Frequently asked questions

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Program eligibility

Will there be provision for Junior Medical Officers to complete the Certificate?

No, the eligibility criteria for the Certificate is:

have current general or current specialist registration as a medical practitioner in Australia
are undertaking your fifth or subsequent postgraduate year or
trainees undertaking specialist medical college training (other than through the RANZCP) undertaking their third or subsequent postgraduate year and
are working in Australia with patients who require assessment and/or care and support in relation to their mental health

Participants require a few years of experience as a medical practitioner to effectively engage in the learning and assessment activities and to ensure quality peer to peer learning.

Can trainees completing specialist medical training programs complete the Certificate concurrently?

Yes. If the applicant fulfils the eligibility criteria.

Applicants who are completing specialist medical training programs are advised to consult with the relevant College and be aware of any policies in relation to completing dual qualifications and the workload of each.

Undertaking the Certificate

What are the program dates?

There are two intakes each year; March and September. Applications open in the months prior to the intake dates. To receive updates about application dates please complete and submit an enquiry form.

How long will the Certificate take me to complete? What is the expected timeframe?

Participants can complete the Certificate in a minimum of 12 calendar months and up to 48 calendar months. The Certificate is largely competency-based and therefore the expected timeframe is highly dependent on the individual participant.

The Certificate completion time is flexible to take into account:

the variation in current knowledge, skills and experience of participants in psychiatry and mental health
the number of patients a participant may see in their usual practice each week/month who require assessment and support in relation to their mental health
the time busy medical practitioners will have to devote to this professional development opportunity
the preferred learning style and approach of each participant (e.g. some may prefer to complete activities regularly each week, others within a convenient block of time)
the interest of a participant to find and engage in clinical experience beyond that obtained during their usual employment, if required.

Will I be required to undergo mandatory placements or occupy an accredited training post during the Certificate?

There are no mandatory placements.

The Certificate is aimed at upskilling participants who currently see patients who require assessment and/or support in relation to their mental health and allows for participants to undertake the experiential learning through their current employment.

Flexibility for participants to engage in this learning opportunity has been key throughout the development of the Certificate. Supervision meetings and reviews can be completed in-person or via video conference, with appropriate consent by the employer and the patient.

Will I be able to pause my enrolment if I need to?

Flexibility for participants to be able to pause their enrolment is available by requesting a Period of Interruption of a minimum of three consecutive months (*one term).

Does the Certificate have supervision requirements?

As participants do not need to complete a placement or occupy an accredited training post, ‘supervision’ does not have to be provided by a psychiatrist who works in the same practice or health service.

Certificate participants are required to meet regularly with an accredited Certificate Supervisor while enrolled in the Certificate, and complete activities e.g. structured feedback exercises and progress review forms.

Certificate Supervisors (RANZCP Fellows) can be nominated by a Certificate participant, or will be paired with participants in their region, or with a similar interest. As participants do not need to complete a placement or occupy an accredited training post, ‘supervision’ does not have to be provided by a psychiatrist who works in the same practice or health service.

Collaboration between hospital-based psychiatry services and hospital departments for participants employed by health services (e.g. emergency medicine physicians), and arrangements through community based mental health services are also possible options.

The supervision requirements for the Certificate are outlined here.

Will there be Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)?

Professional development that participants have completed up to 5 years prior to enrolment in the Certificate may be eligible for recognition of prior learning, and therefore exemption from some requirements of the Certificate. Such learning or assessment must have been completed while a registered medical practitioner.

Former RANZCP trainees and are eligible for recognition for prior learning for learning and assessment activities completed, and clinical experience undertaken, in Stages 1 and 2 of the RANZCP Fellowship Training Program within the previous 5 years.

Former Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) are eligible for recognition of prior learning for assessment activities completed and clinical experience undertaken within both the partially and comparable pathways.

Certificate costs

How are the fees for the Certificate calculated?

The fees for the Certificate have been calculated to take into account the amount of RANZCP staff and Fellow’s time in order to give the Participant the maximum benefit from the program. With the exception of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and extension to enrolment no additional fees are payable by the Participant.

Equivalence opportunities

Can trainees who exit the RANZCP Fellowship Training Program receive the Certificate?

Former Trainees who have completed Stage 2 of the RANZCP Fellowship Training Program can apply for the Certificate to be awarded.

Current RANZCP Trainees are not eligible to be awarded the Certificate.

Can SIMGs who exit the RANZCP Fellowship Training Program receive the Certificate?

Partially comparable candidates who have completed 12 months of training on the specialist pathway and substantially comparable candidates who have completed 6 months of their placement. can apply for the Certificate to be awarded.

Current SIMGs are not eligible to be awarded the Certificate.

Will there be dispensations for Certificate graduates if they decide to complete the RANZCP Fellowship Training Program?

The aim of the Certificate is to support medical practitioners to develop enhanced skills to more effectively assess and support patients in relation to their mental health. It is not designed as a starting point for practitioners who would like to become a specialist psychiatrist.

Certificate Graduates

Will Certificate graduates have RANZCP membership status?

Yes. Participants who successfully complete the Certificate will be eligible for the membership category of Certificant and eligible to use the post nominals ‘Cert. Psychiatry (RANZCP) subject to meeting CPD requirements. CPD for Certificant members

Will specific CPD be required after completion of the Certificate?

Yes. You must meet ongoing CPD requirements to be able to use the postnominals ‘Cert. Psychiatry (RANZCP)’.

CPD for Certificant members

Will there be new MBS items for Graduates of the Certificate?

The need for new Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items, especially for general practitioners and rural generalists, has been acknowledged and advocated for by the RANZCP.

Pre-budget submissions have been organised by the RANZCP to advocate for MBS items to be accessible to Participants who complete and are awarded the Certificate.

Further information will be provided once it is available.

Will Certificate graduates have access to the same MBS item numbers as RANZCP Fellows?

RANZCP Fellows are specialist psychiatrists, and the Certificate is a continuing professional development opportunity for general and other specialist medical practitioners.

Specific MBS item numbers may be reviewed over time. The College will always advocate for its Fellows and the rigorous training that specialist psychiatrists they undertake, and safe and quality mental health care for the community.

Opportunities in Aotearoa New Zealand

Will the Certificate be available in New Zealand?

The Certificate is not currently available to participants based in New Zealand. As the program is funded through the Australian Government’s Psychiatry Workforce Program and delivered within an Australian context, eligibility is currently limited to medical practitioners registered with the Medical Board of Australia.

The College recognises the strong interest from New Zealand and is exploring options for future delivery. Further updates will be provided as this work progresses.

Supervising Fellows

Will supervisors be remunerated?

RANZCP Fellows accredited to undertake the role of Certificate Supervisor, Elective Supervisor, Certificate Reviewer, Peer Group Facilitator and Certificate Assessor, can apply for an honorarium for their contribution to the program. For further information, please contact certpsychhelp @ranzcp.org

I am a RANZCP Fellow interested in the Certificate. How do I get involved?

If you are a RANZCP Fellow interested in being involved in becoming an accredited Supervisor, Reviewer or Facilitator please read the requirements guideline and complete the application form. If you have any questions, please contact certpsychhelp @ranzcp.org.