Substantial Comparability Placement

This training placement is for Specialist International Medical Graduates who have been assessed by the RANZCP as substantially comparable. This placement is a pathway to Fellowship of the RANZCP.

The placement involves:

• supervised work placement for 12 months full-time equivalent (FTE)
• satisfactory completion of regular Workplace-Based Assessments during the placement period.

Substantial Comparability placement candidates must:

• hold current medical registration in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand or be registered at the time of starting the placement

• be employed for at least 0.6 FTE in a suitable position and work at least 0.3 FTE in a clinical role as a consultant/specialist psychiatrist within Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand for the required placement period .

• have a supervisor who holds current accreditation as a RANZCP Substantial Comparability Supervisor.

You have 1 year from the date of your outcome letter to enter the country, obtain medical registration and start your job and the placement. 

The process from receiving your outcome to starting your placement is outlined below.

Cohort waiting list

There are three placement (cohort) start dates each year. They are February, May and September.

To ensure RANZCP doesn’t hold places for candidates who have not yet moved to Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand and / or have not yet gained the required immigration and registration status to work, you will be placed on a cohort waiting list.

To confirm your place on the waiting list, provide the College with:

• a signed and accepted job contract
• AHPRA or NZ Medical Council registration certificate.

You may choose to start your job earlier while waiting for your placement to begin.

Confirmation of Substantially Comparable Placement

To be offered a confirmed place in a specific Substantial Comparability Placement cohort and given a commencement date you must:

• pay the placement fee
• complete the Declaration of Fulfilment of Substantial Comparability Placement Conditions form (relevant to your cohort)
• complete the Employer Support Declaration form [PDF; 40KB]
• complete the Readiness for Substantial Comparability Placement form [PDF; 92KB]
• nominate a supervisor who holds current accreditation as a RANZCP Substantial Comparability Supervisor.

You also need to provide the College with copies of your:

• AHPRA registration certificate
• signed job contract (including evidence of job acceptance)
• position description.

The Substantial Comparability Assessment Review Panel (SCARP) reviews all documents to ensure candidates are ready to start their placement.

Starting your placement

Orientation period

The first 8 weeks of your placement are an orientation to your health service, the health system and Mental Health Act.

• Orientation begins the same date your cohort starts.
• During this orientation period, you also will need to gain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and/or Māori Mental Health Experience [PDF; 228KB]. This requirement must be completed within the orientation period to progress on the pathway.

College membership

As a SIMG on a Specialist Pathway to RANZCP Fellowship, you are automatically an Associate Member of the College.

Comparability status

Once you begin your placement, you are granted 1 year of comparability status to complete the training and assessment requirements for this placement. 

Any extensions beyond 12 months FTE are considered on a case-by-case basis by the Committee for Specialist International Medical Graduate Education (CSIMGE). The maximum time on this pathway is 2 years.

Placement requirements

Your workplace-based assessment requirements are summarised in the below handbook.

Substantial Comparability WBA handbook [PDF; 200 KB]

You will be issued with an assessment schedule (including assessment due dates) prior to commencing the placement as outlined below.

Contact

simgehelp@ranzcp.org.