Radiation Oncology
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists
Competition
High
Qualification
FRANZCR (Radiation Oncology)
Training duration
5 years
Applications
Process differs by country: in Australia, all jurisdictions advertise training positions externally and candidates apply directly to hospitals/sites/networks (no single national round). In New Zealand, RANZCR centrally manages selection (CV scoring, referee reports, candidate preference matching) and provides employing sites with a ranked candidate list.
Selection format
Varies by employing site in Australia; centrally coordinated in New Zealand. Applications to enter the program are capped at 4 non-consecutive attempts (an attempt counts once you register with the College and apply to at least one trainee position in a calendar year).
When to apply
Minimum 24 months of prevocational medical education and training required (typically internship PGY1 + PGY2) before entry. Most successful applicants are PGY2–5 with oncology exposure (medical or radiation).
Competition
Competitive. Research in radiation oncology or clinical oncology is valued. A clinical oncology rotation before application is expected.
Selection criteria
Clinical experience
Rotations, logbooks, procedures, and exposure
- Oncology rotations (medical or radiation)
Rural & regional
Rural, regional, and remote experience
- Rural — RANZCR's MMM 2–7 rural origin/experience CV-scoring definitions and the Regional and Rural Training Pathway apply college-wide
First Nations
Selection points and pathways for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Māori applicants
Nothing captured yet — verify with RANZCR.
Academic
Exams, qualifications, courses, and teaching
- Understanding of radiobiology and radiation physics
- RANZCR Part 1 Examination (or preparation underway)
- New Zealand applicants — Certificate of Professional Status (COPS) from the Medical Council of New Zealand required
Publications & research
Papers, impact factor, audits, and QI
- Research or audit in oncology
Extracurricular
Leadership and roles beyond clinical work
Nothing captured yet — verify with RANZCR.
Distinction
Prizes, awards, and academic standing
Nothing captured yet — verify with RANZCR.
Eligibility & application
Prerequisites, referees, interviews, and fees
- Minimum 24 months prevocational training (PGY1–2) completed
Entry tips
Sourced from Australian medical community discussion. Always verify with RANZCR.
Recent updates
Verified via RANZCR: confirmed minimum 24-month prevocational training requirement, the 4-non-consecutive-attempt application cap, and that Australia uses decentralised site-by-site applications while New Zealand uses centralised College-managed selection (NZ applicants also need a Certificate of Professional Status from MCNZ). College-wide rural CV-scoring definitions (MMM 2–7) and the Regional and Rural Training Pathway pilot apply; First Nations support is via RANZCR scholarships and AIDA-partnered application support (no specific selection points independently confirmed).
Indicative only. Check the RANZCR website for current information.
Official resources
State workforce data
2026 first-year selection
3 of 33
eligible applicants selected
- Specialists in QLD
- 89 / 417 AU
- Trainees in QLD
- 26
- New fellows in QLD
- 7 / 19 AU
- Average week
- 42.3 hrs
How you reach a post
- A centrally coordinated Queensland Health pathway or network
Centrally coordinated Queensland radiation oncology training
Queensland Health coordinates radiation oncology training placements centrally rather than leaving allocation to individual accredited facilities.
- 33 applicants were eligible and three selected in the published 2026 Queensland round
- Centrally coordinated, unlike radiology — the other RANZCR specialty is allocated by individual facility
- Five years full-time through RANZCR
- Eligibility — registration plus at least two years as a junior doctor in an approved hospital
- Flexibility — minimum 50 per cent full-time, completion within 10 years, and interruptions of up to 12 months at a time
Queensland figures published by Queensland Health (medi-nav). Selection numbers are for first-year entry and vary year to year — confirm the current round with the college and with Queensland Health before relying on them.
Community discussions
Recent discussion about Radiation Oncology training from Australian doctors.
Search r/ausdocs and r/doctorsofaustraliaRequirements, windows, and criteria change annually. Verify with Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) before making career decisions. Report an error on this page.