How to Become an Immunologist and Allergist in Australia

Core immunology and allergy: 24 months; At least, in accredited core positions
Non-core training: 12 months; At most, approved, each rotation at least half clinical
Clinical laboratory training: 6 months; At most, within non-core time
Training settings: 2; At least, each accredited
In Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand: 24 months; At least, in accredited settings

Rules and conditions

Three phases of at least 12 months full-time equivalent each: specialty foundation, to orient you, specialty consolidation, toward the learning goals, and transition to Fellowship, to confirm you meet the standards for practice without supervision
Moving to the next phase takes evidence of competence as well as the time. The panel can keep you in a phase until you meet its learning goals, or let you move on with conditions
Non-core time is recommended in research or related disciplines such as respiratory medicine, rheumatology, neurology, dermatology, haematology, infectious diseases and nephrology, in immunology for the other Division, or in private, rural or remote settings
Night rotations are approved case by case by the Committee for Joint College Training in Immunology and Allergy
A setting is accredited for 12 to 24 months of core clinical training, depending on the range of clinical work and supervision it offers
Training overseas counts where the site meets the accreditation criteria, judged from a letter and a questionnaire your supervisor or head of department completes

Accredited settingsCore training counts only in an accredited position, and each setting has its own limits on months and trainees in the accredited sites list
Aotearoa New ZealandClinical training at Auckland City Hospital for up to 18 months, and Christchurch and Wellington hospitals for 12
Aotearoa New Zealand laboratoriesLabPlus Auckland and Canterbury Health Laboratories for up to 24 months, and Awanui Labs Wellington for 12
In the territoryCanberra Hospital, with one clinical position for up to 24 months and one laboratory position for 24

What every accredited immunology and allergy setting must give you

Half-day clinics: 2; At least, run by the service
Areas of practice: 3; Allergic disease, autoimmune and inflammatory disease, and immunodeficiency

Rules and conditions

Day-only beds for rush desensitisation, immunoglobulin infusions and supervised challenges, and overnight inpatient beds
Experience using and interpreting immunopathology tests, even for FRACP alone: autoimmune serology, in vitro allergy testing, immunochemistry, lymphocyte subsets, HIV diagnosis and monitoring, and immunogenetics. A test the setting lacks is arranged elsewhere
Regular interdisciplinary clinical meetings where you present cases, and undergraduate and postgraduate teaching
An in-house continuing education program in clinical immunology and allergy, and a medical library with current books, journals and databases
Routine quality assurance in the clinical service and the laboratory, which you take part in
An active research program with journal clubs, and at least one research project you take part in during training

Rotation supervisors: 2; Each rotation, at least one an immunology and allergy Fellow of the RACP in core training
Research project supervisor: 1; Nominated before specialty consolidation, recommended
Consultant clinical immunologists: 1; Full-time equivalent at least, and more where a setting has more than one trainee

Rules and conditions

A consultant immunologist supervises all your clinical and laboratory work
You take part in the daily running of the service: inpatients, outpatient clinics and consultations for other specialties, and where the setting has a laboratory, tests, signing out reports, quality assurance and teaching
Nominate your supervisors in each rotation plan, from the list of eligible supervisors on MyRACP. If you are already a Fellow, confirm a supervisor is eligible with the RACP, since the list is not open to you
Your research project supervisor guides your choice of project, method, analysis and writing, and can be one of your rotation supervisors

Divisional examinations: 2; Written and Clinical, passed in Basic Training before Advanced Training

Rules and conditions

Divisional Written Examination: sat once the foundation phase of Basic Training is complete, and run by the RACP
Divisional Clinical Examination: sat once the written examination is passed and the consolidation phase of Basic Training is complete, and run by the RACP

Learning captures: 12; Each phase, at least one a month
Observation captures: 12; Each phase, at least one a month
Progress reports: 4; Each phase, at least one every 3 months
Rotation plans: 1; For each rotation, at or before its start
Research project: 1; Before the end of training, submitted by the end of specialty consolidation, recommended

Rules and conditions

In 2027 only, the minimums are 4 learning captures and 4 observation captures each phase, one of each every 3 months, and 2 progress reports, one every 6 months. They are reviewed after that year
Each rotation plan carries the position description and weekly timetable, and your rotation supervisors approve it
A Progress Review Panel decides at the end of each phase
The research project is research, an audit or a systematic review, broadly relevant to immunology and allergy, with significant input of your own. It can be part of a larger study
Research project submission dates are 31 March, 15 June and 15 September, and the project is marked pass, fail or resubmit, with written feedback

Scientific meeting: 1; National or international, recommended, by the end of training
Advanced training meeting: 1; Each year, with time from your setting to attend

Rules and conditions

Scientific meetings such as those of the RACP, the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, the Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology, or the allergy, immunology and rheumatology societies of other countries
The yearly meeting is the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy advanced training meeting, the immunopathology training course, or a meeting of equal value
Send your registration for a scientific meeting to the RACP immunology and allergy team as your record of attending

Supervisor workshops: 3; Free, by the end of training

Rules and conditions

RACP Supervisor Professional Development Program: practical skills for supervisors, teaching and learning in healthcare, and work-based learning and assessment, as virtual or face-to-face workshops or online courses
Recommended: the RACP Communication Skills, Ethics, Introduction to Leadership, Management and Teamwork, and Research Projects resources

Part-time training: 0.2; Full-time equivalent, at least
Interruption: 12 months; Continuous, with no extra training required
Time limit: 8 years; To complete the program

Rules and conditions

Each application to train part-time or to interrupt training covers up to 12 months, and is made again to extend it
More than 12 continuous months away can bring a return to training plan for the first 6 months back, and more than 24 months requires one and may add training
Approved full-time parental and medical leave does not count toward the time limit
Advanced Training starts within 5 years of completing Basic Training

Prerequisites

Applications

Timeline

When to apply

Selection format

Competition

Program structure

Examinations

Training time

Courses

Assessments

Courses

Assessments

Projects

Competencies

Assessments

Examinations

Examinations

Projects

Examinations

Assessments

Selection criteria

Clinical experience

Academic

Publications & research

Covering letter

Personal statement

Referees

Interview

Application process

Entry tips

What the college has changed

Training posts

Available Immunology and Allergy training positions

Official resources

Official links

Related specialties