RACP
Respiratory physicians diagnose and treat diseases of the airways, lungs, pleura and chest wall, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia and lung cancer, and perform bronchoscopy and pleural procedures. Sleep medicine specialists diagnose sleep disorders with sleep studies and treat them with devices, medicines and behavioural techniques.
Applications
Applications open early June and close late JuneThrough the resident medical officer campaign
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.
High
Choose a pathway
Total training
6 years
From the start of Basic Training, full time
After Basic Training
3 years
At least 24 months in respiratory medicine settings, and up to 12 months of non-core training
Fellowship
Year 6
FRACP in respiratory medicine
Throughout training
What every accredited respiratory medicine setting must give you
Stage by stage
Stage 1 of 4
Before Advanced Training
Entry follows RACP Basic Training.
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 the specialty 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.
Respiratory medicine learning goals
20, in professional behaviours, 13 professional activities and 6 knowledge guides
The respiratory activities
Team leadership, supervision and teaching, quality improvement, clinical assessment and management, transitions in care, acute care, longitudinal care, communication with patients, prescribing, procedures, investigations, clinic management, and palliative care
The respiratory knowledge guides
Scientific foundations of respiratory medicine, acute respiratory care, chronic respiratory care, thoracic tumours including mediastinal diseases, pleural disorders, and respiratory failure including sleep-disordered breathing
Sleep medicine learning goals
18, in professional behaviours, 10 professional activities and 7 knowledge guides
Completion decision
Then Fellowship of the RACP
Both specialties in the same 36 months, with the sleep medicine months as core training rather than non-core.
Total training
6 years
From the start of Basic Training, full time
After Basic Training
3 years
24 months of core respiratory medicine and 12 months of core sleep medicine
Fellowship
Year 6
FRACP in respiratory and sleep medicine
Throughout training
What every accredited respiratory and sleep medicine setting must give you
Stage by stage
Stage 1 of 4
Before Advanced Training
Entry follows RACP Basic Training.
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 the specialty 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.
Respiratory medicine learning goals
20, in professional behaviours, 13 professional activities and 6 knowledge guides
The respiratory activities
Team leadership, supervision and teaching, quality improvement, clinical assessment and management, transitions in care, acute care, longitudinal care, communication with patients, prescribing, procedures, investigations, clinic management, and palliative care
The respiratory knowledge guides
Scientific foundations of respiratory medicine, acute respiratory care, chronic respiratory care, thoracic tumours including mediastinal diseases, pleural disorders, and respiratory failure including sleep-disordered breathing
Sleep medicine learning goals
18, in professional behaviours, 10 professional activities and 7 knowledge guides
Completion decision
Then Fellowship of the RACP
Practise this interview with each station timed. Interview practice
Postgraduate years 2 and 3
Basic Training
Research
Trainees starting Advanced Training from 2026 follow new respiratory medicine and sleep medicine curricula, in three phases with progress decisions.
Queensland Health, medi-nav, 31 July 2026.
Queensland
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Hospital locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. State boundaries from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Requirements, application windows and criteria change every year. Verify with RACP before making career decisions. Report an error on this page.
