Specialist Medical Colleges

The Specialist Medical Colleges set and administer the programs of specialist medical training and examinations on a national basis and are largely responsible for maintaining professional standards in the various medical specialties.

The Colleges are responsible for:

• training Australian specialists;
• assessing overseas trained specialists (OTSs);
• providing opportunities for continuing professional development; and
• liaising with government to ensure the interests of medical specialists are represented in Australia.

The Australian State and Territory Medical Boards are responsible for the registration of all medical practitioners. However, in the case of specialists, the Medical Boards require an assessment from the relevant Australian Specialist Medical College before registering a doctor for practice in their field of specialisation.

The Australian Medical Council (AMC) participates in the specialist assessment processes and all applications for specialist assessment must be sent to the AMC which forwards the information on to the relevant Australian Specialist Medical College.

You will find more information on the assessment pathways for specialists on DoctorConnect.

Assessing Specialist Medical Colleges in Australia

Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists
Royal Australasian College of Physicians (including the Paediatrics and Child Health Division)
Australasian College of Dermatologists
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine
Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (Royal Australasian College of Physicians and Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists)
Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators
Australasian Faculty of Occupational Medicine
Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine