How to Become a Radiation Oncologist in Australia

Prerequisites

Prevocational training: 24 months, postgraduate years 1 and 2, complete before training starts
Registration: general medical registration without conditions, held when you apply
College registration: a College Registration Verification Number, needed before applying to jurisdictions. It is valid for the calendar year it is issued in, with no limit on how many jurisdictions or sites you apply to
Citizenship and residency: the right to work in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand or Singapore. Most employers require Australian permanent residency or citizenship when you apply
Training position: employment in an accredited training position, held for the whole of training

Applications

Timeline

Next year

Applications

Applications open late JuneThrough the Canberra Health Services junior medical officer campaign

No information available on interview dates.

When to apply

Apply during postgraduate year 2 to start training in postgraduate year 3. Some networks also advertise positions for a start in the same year.

Selection format

CV
Interview
Referee report
Covering letter
Personal statement

Preferencing

The jurisdiction decides where in its network you train, guided by your preference where its rules allow

Competition

High

Applications are capped at four non-consecutive attempts. An attempt counts once you hold a registration number and apply to at least one position. An applicant found appointable on the fourth attempt who is not placed may apply again the following year. Places depend on the positions each network has free that year, not on its accredited positions.

Program structure

Total training
6 years
From internship: 2 prevocational years, then the training program
After prevocational training
4 years
At least 48 months of accredited training, and at most 10 years
Fellowship
Year 6
FRANZCR, at the end of training

Throughout training

Away from your home site: 12 months; Full-time equivalent in all, started before you apply for the Phase 2 Examinations
Each rotation: 6 months; At least, unless a shorter one is approved in advance
Outside radiation oncology: 6 months; At most, in Phase 2, approved in advance

Rules and conditions

An accredited training position for the whole of training, in a network of at least two sites
Rotations are planned ahead by the network's governance committee, weighing your preferences, your time in the network and each site's capacity
A rotation that means relocating comes with at least 6 months of notice, and ideally 12
Work outside radiation oncology in medical oncology, palliative care, clinical haematology, oncological surgery, nuclear medicine, paediatrics, pathology or pain management
Apply for work outside radiation oncology 4 months ahead, to the network and the Chief Censor, in a department its own college accredits

Stage by stage

Stage 1 of 2

Phase 1

Minimum 12 months of accredited training (maximum 30 accredited months)

Foundation knowledge in physics, radiation and cancer biology and anatomy, with assessment, planning and communication.

Examinations

Phase 1 Examination
Anatomy, physics, and radiation and cancer biology
- All three are passed within three examination attempts, and the cap counts attempts rather than papers

Courses

Oncology Sciences Workshops
Two of three, before the Phase 1 Examination

Assessments

Practical oncology sessions
Pathology, planning and delivery
Progression
Reviewed after at least 12 months, at Level 2 on half the patient encounter and contouring assessments and Level 3 on each communication setting

Selection criteria

Score your portfolio

Clinical experience

Commitment to the specialty: experience in a radiology or radiation oncology department counts as commitment to the specialty, with its dates and extent made clear
Clinical skills and judgement in managing complex presentations, drawing on experience across several disciplines
Teamwork: teamwork in a complex clinical environment, with communication skills for patients, families and staff

Rural & regional

Rural: regional and rural applicants who meet the criteria receive additional points in the curriculum vitae score, and restricted opportunity from recent regional work is taken into account

First Nations

Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori applicants who self-identify are guaranteed an interview place

Academic

Courses: basic sciences, anatomy, physics or radiobiology courses or qualifications count as commitment to the specialty
Teaching: clinical, anatomy or cancer care teaching, or university lecturing
Higher degrees: a higher or further degree, or another significant academic achievement
Professional development: continuing medical education

Publications & research

Publications: published papers relevant to the specialty, judged by your contribution and relative to your opportunity
Presentations: at international and national conferences or annual scientific meetings, judged relative to your opportunity
Research: research grants, such as from the National Health and Medical Research Council, judged relative to your opportunity
Quality improvement: research and audit

Extracurricular

Volunteering: voluntary, unpaid and long-standing work for the welfare of others, with disadvantaged communities or in a resource-poor area. Membership of, or donations to, a charity do not count

Academic achievement

Academic record: academic excellence at university, and passing higher-level assessments

Curriculum vitae

Scored by at least two Fellows, with cross-checking for consistency. The examples under each criterion are not a checklist, and the Fellows have discretion in each category. Score yours

Covering letter

A covering letter on your interest in the position, with your College Registration Verification Number

Personal statement

A statement addressing the selection criteria of the position

Referees

Confidential reports that weigh heavily in the decision, at least one from a supervisor in the last 12 months

Interview

Selection interview: in person or by video, on one day where possible, before a panel that aims for gender balance and is culturally appropriate
- Domains: communication, professional integrity, cultural safety, patient focus, critical thinking, multi-professional working and leadership, improving self and profession, self-awareness and resilience, and working style
- Time: not every domain may be assessed in the time
- Personal attributes: leadership, work ethic, teamwork, teaching or mentoring, and advocacy

Scoring

Appointable: after the interviews you are placed on a list of appointable applicants or of those not appointable. A position that comes free later goes to the next ranked applicant from that round
Feedback: the jurisdiction that interviewed you gives feedback on the outcome.

Application process

1. Register with the College through the RANZCR applying page, and receive your verification number once your eligibility is confirmed
2. Apply to the advertised positions in each jurisdiction you choose, quoting that number. Apply to Canberra Health Services for its accredited registrar post, in its junior medical officer campaign
3. At least two Fellows score your curriculum vitae, and the jurisdiction draws up a shortlist
4. The jurisdiction interviews the shortlisted applicants
5. The curriculum vitae, referee reports and interview are combined into a ranking list. Positions are offered down it in order
6. Upload your employment contract to MyRANZCR and sign the Trainee Compact before training starts

Practise this interview with each station timed. Interview practice

Entry tips

Postgraduate years 1 and 2

Spend time in a radiation oncology or radiology department and record its dates and what you did, since the curriculum vitae counts it as commitment to the specialty.

Postgraduate year 2

Register with the College early in the year you apply, since positions are advertised through the year and fewer remain later. Your verification number lasts until 31 December of the year it is issued.
Avoid one-on-one meetings with a Director of Training or interview panel member before the interview. Public information sessions are fine.

Research

Join a research project in a radiation oncology department, with a consultant who can supervise you, and present the work at a conference or annual scientific meeting.

Prior learning

Apply for recognition of prior learning within 12 months of starting. First-author research in a qualifying oncology journal from the 3 years before can replace the research project, and courses and workshops can count. Examinations and work-based assessments cannot.

Workforce

Total, 2026

23

2026 intake

Fellows in Australia

472

At 31 December 2025

The intake has been as low as 13 a year over the last decade.

Historical data by year and region

Historical data by year and region
Year	ACT
2026	2
2025	1
2024	1
2023	Not published
2022	Not published
2021	Not published
2020	1
2019	2
2018	Not published
2017	2
2016	Not published

Fellows by state, 2025

Fellows by state, 2025
Jurisdiction	Fellows
Australian Capital Territory (your selected state)	17

Source: Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists. Historical data by year and region, 2016 to 2026. Department of Health Fellows data as at 31 December 2025.

Current figures: RANZCR: applying to training programs.

Workforce data by state

QLD: Queensland Health medi-nav. NSW: NSW Health Map My Career. VIC, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, NT: Australian Government Health Workforce Data.

Training posts

None available.

Prerequisites

Applications

Timeline

When to apply

Selection format

Preferencing

Competition

Program structure

Examinations

Courses

Assessments

Training time

Examinations

Courses

Assessments

Projects

Selection criteria

Clinical experience

Rural & regional

First Nations

Academic

Publications & research

Extracurricular

Academic achievement

Curriculum vitae

Covering letter

Personal statement

Referees

Interview

Scoring

Application process

Entry tips

Workforce

Historical data by year and region

Fellows by state, 2025

Workforce data by state

Training posts

Available Radiation Oncology training positions

Official resources

Official links

Related specialties