Australian specialist medical colleges — directory
Quick reference of the Australian specialist medical colleges that assess overseas-trained specialists and run AU specialist training programs.
Each college sets its own assessment, training, and CPD rules. This is a directory only — for current requirements always go to the college directly.
For IMGs already qualified as specialists overseas, the relevant college performs your comparability assessment under the Specialist Pathway. For doctors planning to enter Australian specialty training, the college runs the relevant training program and selection process.
The colleges
| College | Specialty | Web |
|---|---|---|
| RACGP | General Practice | racgp.org.au |
| ACRRM | Rural and Remote Medicine (alternative GP pathway) | acrrm.org.au |
| RACP | Internal Medicine, Paediatrics & Child Health, Public Health, Occupational & Environmental, Rehabilitation, Palliative, Sexual Health, Addiction | racp.edu.au |
| RACS | Surgery (all surgical specialties via SET program) | surgeons.org |
| RANZCOG | Obstetrics & Gynaecology | ranzcog.edu.au |
| RANZCP | Psychiatry | ranzcp.org |
| ANZCA | Anaesthesia | anzca.edu.au |
| ACEM | Emergency Medicine | acem.org.au |
| CICM | Intensive Care Medicine | cicm.org.au |
| FPM (ANZCA) | Pain Medicine | fpm.anzca.edu.au |
| RANZCO | Ophthalmology | ranzco.edu |
| RANZCR | Radiology and Radiation Oncology | ranzcr.com |
| RCPA | Pathology | rcpa.edu.au |
| AOA | Orthopaedic Surgery (within RACS) | aoa.org.au |
| ASOHNS | Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery (within RACS) | asohns.org.au |
| CCN / Neurosurgery / Plastic | Sub-surgical specialties via RACS | via surgeons.org |
| AChAM | Addiction Medicine (within RACP) | via racp.edu.au |
| AFOEM | Occupational & Environmental (within RACP) | via racp.edu.au |
| AFPHM | Public Health (within RACP) | via racp.edu.au |
| AFRM | Rehabilitation (within RACP) | via racp.edu.au |
| ChAPM | Palliative Medicine (within RACP) | via racp.edu.au |
| ASCEPT / ATCP | Clinical Pharmacology (within RACP) | via racp.edu.au |
| CDHS / DHA | Dermatology | dermcoll.edu.au |
Three things to know about colleges
- Each college runs its own selection and assessment — there is no central appeals process across colleges.
- Costs and timelines differ enormously — application fees, training fees, and exam costs vary by college, often by tens of thousands of dollars.
- Some specialties have multiple sub-faculties under one parent college — for example, RACP umbrellas more than a dozen sub-specialties under "Adult Medicine" and "Paediatrics".
What AdvanceMed can help with
- Strategic guidance on which college pathway fits your background and goals
- Pre-application reviews of CV / selection criteria for college applications
- Interview preparation for college selection panels
- IMG specialist comparability strategy under the Specialist Pathway
Related reading
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