RACP
Nuclear medicine specialists diagnose and treat disease with radioactive tracers, which show how organs and tissues work rather than how they look. They report positron emission tomography and gamma camera scans, perform cardiac stress tests and give radionuclide therapies, including theranostics.
No information available.
Getting a training position and joining the College program are two separate steps. Apply for a position in postgraduate year 4 at the earliest, to start Advanced Training in postgraduate year 5.
Moderate
Choose a pathway
Total training
6 years
From the start of Basic Training, full time
After Basic Training
3 years
At least 24 months of core nuclear medicine and up to 12 months of non-core training
Fellowship
Year 6
FRACP, at the end of Advanced Training
Throughout training
What every accredited nuclear medicine setting must give you
Stage by stage
Stage 1 of 4
Before Advanced Training
Entry follows RACP Basic Training in adult medicine, or in paediatrics and child health, which has its own paediatric nuclear medicine page.
Divisional examinations
The Divisional Written Examination and the Divisional Clinical Examination, both passed before Advanced Training
Stage 2 of 4
At least 12 months full-time equivalent
You learn how the program works and show you are ready to progress.
Training application
At the start of this phase, due 28 February for a start at the beginning of the year or 31 August for mid-year
RACP Advanced Training Orientation resource
In the first 6 months
Cultural safety
The RACP Australian Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety resource, before specialty consolidation, recommended, unless done in Basic Training
Progress decision
At the end of the phase, on evidence of competence
Stage 3 of 4
At least 12 months full-time equivalent
You keep developing in nuclear medicine as you work toward the learning goals.
RACP Health Policy, Systems and Advocacy resource
Before transition to Fellowship, recommended, and by the end of training
Progress decision
At the end of the phase, on evidence of competence
Research project
Submitted by the end of this phase, so there is time to resubmit
Stage 4 of 4
At least 12 months full-time equivalent
You show you meet the standards and prepare for unsupervised practice.
Learning goals
19, in professional behaviours, 7 professional activities and 11 knowledge guides
The professional activities
Leadership in the nuclear medicine department, supervision and teaching, quality improvement, clinical assessment and management with prescribing radioisotopes, longitudinal care including theranostics and transitions in care, communication, and investigations and procedures
The knowledge guides
The scientific basis of nuclear medicine and radiation safety, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, neurological, oncological and pulmonary nuclear medicine, inflammation and infection, and radionuclide therapies and theranostics
Completion decision
Then Fellowship of the RACP
Taken in years 5 and 6 of Clinical Radiology Training, entering at specialty consolidation. Find a nuclear medicine training position first, then apply to the RACP. FRANZCR comes when every clinical radiology requirement is met, and this route does not lead to FRACP. Nuclear medicine through radiology
Total training
6 years
From the start of Clinical Radiology Training, full time
After Phase 2
2 years
24 months of core nuclear medicine, with no non-core training
Completion
Year 6
A letter of completion, recognised for specialist practice in nuclear medicine
Throughout training
What every accredited nuclear medicine setting must give you
Stage by stage
Stage 1 of 3
Years 1 to 4, at least 48 months of accredited training
The first four years of radiology training, with every Phase 2 requirement complete before nuclear medicine starts.
Nuclear medicine attachment
4 weeks, in Phase 2
Phase 2 examinations
The Pathology and Clinical Radiology written examinations, then every station of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination in Radiology
Phase 2 complete
Every attachment, study count, work-based assessment, research requirement and the cultural safety course, done by the end of Phase 2
Confirmation letter
Ask the College for a letter confirming you have completed them, and send it to the RACP
Stage 2 of 3
12 months
Nuclear medicine training begins, and the year also counts as Phase 3 of Clinical Radiology Training.
Training application
To the RACP at the start, due 28 February for a start at the beginning of the year or 31 August for mid-year
Progress decision
At the end of the phase, on evidence of competence
FRANZCR
After these 12 months, with two RACP supervisor reports as evidence
Stage 3 of 3
12 months
You show you meet the standards for practice as a nuclear medicine specialist.
Completion
A letter confirming you have completed Advanced Training in nuclear medicine
Practise this interview with each station timed. Interview practice
Postgraduate years 2 and 3
Basic Training
Research
Trainees starting from 2026 follow a new competency-based nuclear medicine curriculum, in three phases with progress decisions, with a theranostics learning package and a CT anatomy course.
Accredited training positions
55
Full-time equivalent, across 41 settings in Australia, 2027 training year
Source: Australasian Association of Nuclear Medicine Specialists, for the RACP Training Setting Accreditation Program. Advanced Training in Nuclear Medicine: accredited training settings for the 2027 training year, list as of 29 July 2026.
None available.
None available.
Requirements, application windows and criteria change every year. Verify with RACP before making career decisions. Report an error on this page.
