Nephrology
Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Competition
Moderate
Qualification
FRACP
Training duration
Basic Physician Training (3 years) plus 3 years of Advanced Training in nephrology (36 months FTE, all core; at least 24 months in Australia or New Zealand for adult trainees) — about 6 years total to FRACP
Applications
Entry is after Basic Physician Training — there is no single national scored round, and RACP states it is not involved in recruiting or selecting trainees. RACP registration by the twice-yearly deadlines (28 February and 31 August) is administrative; Advanced Training positions are secured at hospital or network level. Victoria and Tasmania run a centralised PMCV nephrology match (around 39 positions across 15 health services). Check your target state and department.
Selection format
There is no single national scored CV matrix for nephrology. The gateway is completing Basic Physician Training and passing both FRACP Divisional Examinations, after which accredited Advanced Training positions are filled at the hospital or network level. One documented example is the PMCV Victoria/Tasmania match, which ranks new applicants out of 70 points — CV up to 40 and referee reports up to 30 (the best 2 of 3 reports) — then invites the top-ranked to an interview that only confirms suitability rather than competitively re-scoring.
When to apply
Entry is typically PGY4–PGY5 or later: after the 3-year Basic Physician Training program, having passed both FRACP Divisional Examinations, holding general (unconditional) AHPRA registration, and having secured an accredited Advanced Training position before RACP prospective approval.
Competition
Entry is arranged hospital-by-hospital or through the Victoria/Tasmania PMCV match, and RACP publishes no national applicant or position numbers, so a precise ratio cannot be verified. Available workforce data point to rising trainee numbers and some post-training employment uncertainty rather than difficulty securing a position.
Selection criteria
Clinical experience
Rotations, logbooks, procedures, and exposure
- Dialysis cap — a rotation devoted to dialysis without other significant medical content counts for at most 6 months of core training
- Clinical logbook (recommended) — kidney and transplant biopsies, haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis management, home haemodialysis, vascular catheters, and transplant contacts; biopsy and vascular-access skills are highly desirable
- Work-based assessments — each year: 4 case-based discussions, 2 learning-needs analyses, a supervisor report each rotation, and a recommended professional-qualities reflection
- Supervision — each rotation needs a nominated RACP Fellow who is a practising nephrologist (or an overseas FRACP-equivalent)
Rural & regional
Rural, regional, and remote experience
Nothing captured yet — verify with RACP.
First Nations
Selection points and pathways for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Māori applicants
- First Nations — the RACP Fee Reimbursement Initiative waives annual training and first-attempt exam fees for eligible Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori and Pasifika trainees
Academic
Exams, qualifications, courses, and teaching
- Gateway — complete RACP Basic Physician Training and pass both FRACP Divisional Examinations (Written and Clinical) before starting Advanced Training in nephrology
Publications & research
Papers, impact factor, audits, and QI
- Research — an Advanced Training Research Project is required; trainees from 2024 complete 2 case reports plus 1 research project under the new curriculum
Extracurricular
Leadership and roles beyond clinical work
Nothing captured yet — verify with RACP.
Distinction
Prizes, awards, and academic standing
Nothing captured yet — verify with RACP.
Eligibility & application
Prerequisites, referees, interviews, and fees
- Advanced Training length — 3 years (36 months FTE), all core (no separate non-core split), with a maximum of 24 months at any one training site
- In-country minimum — adult trainees do at least 24 months FTE in Australia or New Zealand across at least 2 different accredited settings (paediatric trainees at least 6 months)
- Registration deadlines — register or re-register each Advanced Training period with RACP by 28 February or 31 August; late applications are accepted up to a month later, possibly for a fee
- Fees — the 2026 RACP Advanced Training annual fee is AUD $4,230, with a 50% reduction for trainees doing full-time research
Entry tips
Sourced from Australian medical community discussion. Always verify with RACP.
Recent updates
RACP applied a 4% fee increase for the 2026 training year; the Advanced Training annual fee is AUD $4,230 including GST.
A new competency-based Advanced Training curriculum for nephrology began its transition — 2024 trainees enrolled under the new standards (competency learning goals and progression levels) while retaining the existing work-based assessment tools during the transition; earlier cohorts continue on the previous curriculum.
Indicative only. Check the RACP website for current information.
Official resources
RACP Advanced Training in Nephrology
Program page — entry criteria, duration, logbook, research project, and assessments
RACP Application Dates
Registration deadlines — 28 February and 31 August each year
RACP Nephrology Advanced Training Curriculum
Full curriculum standards — clinical and procedural expectations
Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN)
Professional society — trainee weekend, research programs, and workforce advocacy
Medical Board — Specialist Registration
MBA specialist registration pathways
State workforce data
Queensland Health’s medi-nav is the only state health department currently publishing the workforce and selection figures this section shows. We have not verified equivalent data for Australian Capital Territory yet — the selection criteria and requirements above apply Australia-wide regardless of state. See the Queensland figures.
Community discussions
Recent discussion about Nephrology training from Australian doctors.
Search r/ausdocs and r/doctorsofaustraliaRequirements, windows, and criteria change annually. Verify with Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) before making career decisions. Report an error on this page.