Stage 3

This information is about Stage 3 of the RANZCP Fellowship Program. Stage 3 comprises the fourth and fifth years of training.

Stage 3 – Advanced

A Stage 3 generalist training checklist is available to assist trainees to keep track of their training requirements during Stage 3 of the Fellowship Program. Checklist for Certificate of Advanced Training is available on the Certificate pages.

.Stage 3 generalist training checklist [PDF; 183 KB]

.Stage 3 training regulations

Focus

An increased level of responsibility is expected of trainees as they prepare to become consultant psychiatrists.

Duration

Minimum of 24 months full-time equivalent (FTE). Trainees automatically become Stage 3 generalist trainees, there is no need to apply or notify the College.

Trainees may commence a Certificate of Advanced Training during Stage 3.

Rotations

Trainees complete four elective rotations (each 6 months FTE) in a single or multiple area(s) of practice:

  • addiction psychiatry
  • adult psychiatry
  • child and adolescent psychiatry 
  • consultation–liaison psychiatry
  • forensic psychiatry
  • Indigenous psychiatry
  • psychiatry of old age  
  • psychotherapies
  • research/medical education/medical administration (prospective approval required).

Supervision requirements

A minimum of 4 hours per week for 40 weeks annually, including 1 hour per week of individual supervision of clinical work.

Syllabus

No syllabus for generalist trainees. During Stage 3, trainees are expected to build on the knowledge base developed in Stages 1 and 2. Generalist trainees are encouraged to attend an adult psychiatry Formal Education Course (FEC), if available.

.Adult psychiatry curriculum [PDF; 145 KB]

Trainees in Certificate programs may be required to attend an FEC for their area of subspecialty training as per the Certificate program training requirements.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander modules and Māori mental health modules

Trainees must complete the three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander modules and Māori mental health module (once developed) via Learnit. The modules can be completed at any point in training and must be completed via Learnit in order to be tracked.

  • Module 1: Interviewing an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander patient
  • Module 2: Developing a mental health management plan for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander patient
  • Module 3: Formulation of a case involving an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander patient.

Useful resources

The Directors of Training from Queensland, Auckland and South Australia have provided a consolidated list of resources to assist trainees to prepare for the summative assessment in the Fellowship Program.

►A list of recommended texts and useful resources (Updated April 2019) [PDF; 181 KB]

A guide to assist trainees in understanding the psychotherapy training requirements across the stages of training has been prepared. 

►Guide to psychotherapy training [PDF; 148 KB]

Learning Outcomes and Developmental Descriptors

The Learning Outcomes prescribe the expectations of what trainees will need to attain in their rotations in order to meet the Fellowship Competency requirements and will be assessed in the In-Training Assessment (ITA) forms. 
Trainees must attain the Stage 1 Learning Outcomes in order to progress to Stage 2.

The Developmental Descriptors are behavioural descriptors for the Fellowship Competencies. They are intended to provide supervisors and trainees with a reference point for defining performance standards. It is anticipated that the descriptors will be of use as criteria supporting workplace-based assessments and guiding the provision of formative feedback to trainees.

►Learning Outcomes [PDF; 238 KB]

►Developmental Descriptors [ PDF; 249 KB]

Psychotherapy requirements

Trainees must provide psychotherapy to a minimum of three patients for at least six sessions each.

►Stage 3 Psychotherapy sessions form [PDF; 126 KB]

Leadership and management

Leadership and management content forms part of the Stage 3 knowledge base. Each Branch Training Committee (BTC) approves the options for formal leadership and management training in their state/country. 

►Leadership and management guideline [PDF; 43 KB]

►Stage 3 Leadership and management form [PDF; 122 KB]

Final qualitative report

As a final requirement for Fellowship, trainees need to submit a 500–750 word qualitative personal overview of their Stage 3 training experience to their Director of Training (DOT). It should include an evaluation of the trainee’s own experience including their development during Stage 3, perceived strengths and weaknesses of their Stage 3 training experience and feedback regarding their supervision. This will be signed off by the DOT on the last end-of-rotation ITA form.

►More about admission to Fellowship

WBAs, EPAs and ITAs

Workplace-Based Assessments (WBAs)

Formative assessments performed in the workplace. Trainees must complete one Observed Clinical Activity (OCA), a type of WBA, per 6-month FTE rotation.  A minimum of three WBAs are used to inform the assessment of each Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA).

►More about WBAs

Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs)

Summative assessments performed in the workplace. During Stage 3, trainees must eight Stage 3 EPAs and the remaining Stage 2 psychotherapy EPA if outstanding. Trainees must attain a minimum of two EPAs per 6-month FTE rotation; if training at less than full time, trainees must achieve a minimum of one EPA per 6 calendar months.

Generalist trainees can attain any Fellowship (FELL) EPAs in any area of practice rotation. Area of practice (AOP) EPAs can only be attained in the relevant area of practice rotations.

  • For example: trainees in a consultation–liaison psychiatry rotation may complete both ST3-CL-AOP-EPA1 and ST3-POA-FELL-EPA2.

.More about EPAs and EPA forms


.Table of all Stage 3 EPAs [PDF; 76 KB]

In-Training Assessment (ITA) Forms

Formative and summative assessments performed in the workplace. Trainees will be assessed on their progress throughout each rotation on two ITAs: the formative mid-rotation ITA Form and the summative end of rotation ITA Form.

►More about ITA Forms

The mid-rotation ITA Form is used to identify and provide feedback on the trainee’s strengths and weaknesses as well as their progress in the rotation, it does not need to be submitted to the College.

►Stage 3 generalist mid-rotation ITA Form [PDF; 464 KB]

The end of rotation ITA Form must be fully completed with all OCAs completed during the rotation attached, and submitted to the College within 60 days of the completion of each rotation. Trainees are responsible for ensuring the ITA is signed by the DOT and its submission. 

►Stage 3 generalist end of rotation ITA Form [PDF; 562 KB]

Trainees enrolled in a Certificate of Advanced Training should use should use the ITA Forms specific to their area of practice. Except for the trainees enrolled in the Certificate of Advanced Training in the Psychotherapies, they should use the Stage 3 generalist ITA Forms.

ITA Forms for the Certificates of Advanced training can be found on the requirements page for each certificate.

►Certificates of Advanced Training 

Centrally administered summative assessments

Trainees are responsible for their own progress in line with the Trainee Progress Trajectory and must take into account the time required for enrolling in, sitting and marking each assessment in order to successfully meet each deadline.
The deadlines for completion of these assessments are shown in the Trainee Progress Trajectory [PDF; 77 KB].

In order to attain Fellowship, trainees must pass and complete the following centrally administered summative assessments:

MCQ Exam

The MCQ Exam is set at the standard expected at the end of Stage 3 level and should be passed by 36 months FTE training; however, it is not a barrier to the commencement of Stage 3, although it is an entry requirement for Certificates of Advanced Training. Trainees are eligible to apply for the MCQ Exam after they have completed 6 months FTE training as shown on their Training Report.

►More about MCQ Exam

Critical Essay Question Exam 

The Critical Essay Question Exam is set at the standard expected at the end of Stage 3. It should be passed by 60 months FTE training. You are eligible to apply for this exam after you have completed 18 months FTE training as shown on your Training Report.

►More about Critical Essay Question Exam

Modified Essay Question Exam 

The Modified Essay Question Exam is set at the standard expected at the end of Stage 3. It should be passed by 60 months FTE training. You are eligible to apply for this exam after you have completed 18 months FTE training as shown on your Training Report.

►More about Modified Essay Question Exam

Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE)

The OSCE is set at the standard expected at the end of Stage 3 level and should be passed by 60 months FTE training. Trainees are eligible to apply for the OSCE after they have completed 30 months FTE training as shown on their Training Report.

.More about OSCE

Psychotherapy Written Case

The Psychotherapy Written Case is assessed at the standard expected at the end of Stage 3 and should be completed by 60 months FTE training. 

►More about Psychotherapy Written Case

Scholarly Project

The Scholarly Project is assessed at the standard expected at the end of Stage 3 and should be completed by 60 months FTE training. 

►More about Scholarly Project

Contact

training@ranzcp.org


Have you found the information you were looking for?