Emergency Medicine
Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
Competition
High
Qualification
FACEM
Training duration
Minimum 5 years (maximum 12 years). Full-time or part-time.
Applications
Two selection rounds per year — apply in Round 1 OR Round 2, one application per calendar year. Round 1 closes early June (2 June 2026). Round 2 closes early September (1 September 2026). Maximum 3 attempts at selection (accepting then declining an offer counts as an attempt). Applications via ACEM website.
Selection format
Selection is based on three components: Structured CV Form, Selection References (four referees, minimum two FACEMs, from your most recent ED placement), and an Institutional Reference (ED director plus a minimum of four staff) — all submitted online. No MMI in the ACEM national selection process. ACEM examinations (Primary Written and Fellowship) are taken during training — NOT part of selection. Individual hospital networks may conduct local interviews after ACEM selection.
When to apply
Minimum PGY3 at application, with at least 6 months FTE in a single emergency department and three separate 8-week non-ED placements. Emergency medicine rotations from PGY1 are beneficial.
Competition
Competitive, particularly at major metropolitan EDs. Regional and rural emergency departments often have more positions and provide high-acuity autonomous experience. Maximum 3 selection attempts.
Selection criteria
Clinical experience
Rotations, logbooks, procedures, and exposure
- Emergency medicine rotations — volume and variety of acute presentations
- Procedural skills: intubation, central line, chest drain, point-of-care ultrasound
Rural & regional
Rural, regional, and remote experience
- Rural experience — 12 months of postgraduate work in an approved regional/rural location, or 5+ years of rural schooling, is captured on the selection application (policy TA809; weighting not published)
First Nations
Selection points and pathways for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Māori applicants
- First Nations — the selection application asks applicants to indicate Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or Māori origin (policy TA809 s4.1.8), considered within the selection review
Academic
Exams, qualifications, courses, and teaching
- ACEM Primary Examination — taken during training (may not be sat before commencing), not at application
- Advanced life support (ACLS/ALS) certification
- EMST (Early Management of Severe Trauma) certification — the certificate is valid for 4 years
Publications & research
Papers, impact factor, audits, and QI
Nothing captured yet — verify with ACEM.
Extracurricular
Leadership and roles beyond clinical work
Nothing captured yet — verify with ACEM.
Distinction
Prizes, awards, and academic standing
Nothing captured yet — verify with ACEM.
Eligibility & application
Prerequisites, referees, interviews, and fees
- Eligibility — PGY3 or later, minimum 6 months full-time-equivalent in a single ED, and three separate 8-week non-ED placements
- Structured CV demonstrating ED experience, research, teaching, and clinical skills
- Selection References — four referees (minimum two FACEMs) from your most recent ED placement, plus an Institutional Reference from the ED director and at least four staff
Entry tips
Sourced from Australian medical community discussion. Always verify with ACEM.
Recent updates
Verified 2026-08-05 against policy P809 version 5 (April 2026): the postgraduate-year-3 requirement, the six full-time-equivalent months in a single emergency department during or after postgraduate year 2, the three full terms of at least eight weeks in three disciplines other than emergency medicine, the two selection rounds (round 2 closing 1 September 2026) and the maximum of three attempts all remain current. One clarification the College makes that is worth knowing: an application that is started but not submitted by the closing date does NOT count towards the three-attempt limit.
Re-verified against acem.org.au and policy TA809 (current version v5, approved April 2026, re-confirmed in the 23 July accuracy sweep): eligibility is PGY3+ with 6 months FTE in a single ED and three 8-week non-ED placements; one application per calendar year (Round 1 or Round 2); Selection References are four referees (min two FACEMs) plus an Institutional Reference (ED director + four staff). The Structured CV Form captures rurality (12 months rural postgraduate work or 5+ years rural schooling) and Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or Māori origin (s4.1.8). ACEM Foundation scholarships support First Nations trainees separately from selection.
ACEM selection rounds for 2026: Round 1 closes 2 June 2026, Round 2 closes 1 September 2026. Maximum 3 lifetime attempts at selection.
Indicative only. Check the ACEM website for current information.
Official resources
State workforce data
2026 first-year selection
123 of 130
eligible applicants selected
- Specialists in QLD
- 808 / 3,286 AU
- Trainees in QLD
- 665
- New fellows in QLD
- 65 / 298 AU
- Average week
- 39.6 hrs
How you reach a post
- An individual Queensland Health facility accredited for training
- There is no centralised Queensland pathway — college-selected trainees are allocated by an individual Queensland Health facility accredited for training
- 123 of 130 eligible applicants were selected in the published 2026 round, the widest entry of any large Queensland specialty
- Eligibility — citizenship, permanent residency or an appropriate visa, general registration, and completion of or current enrolment in postgraduate year three
- Applicants also need at least six months full-time equivalent in an Australian or New Zealand emergency department assessing all patient types (not fast-track only) during or after postgraduate year two at 0.5 full-time equivalent or more
- Three postgraduate terms in three disciplines other than emergency medicine are required, each at least eight full-time equivalent weeks of continuous work at a single site, with at least one during or after postgraduate year two
- Flexibility — minimum 50% of a full-time commitment; training must be completed within 12 years, with interruptions of up to three years total and a maximum of one year approved at a time
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.
Fields of practice
Community discussions
Recent discussion about Emergency Medicine training from Australian doctors.
Search r/ausdocs and r/doctorsofaustraliaRequirements, windows, and criteria change annually. Verify with Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) before making career decisions. Report an error on this page.