Sport and Exercise Medicine
Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians
Competition
Moderate
Qualification
FACSEP
Training duration
Minimum 3 years and 7 months full-time, across three competency-based stages
Applications
Entry is via the ACSEP Entrance Examination, held twice a year (2026 sittings: 7 March and 11 July) — applications open ahead of each sitting. Interview offers are notified in September (2026: notified 11 September, interviews 19 September) for training commencing the following February.
Selection format
Two-stage process: pass the Entrance Examination (anatomy, pathology, general and exercise physiology) first, then attend interview if successful. After application and fee payment, a CV template is submitted online. National Office responds to applications within 5 business days.
When to apply
Foundation requirement: equivalent of 3 years general medical and surgical postgraduate training before starting ACSEP advanced training. Most applicants are PGY3+.
Competition
Moderate competition. Prior sports medicine exposure (team medical officer, exercise physiology, musculoskeletal clinics) is highly valued.
Selection criteria
Clinical experience
Rotations, logbooks, procedures, and exposure
- Sports medicine or musculoskeletal clinical exposure
- Exercise physiology understanding
Rural & regional
Rural, regional, and remote experience
- Rural — 12+ months of non-bonded postgraduate rural/regional work, or 5+ years of rural/regional schooling, earns interview preference and additional points toward final scores
First Nations
Selection points and pathways for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Māori applicants
- First Nations — applicants of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori or Pasifika descent receive preference for up to 60% of interview places plus additional points toward final scores
Academic
Exams, qualifications, courses, and teaching
- ACSEP Entrance Examination (basic medical sciences) — passed before interview; held twice yearly
Publications & research
Papers, impact factor, audits, and QI
Nothing captured yet — verify with ACSEP.
Extracurricular
Leadership and roles beyond clinical work
- Team medical officer or sporting team experience
Distinction
Prizes, awards, and academic standing
Nothing captured yet — verify with ACSEP.
Eligibility & application
Prerequisites, referees, interviews, and fees
- Equivalent of 3 years general medical/surgical postgraduate training (foundation requirement)
Entry tips
Sourced from Australian medical community discussion. Always verify with ACSEP.
Recent updates
Re-verified against acsep.org.au: the Entrance Examination is held TWICE yearly (2026: 7 March and 11 July — previously listed as annual); 2026 interview offers notified 11 September, interviews 19 September, training commences February 2027. Major published selection provisions confirmed: Indigenous applicants (Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori or Pasifika descent, or identifying and accepted as such by community) receive preference for up to 60% of interview places plus additional points; rural applicants (12+ months non-bonded rural postgraduate work or 5+ years rural schooling) receive interview preference plus additional points.
Verified via ACSEP: corrected duration to minimum 3 years 7 months (previously listed as a flat 4 years); confirmed the Entrance Examination gate and the 3-year foundation training prerequisite.
Indicative only. Check the ACSEP website for current information.
Official resources
State workforce data
Queensland Health’s medi-nav is the only state health department currently publishing the workforce and selection figures this section shows. We have not verified equivalent data for Victoria yet — the selection criteria and requirements above apply Australia-wide regardless of state. See the Queensland figures.
Community discussions
Recent discussion about Sport and Exercise Medicine training from Australian doctors.
Search r/ausdocs and r/doctorsofaustraliaRequirements, windows, and criteria change annually. Verify with Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians (ACSEP) before making career decisions. Report an error on this page.