Diagnostic Radiology Training: Entry Requirements

Prerequisites

Prevocational training: at least two full years as an intern or resident in an accredited hospital, complete by the start of training
Registration: unconditional general registration, held when you apply
College registration: a College Registration Verification Number before you apply, valid until 31 December of the year it is issued, with no limit on how many jurisdictions or sites you apply to
Citizenship and residency: the right to work in Australia. Most employers require Australian permanent residency or citizenship when you apply
Training position: employment in an accredited training position, held for the whole of training

Applications

Timeline

Next year

Applications

Applications open early MayThrough the Canberra Health Services junior medical officer campaign. An information evening at Canberra Hospital and online in mid-May

No information available on interview dates.

When to apply

Apply during postgraduate year 2 to start training in postgraduate year 3. Some networks also advertise positions for a start in the same year.

Selection format

CV
Interview
Referee report
Covering letter
Personal statement

Preferencing

The jurisdiction decides where in its network you train, guided by your preference where its rules allow

Competition

High

Applications are capped at four non-consecutive attempts. Every application in one calendar year counts as one attempt however many jurisdictions it goes to. An applicant found appointable on the fourth attempt who is not placed may apply again the following year. Places depend on the positions each network has free that year, not on its accredited positions.

Program structure

Total training
7 years
From internship: 2 years as an intern or resident, then the training program
After prevocational training
5 years
In three phases
Fellowship
Year 7
FRANZCR, at the end of training

Throughout training

Secondary site term: 3 to 4 months; Full time, or more than 2 days a week
Affiliated site: 2 days; A week at most, or 4 sessions
One Phase 3 subspecialty: 6 months; At most
Away from your home site: 12 months; Full-time equivalent at least, in total

Rules and conditions

A site that gives experience in only one or two topic areas of the curriculum can hold you for at most 6 months
Your Director of Training and network plan your rotations so that, between them, the sites give every attachment and study count you need

Stage by stage

Stage 1 of 3

Phase 1

Minimum 12 months of accredited training (maximum 24 accredited months)

Foundation knowledge in anatomy, imaging technology and diagnostic radiology, with real-time ultrasound scanning.

Training time

One week rostered with a radiographer, within the first six months

Examinations

Anatomy Examination
Passed to move to Phase 2
Applied Imaging Technology Examination
Passed to move to Phase 2

Courses

Report writing module
Within the first six months
Magnetic resonance safety induction and incident reporting training: within the first six months
Research Methods for Medical Imaging Professional Course
In Phase 1, or Phase 2 at the latest

Selection criteria

Score your portfolio

Clinical experience

Commitment to the specialty: experience or previous employment in a radiology or radiation oncology department, and broad clinical exposure with a good balance of rotations

Rural & regional

Rural origin: 5 consecutive years, or 10 in all, living in a Modified Monash 2 to 7 area from primary school on, or 2 consecutive years of secondary school there. Each jurisdiction sets the points for rural origin and rural experience
Rural experience: 12 continuous months living in a Modified Monash 2 to 7 area now, 12 months of clinical training there in medical school, or 12 months full time there as an intern or resident

First Nations

Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori applicants who self-identify are guaranteed an interview

Academic

Courses: anatomy, physics, radiobiology or cancer biology courses or qualifications
Teaching: clinical, anatomy or cancer care teaching, university lecturing, and teaching or mentoring roles
Higher degrees: a completed doctorate or masters
Professional development: commitment to professional development

Publications & research

Publications: published papers, with first-author papers in higher-impact journals given priority
Presentations: at international and national conferences
Research: radiology research and research grants, judged relative to your opportunity
Quality improvement: audits and quality improvement activities, with your part in their design, their conduct and putting the outcome into practice

Extracurricular

Personal attributes: leadership in cultural groups or events, high achievement in interests outside medicine, resilience and perseverance such as overcoming hardship, and working with others to achieve specific outcomes
- Volunteering and advocacy: recent, active volunteering with a not-for-profit organisation, global or humanitarian health work, and community or social advocacy. Membership of, or donations to, a charity do not count

Academic achievement

Academic record: a Dean's list or medal, honours, academic prizes or a high grade point average

Curriculum vitae

The College templated curriculum vitae, without supporting documents, scored by at least two Fellows with cross-checking. The examples under each criterion are not a checklist, and none is required. Score yours

Covering letter

An introductory statement or covering letter of up to 350 words, at the start of the templated curriculum vitae

Personal statement

A short account of your personal experiences, hobbies and interests, of up to 300 words, at the end of the templated curriculum vitae

Referees

Confidential reports that form an important part of the decision, one of them from a supervisor in the last 12 months

Interview

Selection interview: in person or by video, on one day where possible, before a panel that aims for gender balance and is culturally appropriate
- Domains: communication, critical thinking and decision making, professionalism, ethics, cultural safety, and patient support and advocacy
- Further domains: patient safety, management and administration, clinical governance, teamwork, self-awareness and resilience, and research and education
- Time: not every domain may be assessed in the time

Scoring

Appointable: after the interviews you are placed on a list of appointable applicants or of those not appointable. A position that comes free later goes to the next ranked applicant from that round
Feedback: the jurisdiction that interviewed you gives feedback on the outcome

Application process

1. Register with the College through the RANZCR applying page, and receive your verification number once your eligibility is confirmed
2. Apply to the advertised positions in each jurisdiction you choose, quoting that number, on the College templated curriculum vitae. The resident medical officer campaign is for continuing trainees. Apply to Canberra Health Services for its medical imaging registrar posts, in its junior medical officer campaign
3. At least two Fellows score your curriculum vitae, and the jurisdiction draws up a shortlist
4. The jurisdiction interviews the shortlisted applicants
5. The curriculum vitae, referee reports and interview are combined into a ranking list, and positions are offered down it
6. Upload your employment contract to MyRANZCR and sign the Trainee Compact before training starts

Practise this interview with each station timed. Interview practice

Entry tips

Postgraduate years 1 and 2

Spend time in a radiology department and record its dates and what you did, since the curriculum vitae counts it as commitment to the specialty.

Postgraduate year 2

Register with the College early in the year you apply, since fewer positions remain later. Your verification number lasts until 31 December.

Postgraduate year 3 and later

Rebuild your application each year. Nothing carries over from an earlier round.

Research

Join a research project in a radiology department, with a consultant who can supervise you, and present it at a conference, since that consultant can also mentor you and act as a referee.

Prior learning

Apply for recognition of prior learning within 12 months of starting. It can count toward training time or research, never examinations or work-based assessments.

What the college has changed

2028-02
Interventional radiology and interventional neuroradiology become College training programs, begun in the last year of Clinical Radiology Training. The first trainees are selected in 2027.

Training posts

None available.

Prerequisites

Applications

Timeline

When to apply

Selection format

Preferencing

Competition

Program structure

Training time

Examinations

Courses

Training time

Examinations

Courses

Assessments

Training time

Competencies

Assessments

Selection criteria

Clinical experience

Rural & regional

First Nations

Academic

Publications & research

Extracurricular

Academic achievement

Curriculum vitae

Covering letter

Personal statement

Referees

Interview

Scoring

Application process

Entry tips

What the college has changed

Training posts

Official resources

Official links

Related specialties