Admission to the ACSEP Specialist training program
Key information:
This page is for prospective applicants for entry to the ACSEP Specialist Training Program. This page contains key information about the Entrance Examination and the selection process. Prospective Registrars should read all key policies included on the policies section of the ACSEP website.
Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) from outside of Australia and New Zealand should refer to the SIMG page.
Entrance Examination
Successful completion of the ACSEP Entrance Examination an eligibility requirement for selection for the ACSEP Training Program. The Entrance Examination has been designed to test basic medical sciences knowledge required to undertake training in the Sport and Exercise Medicine specialty.
For further information, please see the ACSEP Entrance Examination FAQ's.
KEY EXAM DATES
The Entrance Exam is held twice a year.
In 2026, the Entrance Exam will be held on:
- Saturday 7 March 2026 (Applications close Friday 9 January 2026)
- Saturday 11 July 2026 (Application close Friday 15 May 2026)
LOCATIONS
The Entrance Examination will be held remotely in 2026.
APPLY to sit the entrance examination
Applications for the 2026 Entrance Exam sittings are now open. Apply here.
Your application will be submitted to ACSEP National Office for review and consideration. National Office will respond to you within five business days and if you are approved to sit the exam, you will be provided with a link to pay the Entrance Exam fee. Information on fees can be found in the current fee schedule.
For further information, please contact registrars@acsep.org.au.
APPLYING FOR THE ACSEP SPECIALIST TRAINING PROGRAM
Applications for the ACSEP Specialist Training Program 2026 intake are now closed. Details and key dates for the 2027 intake will be announced in due course.
Candidates who have met all eligibility criteria to apply for the Training Program as per P013 - Training Program Selection and Deferral Policy are eligible to apply for the Training Program. Information provided on this website is subject to change. Candidates and other stakeholders should consult P013 - Training Program Selection and Deferral Policy and any other related policies for all policy-related information.
SELECTION CRITERIA WEIGHTINGS
Training Program selection criteria contribute to a candidate's score and performance during the selection process. Selection criteria weighting information will be published as it is available.
INITIAL Application
An application form link will be published on this page when applications open on Friday 25 July 2025. Once the initial application form is complete and the application fee is paid, applications will be processed by the College within two business days.
CV SUBMISSION
Candidates must submit a CV during the selection process. Upon an initial application being processed and payment being made, a CV template is sent to candidates via email with a link to upload the CV and supporting documentation. Candidates should note that all experience provided in a CV must be substantiated with supporting documentation to verify the experience. Supporting documentation must be accurately indexed as per instructions provided in the CV template.
CV category weightings and general descriptions of the categories are as follows:
- Academic - 8.5% - Activities such as SEM-related postgraduate achievements (e.g., PhD, Masters, Diploma).
- Research - 6.4% - Publication of peer reviewed SEM-related research, particularly first author publications.
- Research Presentations - 4.3% - Presentation of SEM-related verbal and poster presentations at local, national and international conferences.
- Work History - 25.5% - Completing SEM-related clinical rotations and sitting in with ACSEP Fellows to demonstrate exposure to SEM practice.
- Sport and Exercise Medicine Work History - 21.3% - Completing work in SEM-specific environments to demonstrate commitment to SEM. This category is not limited to event and team coverage only. A breadth of roles may be accepted in this category, reflecting the broad scope of SEM, such as paid sports medicine roles, paid exercise medicine roles, providing event and team coverage in a variety of sports and long-term team coverage services to a sports team.
- Leadership and Community Engagement - 8.5% - Holding leadership positions such as committee positions for SEM-related organisations, and undertaking SEM-related and non-SEM-related community service.
- ACSEP Engagement, Courses, Awards, Personal Sport and Exercise Experience - 25.5% - Attending SEM conferences such as the ACSEP Annual Scientific Conference, completing education in SEM such as modules on the ACSEP SEM Academy, trauma, anti-doping and cultural safety, receiving profession-related scholarships and awards, and personal involvement in sport and exercise.
If a candidate has sat in with an ACSEP Fellow and is using that experience in their application, candidate must complete THIS FORM and include as supporting documentation in their application.
REFEREE CHECKS
Referee checks are conducted for all candidates. Referee details will be requested when the CV template is sent to candidates and must also be included in the CV template. The referee check process is currently being revised and information will be published as it is available.
INTERVIEW
Candidates who proceed to the interview stage will be notified on Friday 5 September 2025 of offers for interview, no later than one week before the interview date. Interviews will be held online via Zoom. Candidates offered an interview will receive information specific to the interview ahead of the interview date. Candidates who are not offered an interview will be notified on the same day.
Candidates who proceed to interview will be given a list of ACSEP Accredited Training Practice (AATPs) available for placement in the coming year as of the interview offer date. In the interview acceptance, candidates must indicate they are willing to train in at least one of the AATPs available before the interview is fully confirmed.
Interviews use the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format. Candidates move through a series of stations from 6-10 minutes in length where the interviewer will ask a series of pre-determined questions. The domains of practice evaluated during the MMI may include: Communication; Collaboration; Management; Quality and Safety; Health Advocacy; Research; Teaching and Learning; Professionalism; and Cultural Awareness.
CULTURAL SAFETY RESOURCES
- ACSEP SEM Academy module on Aboriginal Health and Cultural Safety here
- AIDA Cultural Safety training here
- Cultural Safety Plan for Vocational Medicine in Aotearoa here.
Key policies
Applicants are encouraged to familiarise themselves with all ACSEP policies, particularly P013 - Training Program Selection and Deferral Policy. All policies can be viewed on the policies section of the website.
ACSEP WORKFORCE DIVERSITY PRIORITIES
In the 2025 ACSEP Registrar cohort, 34% of Registrars are women, 8% are Indigenous and 6% are currently working regionally/rurally. Applicants who meet one or more of these priorities will be given preference for interview up to 60% of interview places offered after which applicants will be assessed using their CV score. Meeting one or more of the ACSEP's workforce diversity priorities will contribute additional points toward an applicant's final score. Workforce diversity priorities for the 2025 selection process are:
- Indigenous: Indigenous origin applies when the applicant is of Australian Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori or Pasifika descent; OR identifies as a person of such heritage AND is accepted as such by that Indigenous community.
- Female or non-binary gender: Applicants identifying as female or non-binary.
- Commitment to being placed in a regional or rural ACSEP Accredited Training Practice: Applicants who have indicated they will commit to taking a regional or rural placement at entry to the Training Program, event if they are not from a regional or rural background. In Australia, a regional or rural placement is a placement located in a Modified Monash Model 2-7 area. In New Zealand, regional or rural placement is a placement located in any part of New Zealand that does not fall under the local authority boundaries of the City Councils of Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Porirua, Hutt, Upper Hutt, Christchurch and Dunedin.
- Regional or rural background: Regional or rural background is defined as at least 12 months of non-bonded, post-graduate medical work experience in a regional or rural area; and/or a minimum of 5 years attendance at a primary or secondary school in a regional or rural area. In Australia, regional or rural areas are defined as Modified Monash Model 2-7 areas. In New Zealand, regional or rural areas are defined as any part of New Zealand that does not fall under the local authority boundaries of the City Councils of Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Porirua, Hutt, Upper Hutt, Christchurch and Dunedin.
CONTACT
For further information, please contact registrars@acsep.org.au.
Page last updated: 06/11/2025