A key purpose of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) is to ensure high quality training in psychiatry in Australia and New Zealand.

Training is possible in general psychiatry and in several subspecialties, and a range of skills are taught, including assessment skills, and interventions such as the evidence-based use of psychotherapies and psychotropic medication. Psychiatry raises complex issues linked with philosophy and ethics, and involves work within multidisciplinary teams in consultation with other professionals.

Each Training Program has specific educational objectives, which are detailed in the Training and Assessment Regulations, Curricula, Logbooks, Links and associated Forms.

The selection process for psychiatry training aims to determine whether new applicants have the necessary qualities, skills and experience to become psychiatrists. The selection process adheres to Equal Opportunity Principles and is designed to be open, impartial and transparent.

Essential Selection Criteria include:

• Evidence of good standing with the relevant Medical Board and eligibility for registration as a medical practitioner with that Board
• Satisfactory completion of at least 1 year full time equivalent (FTE) general medical training (Regulation 4.2)

The local Branch Training Committee coordinate the selection process, therefore, it is important that applicants first make contact with the local Branch Training Committee to establish the availability of appropriate positions and obtain an application pack before contacting the College Secretariat.

Following selection into the training program, trainees are required to register with the RANZCP.

The Committee for Training oversee a vocational training program, consisting of a minimum of three years Basic Training and two years Advanced Training. Training is based around rotations in adult general psychiatry, child/adolescent psychiatry, and consultation liaison, together with training experiences in rural psychiatry and indigenous mental health, psychiatry of old age, addiction, ECT and psychotherapy.

The Committee for Examinations co-ordinate the regular assessment of Trainees and who are required to complete two Case Histories and written and clinical examinations at the end of Basic Training. These clinical assessments must be passed together and jointly contribute to the Clinical Examination result.

The Committee for Specialist IMG Education, under the auspices of the Board of Education manages:

• the application process for assessment of specialist qualifications
• vocational registration in New Zealand
• the application process for declared Area of Need locations/positions
• the application process for approval of OTV supporting letters