Psychiatry

A psychiatrist is a medical specialist who is an expert in mental health. They specialise in diagnosing and treating people with mental illness.

Minimum Time to Completion: 6 years from graduation

Details

How to Apply

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for the Fellowship Training Program, you need to meet the following minimum requirements:

Medical Degree
Evidence of a medical degree, including certified copies of your academic record.

Australian trained doctors who complete their medical degree after 2023 are expected to hold the NFPMT Certificate of Completion.

24 months of general medical training

A minimum of 24 months experience in general hospital training after your medical degree, for applicants commencing in 2025.

Registration as a medical practitioner

You must have current registration as a medical practitioner in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand.

Application Process

Applications to the RANZCP Fellowship Training Program are managed by Branch Training Committees located in each Australian state and territory, and New Zealand.

Victorian process:
Applicants need to apply to each Health Service they wish to train at:

Services advertise first year registrar positions generally from May each year.
Apply to the Victorian Psychiatry Training Committee (VPTC) via the Post Graduate Medical Council of Victoria (PMCV).
3 referees (minimum one psychiatrist)
Video Interview (PMCV)
If successful, apply to RANZCP

After you apply to join the Fellowship Training Program, you will proceed through a selection process.

The selection panel will consider:

whether you meet essential criteria
your CV and academic record
recommendations from your referees
your responses to questions at an interview.

Program Structure

Trainees undergo 60 months of certified training time, undertaken in three stages:

Stage 1: Basic (12 months FTE)
- 12 months FTE in an approved adult psychiatry rotation, including a minimum of 6 months in an acute setting
Stage 2: Proficient (24 months FTE)
- 6 months in a consultation–liaison psychiatry rotation
- 6 months in a child and adolescent psychiatry rotation
- two 6-month rotations in any of the following areas of practice: addiction psychiatry, adult psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, Indigenous psychiatry or psychiatry of old age.
Stage 3: Advanced (24 months FTE)
- RANZCP-approved areas of practice are: addiction psychiatry, adult psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, consultation–liaison psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, Indigenous psychiatry, psychiatry of old age, research/academic psychiatry and psychotherapies.
- Optional Certificate of Advanced Training
Can opt for dual training

They will also complete:

Work-place Based Assessments (WBAs)
Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs)
In-Training Assessments (ITAs)
MCQ and Essay (CEQ and MEQ) Examinations
Scholarly Project
Psychotherapy Written Case

Fees

Annual Fee:

Annual Training Fee: AUD $2.072.00

Exam Fee:

MCQ Examination: AUD $1,468.00
CEQ Examination: AUD $1,444.00
MEQ Examination: AUD $1,444.00
CCA – MPR: AUD $842.00

Initial registration fee:

AUD $702.00

New Fellow Application Fee

AUD $780.00

Useful Resources / Courses / Conferences

Key Information

PGY Intake Year (earliest)

PGY3

Training Duration (minimum)

5 years FTE

General Progression

Note that this represents one of the quickest routes to specialty training, and may not reflect additional HMO or unaccredited years of training.

Year 1

Internship

Year 2

General Year

Year 3

Commence Psychiatry Training

Part Time Option: Yes

Last Updated: December 4, 2024

The information found in this portal has been painstakingly collated by JMOs for JMOs, and is intended as a career progression guide for every aspiring JMO. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and currency of the information presented on this website, but recent changes made by Specialist Medical Colleges may not be reflected in real time; please consult with the respective Specialist Medical College websites for the latest information. PMCV and JMO Victoria accepts no responsibility for inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. Please feel free to contact our team with suggestions or comments via the feedback form.