A specialist medical qualification is a formal qualification awarded after completion of a comprehensive program of advanced postgraduate training in defined and legally recognised clinical disciplines.
In Australia, the education and training requirements for each medical specialty depend on the type of clinical medical practice, but can be summarised as:
pre-vocational training involving broad practical clinical experience in the intern and second postgraduate years, during which career aspirations are clarified
vocational training in a chosen specialty.
Vocational training commonly includes basic and advanced training for three to seven years, depending on the specialty.
The educational component of vocational training includes the completion of:
a broad education program in basic medical sciences and clinical skills, with objective assessment of proficiency
supervised practical training in accredited training programs that emphasise graduated practical experience and further development of a knowledge base in the science and practice of the specialty
the requirements for fellowship of the specialist medical college, including a range of structured objective assessments and satisfactory supervisors' reports.
The structured assessments conducted during specialist training and the progressive increase in experience and level of responsibility are closely related. To be safe to practise as a specialist, it is not possible to sit and pass these examinations in isolation from the training program.
However, the specialist medical colleges allow medical practitioners who have undertaken comparable training and gained experience outside Australia and New Zealand to be assessed and recognised for specialist medical practice.
To encourage the development of additional skills and to broaden career paths, the colleges support participation in research and completion of postgraduate degrees (PhD, MD) during training or during periods when training is temporarily interrupted.