College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (CICM)

In Australia and New Zealand, the training program in intensive care medicine is a minimum of six years and each trainee’s requirements will vary depending on prior experience and qualifications.

The College provides a high quality training program, with supervision of clinical training, administration of assessments, and a range of workshops and courses. There is a Trainee Committee made up of trainee representatives from each Australian state and territory and New Zealand, and one of these members is co-opted on to the College Board.

For a summary of the College’s training and assessment program, you can refer to the General Pathway document

For full details and requirements, you can refer to the Regulations and the Guide to Training for Trainees.

The minimum length of traineeship is six years. Factors such as recognition of prior learning and undertaking other Fellowships concurrently may reduce the duration.

Once a trainee has been accepted to become a Fellow, he or she must participate in the College’s Continuing Professional Development program. More information is available here.

Applicants for the training program in intensive care medicine will be selected based on:

• The Eligibility criteria;
• The Selection criteria; and
• The principles set out in the Trainee Selection policy.

More detailed information on the eligibility criteria, selection and principles can be found in the Trainee Selection Policy.

Eligibility criteria

An applicant for the training program in intensive care medicine must satisfy all the College’s requirements below:

• Possess a primary medical degree and have successfully completed a 12 month internship (Post Graduate Year 1);
• Be registered as a medical practitioner by the registration authority in the jurisdiction in which they plan to work;
• Meet any residency or visa requirements enabling employment at any hospital within the jurisdiction(s) for which they are applying;

Supply documentary evidence of full registration with the relevant regulatory authority in the training jurisdiction from where they are applying:

• Australia – Full general registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA);
• New Zealand – Full general registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand;
• Hong Kong – Full registration (License of Registration) with the Medical Council of Hong Kong;
• Singapore – Full registration with the Medical Council of Singapore;

Have completed 6 months of experience, or Foundation Year training, in an Intensive Care Unit accredited for training by the College within the last three years at the time of application for selection.

Selection criteria

The selection of trainees is based on demonstrable evidence of the criteria listed in Appendix 1 of the Trainee Selection Policy.

Indigenous Entry Pathways Description

Not applicable.

Key Dates

Key dates can be found on the College’s events calendar here.

Registration

As of 2020, there will be one registration intake per year around September.

Examinations

First Part Examinations are held twice each year. The first sitting is in March/May and the second sitting is in August/October. The dates can be found here.

Second Part Examinations are held twice each year. The first sitting is in March/May and the second sitting is in August/October. The dates can be found here.

The Second Part Paediatric Examination is held once a year in August/ November. The dates can be found here.

Placement Requirements

Training towards the Fellowship of the College must be undertaken in hospitals accredited for training. The minimum standards for intensive care units seeking accreditation for training in intensive care medicine are found here.

Opportunities for clinical observerships and placements to maintain skills in intensive care sub-specialities can be organised in hospitals around Australia and New Zealand. Information on hospitals who currently offer placements and how to organise placements can be found here.

The general and paediatric intensive care assessments are summarised below:

• CICM First Part Examination (unless exempt)
• CICM Second Part Examination
• CICM Second Part Paediatric Examination (if specialising in Paediatric)
• In-training Evaluation Reports
• Workplace Competency Assessments
• Observed Clinical Encounters (OCE)
• Formal Project

Details of Enrolment and Training Fees.

The College also provides for the following:

Research:

The College publishes a highly respected scientific, peer-reviewed Journal: Critical Care and Resuscitation (CC&R). CC&R currently has an impact factor of 2.51 and this places it in 18th position in the world of critical care journals.

The community:

The College advocates for health and social policies to improve the healthcare of all Australians and New Zealanders. The College also ensures patients are treated by well trained, qualified intensive care specialists, in both general and paediatric intensive care medicine, who continue to improve their skills, qualifications and clinical practice through continuing education.

International Medical Graduates and Area of Need:

The College assists the Australian Medical Council in reviewing the credentials of overseas trained specialists, and with the recruitment of suitably qualified overseas trained doctors into declared area of need positions on a temporary basis.

Indigenous Mentoring Programs, networks, support programs etc

There are a number of online tools for trainees and Fellows designed to assist with the completion of training requirements.

The College provides a Member Assistance Program with Converge International, resources and articles

The Indigenous Health Committee is currently developing a mentoring strategy for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori trainees.

College Scholarships

Not applicable.

Financial Assistance

• Centrelink – ABSTUDY
• Currently, the College funds indigenous trainees to register to attend the College’s Annual Scientific Meetings.
• Any financial support queries can be directed to cicm@cicm.org.au.