Overseas trained specialists who have obtained specialist Sport and Exercise Medicine qualifications outside of Australia and New Zealand can apply to the ACSEP for an assessment by the Overseas Trained Specialist (OTS) Committee.
Application for Specialist Assessment
Overseas training in the specialty of Sport and Exercise Medicine overseas does not always correspond to the Australian and New Zealand context. Even where training programs have similar structures and assessments to the ACSEP, such as the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, there are generally differences in scope of practice, core competencies and methods of assessment. Therefore every Specialist International Medical Graduate (SIMG) applying for specialist assessment requires an individualised assessment of comparability to the Australian and New Zealand trained SEM Physician.
Applying
Please review the Eligibility Criteria to ensure you meet the requirements before making an application to be assessed as a Specialist in Australia. See Find out more about practicing as an SEM Physician in Australia.
SIMGs wishing to practice in New Zealand as a specialist SEM Physician should read Find out more about practicing as an SEM Physician in New Zealand for information on the process for assessment for recognition to practice in New Zealand.
ACSEP encourages SIMGs to view detailed information on previous applications.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply for assessment with ACSEP applicants must:
- Hold a primary degree in medicine and surgery issued by a recognised international medical school and verified by the Australian Medical Council (AMC)
- Have completed formal post-graduate training in Sport and Exercise Medicine
- Have obtained specialist recognition from a recognised college or equivalent body and provide evidence of specialist recognition
- Have participated in a continuing professional development program since obtaining the specialist qualification
- Have recency of practice in the relevant scope of practice
- Demonstrate they have the necessary English language skills for the purpose of registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA).
It is critical that applicants provide information and evidentiary documentation to demonstrate that their previous training meets the ACSEP’s expectation that:
- The training program was a structured postgraduate course of at least four (4) years duration with published standards that are comparable to that of the ACSEP Training Program
- There has been a documented and systematic in-training assessment system incorporating regular, ongoing formative and summative performance-based assessments including an entrance and exit examination comparable to that undertaken by ACSEP Registrars
- The training program is accredited against published standards by an external body and was subjected to assessment for reaccreditation at regular intervals
Applicants must also provide documentary evidence of post-training experience, including:
- Clinical expertise in the relevant Scope of Practice
- Medical coverage experience
- Current overseas registration as a Specialist in Sport and Exercise Medicine Physician
- Recency of practice in Sport and Exercise Medicine
- Involvement in SEM research
Please refer to the ACSEP Curriculum for guidance on the full Sport and Exercise Medicine scope of practice.
Application Form
Please submit the OTS Application Form form and send all supporting documentation, including a copy of your Curriculum Vitae to ots@acsep.org.au. Please also note the relevant fees associated with the processing of this application. Applicants will be invoiced for this amount once the College has received your documentation.
Fees
You can view all fees relating to assessment.
Assessment process
The ACSEP Overseas Trained Specialist (OTS) assessment process is facilitated by the OTS Committee and includes:
Initial Paper-based Assessment
The assessment process begins with an initial paper-based assessment of the OTS application. This assessment is conducted by the OTS Committee which is comprised of four (4) College Fellows. The assessment will determine if an applicant is eligible and required to attend an assessment interview and is based on the information provided in the application.
Interview (Interim Assessment)
If the OTS Committee require further information on the applicant’s training, experience and assessments, the OTS Committee will schedule an interview with the applicant. The follow up Assessment Interview is conducted by at least two members of the OTS Committee. The aim of the interview is to collect further information on the applicant’s training and experience as well as to gain insight into the applicant's current SEM working situation which quite often differs to the Australian and New Zealand systems.
Assessment outcomes
The outcome of the assessment for applicants will be one of the following:
Substantially Comparable to an Australian or New Zealand-trained specialist
Applicants who are assessed as Substantially Comparable will need to complete a period of supervision of up to 12 months to be eligible to apply for Fellowship of the College.
Partially Comparable to an Australian or New Zealand-trained specialist
Applicants who are assessed as Partially Comparable will be required to complete a period of between 12-24 months of supervised training and assessment, including the completion of outstanding academic modules and completion of ACSEP written and clinical examinations.
Not Comparable to an Australian or New Zealand-trained specialist
Applicants who are assessed as neither substantially comparable nor partially comparable will need to consider the option of obtaining the AMC recognition and then applying to enter the ACSEP Training Program at Year 1.
A summary of recent outcomes can be found here.
Membership
While undertaking training requirements, an SIMG will be considered an Associate Member of the College. As an Associate Member, the applicant is obliged to pay the annual fees associated with this membership type. You can view the fees relating to assessment via the ACSEP website under Fees.
Appeals
The ACSEP Review, Reconsideration and Appeals Policy outlines the parameters and procedural guidelines for lodging a request for review, reconsideration and/or appeal to the college. A person directly and adversely affected by any ACSEP decision may ask the college to explain the original decision that is being appealed.
Application for Fellowship
Following the completion of all requirements, SIMGs may apply for Fellowship. The OTS Committee will either recommend the SIMG be elevated to Fellowship or not based on how well they have met the requirements. The final decision is made by the ACSEP Board.
If an SIMG has been elevated to Fellowship, they enter the College as a full Fellow and no longer come under the SIMG membership category. The new Fellow will be obligated to fulfil all College CPD and financial obligations of a full paying Fellow.
If a SIMG doesn't meet their Fellowship requirements they are officially informed by letter referring them to the MBA to register for other opportunities.
RESOURCES
The MBA publishes annual reports on specialist pathway data. It details applicants’ comparability to Australian trained specialists including the number of OTSs assessed by us each year by specialty, country and level of comparability.
The Australian Government publishes national health workforce data and statistics including the distribution of clinicians by state, number of new Fellows and vocational trainees and a workforce dynamic indicator that highlights areas of concern in the future. See the Australian Government Health Workforce Data for your specialty workforce data fact sheet.
Requirements for translating documents (AHPRA)
Primary Source Verification (Australian Medical Council)