RACP
Diagnoses, manages and controls illnesses caused by existing and emerging bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses, across clinical, laboratory and public health medicine.
No information available.
Apply during postgraduate year 4 at the earliest, to start Advanced Training in postgraduate year 5 once Basic Training in Paediatrics and Child Health and both Divisional Examinations are complete.
High
Choose a pathway
Total training
6 years
From the start of Basic Training, full time
After Basic Training
3 years
Advanced Training in paediatric infectious diseases, at least 12 months in each phase
Fellowship
Year 6
FRACP, at the end of Advanced Training
Throughout training
What every accredited infectious diseases setting must give you
Stage by stage
Stage 1 of 4
Three years, full time
Entry follows Basic Training in Paediatrics and Child Health, the first three years.
Divisional examinations
The Divisional Written Examination and the Divisional Clinical Examination, both passed before Advanced Training
Stage 2 of 4
At least one year, full time
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
Expected level by the end
Professional behaviours consistently, most work tasks with indirect supervision and knowledge applied, quality improvement with direct supervision, and communication with supervision at a distance
RACP Advanced Training Orientation resource
Online, 1 to 1.5 hours, in the first 6 months
RACP cultural competence and cultural safety resource
Online, 2 hours, if not done in Basic Training
Progress decision
A Progress Review Panel decides whether you move to specialty consolidation
Stage 3 of 4
At least one year, full time
You keep developing in infectious diseases as you work toward the learning goals.
Expected level by the end
Most work tasks with supervision at a distance and knowledge frequently applied, quality improvement with indirect supervision, and microbiology and public health applied to practice
RACP Health Policy, Systems and Advocacy resource
Online, 5 hours
Progress decision
A Progress Review Panel decides whether you move to the transition to Fellowship
Research project
Submitted for marking by the end of this phase, so there is time to resubmit
Stage 4 of 4
At least one year, full time
You show you meet the standards and prepare for unsupervised practice.
19 learning goals
Professional behaviours, team leadership, supervision and teaching, quality improvement, clinical assessment and management, transitions in care, acute and longitudinal care, communication, prescribing, investigations, clinic management, and knowledge of key infectious diseases and syndromes, infections in specific hosts, microbiology, antimicrobials, immunisation, healthcare-associated infections and public health
Expected level by the end
Most work tasks well enough to supervise others and quality improvement with supervision at a distance, most knowledge consistently applied, and microbiology, immunisation and public health frequently applied
Completion decision
Then Fellowship of the RACP
One program run by both colleges through the Committee for Joint College Training in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. The laboratory years add the RCPA examinations and projects.
Total training
8 years
From the start of Basic Training, full time
After Basic Training
5 years
2 years of core infectious diseases and 3 years of laboratory microbiology, in any order
Fellowship
Year 8
FRACP and FRCPA together, at the end of the joint program
Throughout training
Stage by stage
Stage 1 of 3
Years 1 to 3
Entry follows RACP Basic Training, in adult medicine or in paediatrics and child health.
Divisional examinations
The Divisional Written Examination and the Divisional Clinical Examination, both passed before Advanced Training
Stage 2 of 3
2 years
A structured clinical program with inpatients and outpatients across a broad range of infectious diseases.
Clinical projects
Two, begun in and about the core clinical years
Stage 3 of 3
3 years
Collecting and handling specimens and identifying the organisms of a tertiary hospital, in two or more laboratories.
Basic Pathological Sciences examination
Usually before or during the first year of training
Part I examination
Written papers and a practical, then an oral, after at least 18 months in an accredited microbiology laboratory
Part II examination
A structured oral, no earlier than the third laboratory year
Completion
FRACP and FRCPA together
RCPA projects
A major project, due in the year of Part II, and a minor project
The College takes no part in recruiting or selecting trainees.
Practise this interview with each station timed. Interview practice
Basic Training
The written examination opens once the Foundation phase is complete, and the clinical examination once the written examination and the Consolidation phase are complete.
The clinical examination allows 4 attempts, up from 3.
Trainees starting Basic Training from 2025 follow the new curriculum.
Trainees who started in 2024 or earlier stay on the PREP program.
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.
