Intensive Care Medicine training: entry requirements and selection

intoSET

Program structure

How Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine training is structured.

Training duration

Minimum 6 years, across four phases.

Training pathway

1
Phase 0, foundation time
6 months
Competencies
- In a CICM-accredited intensive care unit, and may be completed in two 3-month blocks
To complete
- Completed within the 3 years before applying to the College
- 6 months rural exposure at PGY3 or above, which may be taken in any phase
2
Phase 1
30 months
To complete
- 12 months clinical anaesthesia training
- 12 months clinical paediatric medicine training
- 6 months elective training
- The Formal Project submitted before Phase 3 begins
- In-training evaluation reports for all accredited training time and all intensive care training time
3
Phase 2, core paediatric intensive care
Minimum 24 months
Competencies
- At least 12 of the 24 months continuous
- Two of the three subspecialty exposures in cardiac, neuro or trauma paediatric intensive care, before core training ends
To complete
- 8 observed clinical encounters, one for each 3 months of core training
- 8 workplace competency assessments
- 30 echocardiography cases
4
Phase 3, transition year
12 months
Competencies
- Continuous, and undertaken in one unit
- The final subspecialty exposure in cardiac, neuro or trauma paediatric intensive care, if it was not taken during core training
To complete
- A workplace competency assessment in advanced communication
- Approval of the Formal Project
- One in-training evaluation report for the first 6 months, and a final report for the second

Required courses

CICM First Part Examination

Phase 1

CICM Second Part Paediatric Examination

Eligibility needs 12 months of core training, two observed clinical encounters for each 6 months of it, and the Hot Case Assessment Form.

Phase 2

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Safety online course

The Mauriora Associates online module in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Phase 1

Thirteen further courses

Advanced airway skills, communication, advanced life support or advanced paediatric life support, donor awareness, introduction to intensive care medicine, introduction to echocardiography and ultrasound, brain death and organ donation, burns and inhalational injury, evidence based medicine, focused cardiac ultrasound, neuro intensive care, safe patient transport, and spinal cord injury.

Phase 1

Management Skills Course

Phase 3

Selection criteria

One set of categories across every specialty, so two can be compared. Only those with criteria recorded for this specialty are shown.

Score your portfolioagainst CICM criteria

Clinical experience

Rotations, logbooks, procedures, and exposure

Foundation Time — 6 months of supervised intensive care experience in a CICM-accredited unit within the past 3 years (hard eligibility requirement)
ICU rotations — volume and variety including medical, surgical, cardiothoracic, and neuro ICU

Publications & research

Papers, impact factor, audits, and QI

Research — evidence-based practice is valued, and a publication or ongoing project strengthens the structured CV

Referees

Who is asked to report on you, and what they are asked

Structured Reference (SR) — decisive: an unsatisfactory rating from any of the three referees (one FCICM, one FCICM Supervisor of Training or Unit Director, one senior ICU nurse) means an unsuccessful outcome regardless of SCV score

Scoring

How the application is marked and weighted

Structured Curriculum Vitae (SCV) — assessed centrally by the Trainee Selection Panel (whether it still carries numeric point values after the 2024 selection changes is not published)

Fees

Application, interview, and registration costs

Trainee registration fee — payable at the time of application (application incomplete until paid)

Application process

Registration mechanics and logistics not covered above

Eligibility — general registration with AHPRA, MCNZ, MCHK, or MCS, and a completed 12-month internship
Selection format: No interview. Selection is centralised through the CICM Trainee Selection Panel, assessing a Structured Reference (SR) and a Structured Curriculum Vitae (SCV). The T-1 policy describes electronic score calculation for the SR. Whether the SCV still carries numeric point values after the College's 2024 selection changes is not stated in any published document (the previously published scored SCV form was withdrawn, and documentary evidence is no longer required). Each referee rates the applicant 1 to 5 (falls far short of the expected standard, through to exceptional performance) against a published list of core abilities, such as clinical judgement, communication and integrity, and gives a written opinion on the applicant's suitability. A pre-registration eligibility screen precedes the full application. The application counts as submitted only once the form, fee, and all references are in. The Panel is the Censor, Director of Professional Affairs, a Community member, and other Fellows. The College's own "Becoming a Trainee" page describes the same Panel but does not name a Community member, a minor discrepancy between the two published sources, both kept on record here rather than guessed at.

Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine

Applications

Timeline

When to apply

Selection format

Competition

Program structure

Training duration

Training pathway

Phase 0, foundation time

Phase 1

Phase 2, core paediatric intensive care

Phase 3, transition year

Required courses

Selection criteria

Clinical experience

Publications & research

Referees

Scoring

Fees

Application process

Entry tips

State workforce data

What the college has changed

Available Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine training positions

Official resources

Official links

Applications

Timeline

When to apply

Selection format

Competition

Program structure

Training duration

Training pathway

Phase 0, foundation time

Phase 1

Phase 2, core paediatric intensive care

Phase 3, transition year

Required courses

Selection criteria

Clinical experience

Publications & research

Referees

Scoring

Fees

Application process

Entry tips

State workforce data

What the college has changed

Available Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine training positions

Official resources

Official links

Related specialties