page.