RANZCOG Regulations

Section C – Subspecialty Training

C1 Subspecialty Training Programs

C1.1 Subspecialty Training

C1.1.1 Training programs leading to certification as a subspecialist will be offered in the following subspecialties:

• Gynaecological Oncology (CGO)
• Maternal Fetal Medicine (CMFM)
• Obstetrical & Gynaecological Ultrasound (COGU)
• Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (CREI)
• Urogynaecology (CU)

C1.1.2 Doctors seeking to join a Subspecialty Training Program must apply to the College for assessment of eligibility for subspecialty training.

For applicants applying to join a Subspecialty Training Program after 1 July 2017, a maximum of three (3) applications in total may be made by any applicant to a particular subspecialty and a maximum of four (4) applications in total may be made across two or more subspecialties.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, March 2017]

C1.1.3 Doctors who apply through the College and are deemed eligible for subspecialty training must then apply for and obtain an accredited subspecialty training position in order to become a subspecialty trainee and enter the applicable subspecialty training program.

[Ratified by the RANZCOG Board, May 2015]

C1.2 Entry and Commencement Requirements for the Subspecialty Training Programs

C1.2.1 To be eligible to apply to the College for assessment:

C1.2.1.1 FRANZCOG trainees applying for:

C1.2.1.1.1 CU and CREI training must have successfully completed and been credited with at least 184 weeks (FTE) of Basic Training, and eligible to commence Advanced Training; or

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Education Standards Committee, December 2025]

C1.2.1.1.2 CGO, CMFM and COGU training must have successfully completed and been credited with at least 138 weeks (FTE) of Basic Training, passed the FRANZCOG Written Examination and applied to sit and subsequently pass the FRANZCOG Oral Examination held in the first half of the year in which they apply for entry to a subspecialty training program(s).

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Education Standards Committee, December 2025]

C1.2.1.2 Specialist IMGs assessed by the College in Australia as being Substantially Comparable to an Australian-trained specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology must possess medical registration with the MBA with no restrictions, conditions, undertakings or any other limitations that would adversely impact upon their ability to train toward and ultimately act as a subspecialist in the subspecialty(ies) it is intended to apply for.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2015]

C1.2.1.3 Specialist IMGs assessed by the College in Australia as being Partially Comparable to an Australian-trained specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology must have completed all assessment requirements, including specified surgical procedures, described in Regulation D1.6.1 and possess medical registration with the MBA with no restrictions, conditions, undertakings or any other limitations that would adversely impact upon their ability to train toward and ultimately act as a subspecialist in the subspecialty(ies) it is intended to apply for.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2015]

C1.2.1.4 Specialist IMGs assessed by the College in Aotearoa New Zealand as possessing qualifications and experience that are ‘equivalent’ to those of an obstetrician and gynaecologist vocationally trained in New Zealand must be registered with the MCNZ with provisional registration within the vocational scope of obstetrics and gynaecology, with no restrictions, conditions, undertakings or any other limitations that would adversely impact upon their ability to train toward and ultimately act as a subspecialist in the subspecialty(ies) it is intended to apply for.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, February 2024]

C1.2.1.5 Specialist IMGs assessed by the College in Aotearoa New Zealand as possessing qualifications and experience that are ‘as satisfactory as’ those of an obstetrician and gynaecologist vocationally trained in Aotearoa New Zealand must be registered with the MCNZ with provisional registration with the vocational scope of obstetrics and gynaecology with no restrictions, conditions, undertakings or any other limitations that would adversely impact upon their ability to train toward and ultimately act as a subspecialist in the subspecialty(ies) it is intended to apply for, and they have completed the assessment requirements outlined in Regulation D2.3.2.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, February 2024]

C1.2.1.6 Fellows of the College must possess medical registration with the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) or the Medical Council of Aotearoa New Zealand (MCNZ) as applicable with no restrictions, conditions, undertakings or any other limitations that would adversely impact on or limit their ability to train toward and ultimately act as a subspecialist in the subspecialty(ies) it is intended to apply for.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2015]

C1.2.2 To become a subspecialty trainee and commence subspecialty training, doctors must have:

C1.2.2.1 been deemed eligible for subspecialty training program; and

C1.2.2.2 been appointed to an accredited subspecialty training position; and

C1.2.2.3 medical registration with the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) or the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) as applicable with no restrictions, conditions, undertakings or any other limitations that would adversely impact on or limit their ability to train toward and ultimately act as a subspecialist in the subspecialty(ies) it is intended to apply for; and or Specialist Registration with the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) or Provisional General Vocational (Obstetrics & Gynaecology) Registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) as applicable; and

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, March 2017]

C1.2.2.4 obtained the FRANZCOG; or

C1.2.2.5 For those who applied and commenced the FRANZCOG training program on or after 1 December 2013:

C1.2.2.5.1 To commence CU training from 1 December 2020, and CREI training from 1 February 2027  pursuant to Regulation C1.2.1.1.1, trainees must have successfully completed all requirements of Basic Training in the FRANZCOG training program, satisfactorily completed the research component of the FRANZCOG training program and 46 weeks of Advanced Training ; or

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Education Standards Committee, December 2025]

C1.2.2.5.2 To commence CGO, CMFM or COGU pursuant to Regulation C1.2.1.1.2, trainees must have successfully completed all requirements of Basic Training in the FRANZCOG training program, eligible to commence Advanced Training, and satisfactorily completed the research component of the FRANZCOG training program; or

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Education Standards Committee, December 2025]

C1.2.2.6 For those who applied and commenced the FRANZCOG training program during the period 1 December 2003 to 30 November 2013:

C1.2.2.6.1 To commence CU training pursuant to Regulation C1.2.1.1.1 from 1 December 2020, or to commence CREI training pursuant to Regulation C1.2.1.1.1 from 1 February 2027. trainees must have successfully completed all requirements of Basic Training in the FRANZCOG training program as well as the FRANZCOG written and oral examinations, and Assessments of Procedural and Surgical Skills, and 46 weeks of Advanced Training; or

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Education Standards Committee, December 2025]

C1.2.2.6.2 To commence CGO, CMFM or COGU pursuant to Regulation C1.2.1.1.2, trainees must have successfully completed all requirements of Basic Training in the FRANZCOG training program as well as the FRANZCOG written and oral examinations, and Assessments of Procedural, and Surgical Skills; or

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Education Standards Committee, December 2025]

C1.2.2.7 for those who applied pursuant to Regulation C1.2.1.2 or C1.2.1.3, unless otherwise approved by the Subspecialties Committee following recommendation from the relevant subspecialty committee, have fulfilled all requirements for Fellowship as specified by the College; or

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, March 2019]

C1.2.2.8 for those who applied pursuant to Regulation C1.2.1.4 or C1.2.1.5, unless otherwise approved by the Subspecialties Committee following recommendation from the relevant subspecialty committee, have met all requirements for registration within the vocational scope of practice by the MCNZ and fulfilled all requirements for Fellowship as specified by the College.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, March 2019]

C1.2.3 Doctors who are deemed eligible for subspecialty training and meet the requirements of Regulation C1.2.2 by the end of the year in which they applied, however do not commence subspecialty training in the following year will be required to re-apply to the College for assessment of eligibility for subspecialty training in a subsequent year.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, May 2015]

C1.2.4 Doctors who are deemed eligible for subspecialty training, but do not meet the requirements of Regulation C1.2.2by the end of the year in which they applied, will be required to re-apply to the College for assessment of eligibility for subspecialty training in a subsequent year.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, May 2015]

C1.3 Satisfactory Completion of a Subspecialty Training Program

C1.3.1 Trainees certified as having satisfactorily completed a subspecialty training program will have satisfactorily completed 138 weeks (FTE) of full-time approved subspecialty training and any other assessment requirements as described in the curriculum of the relevant subspecialty.

C1.4 Timeframe for Completion of Subspecialty Training

C1.4.1 For trainees who commenced their training prior to 1 December 2019 all training and assessment requirements necessary for the awarding of certification in a subspecialty must be completed within eleven (11) years of commencement in the program. For the purpose of this regulation, time in training will be counted as all time on the Subspecialty Training Program, excluding approved extended leave applications approved after 31 July 2019 and time withdrawn from the training program.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Education Standards Committee, July 2024]

For trainees who commenced their training from 1 December 2019 all training and assessment requirements necessary for the awarding of certification in a subspecialty must be completed within nine (9) years of commencement in the program.

For the purpose of this regulation, time in training will be counted as all time on the Subspecialty Training Program, excluding approved extended leave applications approved after 31 July 2019 and time withdrawn from the training program.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Education Standards Committee, July 2024]

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C1.5 Registration / Annual Fee Payment

C1.5.1 Trainees must submit their RANZCOG registration form to the College by 31 January each year. A registration form must be submitted even if the trainee is not intending to train in the relevant year.

All trainees in the Subspecialty training program are required to sign the Trainee Statement of Understanding (SoU) which advises them of their rights and responsibilities as a RANZCOG trainee on an annual basis. The SoU will need to be submitted with the Prospective Approval. Where the SoU is submitted after that time, no period of training undertaken prior to the submission will be credited.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, December 2021]

C1.5.2 All trainees, regardless of whether training full-time or part-time, must pay the full Annual Training Fee to the Finance Department at RANZCOG by 31 January of each year unless specifically designated elsewhere in these regulations or policies. Fees are managed by these Regulations and the Training and Associated Fees Policy.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C1.5.2.1 Subspecialty trainees who discontinue their registration as a registered RANZCOG trainee and subsequently apply to rejoin the same subspecialty program within two (2) years will be required to pay half the annual training fee for the period of time between the last record of registration as a subspecialty trainee and recommencement of subspecialty training.

C1.6 Obtaining Prospective Approval of Training

C1.6.1 Trainees must submit an application for prospective approval of training to RANZCOG not less than eight (8) weeks prior to the commencement of training in each year of training. This includes clinical training and research. Only training that has been prospectively approved by the relevant subspecialty committee Chair will be credited by the College.

[Ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C1.6.2 If trainees commence training for the first half of the year before obtaining prospective approval of that training, any training undertaken during the period covered by the first six monthly summative assessment will not be credited – irrespective of the length of the relevant rotation / amount of training involved.  If trainees commence training for the period covered by the second six-monthly summative assessment for the year and have still not obtained prospective approval of training, then any training undertaken for the entire 12 month period will not be credited.

C1.6.3 Trainees who have completed the training requirements, but not all the assessment requirements for certification in the relevant subspecialty, and who intend to proceed to certification in the subspecialty must remain registered as a trainee. These trainees must pay half the annual training fee until the satisfactory completion of all assessment requirements for certification and must nominate at the completion of their training requirements, a RANZCOG certified Subspecialist in the relevant subspecialty, to act as a mentor/supervisor and who shall provide six monthly reports on the trainee’s progress toward the completion of the outstanding assessment requirements, until such time as all assessment requirements have been completed.

Trainees who do not satisfy the requirements described above will not be permitted to sit either the relevant subspecialty Written or Oral examination, or undertake and/or complete any other requirement(s) of the relevant subspecialty training program.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, March 2017]

C1.6.4 For trainees who commenced subspecialty training prior to 1 December 2014, subspecialty training for the CGO, CREI and CU programs must be undertaken in a minimum of two (2) training units with different Training Supervisors during the three (3) year program.

For trainees commencing subspecialty training from 1 December 2014, except for CREI subspecialty training, all subspecialties must be undertaken in a minimum of two (2) training units with different Training Supervisors during the three (3) year clinical training program. The minimum time in one unit will be the equivalent of six months’ full time training.

For trainees enrolled in the CREI subspecialty training program, all training can be undertaken in a single training unit (and with a single Training Supervisor) during the three (3) year clinical training program. The trainee, however, must spend a combined total of three (3) months within different units for the purposes of specific training. The individual duration of these small training blocks is flexible; however, they must be prospectively approved by the Chair of the CREI Committee.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Education Standards Committee, July 2024]

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, July 2018]

C1.7 Credit for Training

C1.7.1 Training will be assessed in a series of six (6) month training blocks, which are six-month periods prospectively approved by the relevant Subspecialty Committee. Each six-month training block will involve the completion of a Three-monthly Formative Appraisal and a Six-monthly Summative Assessment Report.

C1.7.1.1 Training will be credited on the basis of the number of weeks (completed on an FTE basis) of active clinical service / formal training undertaken during the period covered by each six- monthly summative assessment completed for a trainee, rounded up or down to the nearest whole number of weeks.

The number of weeks (completed on an FTE basis rounded to the nearest whole number) of active clinical training completed within a six-month training block must be recorded on the Six-monthly Summative Assessment Report and signed by the training supervisor.

C1.7.1.2 Pursuant to Regulation C1.9.1, approved leave taken for the purposes of studying for the relevant subspecialty written and/or oral examination(s) or for recognised professional development may be included in the training time able to be credited in any six (6) month training period.

C1.7.1.3 The maximum number of weeks able to be credited in any period covered by a six-month summative assessment is twenty-six (26) weeks, with a maximum of 46 weeks of training able to be credited for training undertaken in a “subspecialty training year”.

A “subspecialty training year” consists of two consecutive “six month training blocks” based around (but not confined to) a calendar year and is determined by the relevant Subspecialty Committee.

C1.7.1.4 The minimum number of weeks able to be credited in any period covered by a Six-monthly Summative Assessment is ten (10) weeks (FTE).  If the number of weeks of training (FTE) in a six-month period is less than ten (10), no credit for the training period will be recognised.

C1.7.1.5 Trainees undertaking approved extended leave (see Regulation C1.10) may receive credit for training of less than the minimum number of weeks stipulated in Regulation C1.7.1.4 where that training has been prospectively approved and the period immediately precedes or follows a block of training normally covered by a Six-monthly Summative Assessment.

In such instances, formative appraisals and summative assessments will be conducted at the times determined for all trainees by the relevant Subspecialty Committee in the period(s) of training prior to and/or after returning from the leave in question, and/or at any other time as determined by the Chair of the relevant Subspecialty Committee to ensure appropriate assessment of the overall training period in question.

[Ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C1.7.2 A period of training will be credited to subspecialty trainees only when:

1. Prospective approval has been obtained from the Chair of the relevant subspecialty committee, subsequent to recommendation by the relevant subspecialty committee, to commence in the training post;
2. The annual fee as well as any other applicable fee(s) has been paid for that year in training;
3. The training undertaken on a full- or part-time basis, is in a block that equates to at least ten (10) weeks FTE in the post(s) prospectively approved by the Chair of the relevant subspecialty committee and involves the completion of a Six-monthly Summative Assessment Report for the period in question
4. The relevant Six-monthly Summative Assessment Report for the period has been assessed as satisfactory by the Chair of the relevant subspecialty committee; and
5. Signed copies of the relevant Six-monthly Summative Assessment Report are received at College House within six (6) weeks of completion of the period of training.

C1.8 Fractional / Part-time Training

C1.8.1 Trainees commencing subspecialty training in CGO, COGU and CU from 1 January 2022, Year 1 of training may be undertaken as fractional (part time) training.

For trainees commencing subspecialty training in the CMFM and CREI training programs from 1 December 2014, Year 1 of training may be undertaken as fractional (part-time) training.

In subsequent years, for all subspecialty training programs, fractional (part-time) training may be undertaken

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, February 2022]

C1.8.2 For the purposes of credited training, the College defines fractional (part-time) training as training undertaken between 0.5 and full-time training (1.0) at the relevant site for the relevant period of training. Training will be credited on the basis of the period of training (in calendar weeks) multiplied by the relevant time fraction.

C1.8.3 Trainees undertaking fractional (part-time) training must also remain within the maximum limits allowed for completion of all requirements of the relevant subspecialty Training Program (Refer to Regulation C1.4).

C1.8.4 Credit will only be given for prospectively approved fractional (part-time) training per six-month training block of not less than ten (10) weeks FTE, regardless of the number of training sites at which the period in question was obtained.

C1.9 Leave from Training

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022 — Creation of Training Program Leave Policy]

C1.9.1 Trainees are permitted up to two (2) weeks of leave per year for the purposes of studying for the relevant subspecialty examinations or for recognised professional development. Trainee Extended leave is managed under these regulations and the Training Program Leave Policy.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C1.9.2 In the event of disputes about leave entitlements or if a trainee wishes to apply for special consideration on the grounds of exceptional circumstances, the matter should be referred to the Chair of the relevant Subspecialty Committee. Further review of such decisions if required, will be conducted by the Chair of the College Subspecialties Committee, who may consult the relevant subspecialty Chair if additional advice is needed.

C1.10 Extended Leave

C1.10.1 Trainees may interrupt their training to take extended leave from the training program for a maximum of 104 weeks cumulative, but only 52 weeks’ leave of absence can be approved at any one time Trainee Extended leave is managed under these regulations and the Training Program Leave Policy.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C1.10.2 Trainees who exceed the permitted maximum of 104 weeks of Extended Leave from the program without authorisation from the relevant Subspecialty Committee Chair will be considered for removal from the training program (see Regulation A4).

C1.11 Resignation from a Subspecialty Training Program

C1.11.1 Trainees who resign from a training post prior to the completion of a prospectively approved period of training and completion of relevant assessments will be regarded as having resigned from the relevant subspecialty training program, unless done so with the approval of the Chair of the relevant Subspecialty Committee.

C1.11.2 A CREI trainee can apply to return to their relevant subspecialty training program within a period of three (3) years from their date of resignation by submitting the ‘Return to subspecialty training form.’

[Ratified by the RANZCOG Education Standards Committee, July 2024]

C1.12 Overseas Training

C1.12.1 The first 12 months of any subspecialty training must be spent in a RANZCOG approved training position in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, February 2024]

C1.12.2 Subspecialty training in a prospectively approved overseas training position may be credited towards RANZCOG subspecialty training if:

1. the trainee has completed 46 weeks of training in a RANZCOG approved subspecialty training unit in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand and the training program has been prospectively approved by the relevant RANZCOG subspecialty committee;
2. the trainee is registered with the College as a subspecialty trainee;
3. the period of training is supported by completion of all relevant subspecialty RANZCOG training documentation including the Daily Training Record (logbook), Three-monthly Formative Appraisal and Six-monthly Summative Assessment reports; and is submitted within the stipulated time frames; and
4. the training has been assessed as satisfactory by the relevant overseas Training Supervisor and the Chair of the relevant Subspecialty Committee.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, February 2024]

C1.12.3 The period of time credited to the trainee will be at the discretion of the relevant Subspecialty Committee.

C1.13 Amendment of these Regulations and Interpretation

In circumstances they regard as exceptional, the Board may give approval for these rules to be interpreted to extend dates and requirements fixed by Regulations by which a subspecialty trainee must complete an examination or assessment task.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, February 2024]

C2 Removal from Subspecialty Training

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022 — Creation of Removal from Training Program Policy and Procedure]

C2.1 Removal from a Subspecialty Training Program

C2.1.1 Unless the overseeing Committee accepts that exceptional circumstances exist, a trainee will be referred to the Progression Review Committee (PRC) for consideration for removal from a Subspecialty Training Program if a trainee fails to meet the commitments of their program. This process is managed in these regulations and the Removal from Training Program Policy and Procedure.

[Ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C2.1.2 Where a trainee’s behaviour breaches RANZCOG Code of Conduct, they will be referred to Professional Standards Committee (PSC) for review and/or removal from a Subspecialty Training Program. This process is managed in these regulations and the Removal from Training Program Policy and Procedure.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C3 Training Assessment Documentation

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022 — Creation of Subspecialties Training and Assessment Documentation Policy and Procedure]

C3.1 Training Record

C3.1.1 All documentation and assessments, excluding examinations, relating to a Subspecialty Training Program are managed under these regulations and the Subspecialties Training and Assessment Documentation Policy and Procedure.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C3.1.2 In circumstances they regard as exceptional, the Board may give approval for these rules to be interpreted to extend dates and requirements fixed by Regulations and policies by which a trainee must submit Training Documentation.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C4 Subspecialty Examinations — General Regulations

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022 — Creation of Examination Policy]

C4.1 Examination Policy

C4.1.1 Examinations processes and criteria are managed in Examination Policy and Procedure.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C4.2 Examination Fees

C4.2.1 Fees for examinations are managed in the Training and Associated Fees Policy.

C4.3 Withdrawal

C4.3.1 All withdrawals must be made in writing to the Examination Office. Where applicable, refunds are available and detailed in Examination Policy and Procedure.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C4.3.2 Failure to give written notice of withdrawal from the examination or failure to present for an examination will constitute a failure in the examination and forfeiture of the whole examination fee.

C4.4 Results

C4.4.1 Candidates are not permitted to communicate directly with individual examiners regarding their results. All enquiries must be directed in writing to the Chair of the Examination Assessment Committee.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, December 2021]

C4.4.2 Examination results for individual candidates will not be released to any person other than the candidate and those persons specified in the RANZCOG Release of Examination Results Policy or Statement of Understanding otherwise without express written permission from the candidate.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, December 2021]

C4.4.3 If, in the opinion of the Examination and Assessment Committee, a candidate has made an attempt to obtain, or has obtained, an unfair advantage before or during any part of an examination, the candidate will be withdrawn from the examination and a fail result recorded, as applicable. Subsequent to this, the candidate’s eligibility for further examination by the College will be considered by the Examination and Assessment Committee.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2020]

C4.5 Scope of Subspecialty Examinations

C4.5.1 The scope of material covered by subspecialty written and oral examinations is determined through the materials listed in the relevant sections of the individual subspecialty curricula.

C4.6 Examination Feedback

C4.6.1 Subject to the approval of individual subspecialty committees, feedback to candidates in written and oral subspecialty examinations will be available to candidates as per relevant RANZCOG guidelines and policies as modified from time to time.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C4.7 Remarking of Examinations

C4.7.1 Unless errors in process or similar anomalies are able to be demonstrated, RANZCOG does not approve requests for remarking of examination papers.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C4.8 Amendment of these Regulations and Interpretation

In circumstances they regard as exceptional, the Board may give approval for these rules to be interpreted to extend dates and requirements fixed by Regulations by which a trainee must complete an examination.

[Ratified by the RANZCOG Board, April 2020]

C5 Subspecialty Written and Oral Examinations

C5.1 Frequency

C5.1.1 Subspecialty Written Examinations will be held once a year in venues and at times approved by the Examination and Assessment Committee.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2020]

C5.1.2 Subspecialty Oral Examinations will normally be held annually in Australia in a venue and at times approved by the Examination and Assessment Committee.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2020]

C5.2 Attempts

C5.2.1 For those commencing subspecialty training prior to 1 December 2016, the maximum number of attempts at subspecialty Written Examinations will be four (4).

C5.2.2 For those commencing subspecialty training prior to 1 December 2016, the maximum number of attempts at subspecialty Oral Examinations will be four (4).

C5.2.3 For those commencing subspecialty training from 1 December 2016, the maximum number of attempts at subspecialty Written Examinations will be three (3).

[Ratified by the RANZCOG Board, March 2016]

C5.2.4 For those commencing subspecialty training from 1 December 2016, the maximum number of attempts at subspecialty Oral Examinations will be three (3).

[Ratified by the RANZCOG Board, March 2016]

C5.2.5 For trainees who commenced their training prior to 1 December 2019 the first attempt at a subspecialty Written or Oral Examination must be undertaken within two (2) years of completing prospectively approved subspecialty training and candidates must pass both the Written and Oral Examinations within six (6) years of completing prospectively approved subspecialty training.

For trainees who commenced their training from 1 December 2019 the first attempt at a subspecialty Written Oral Examination must be undertaken within two (2) years of completing prospectively approved subspecialty training and candidates must pass both the Written and Oral Examinations within four (4) years of completing prospectively approved subspecialty training.

For the purpose of this regulation, time in training will be counted as all time on the Subspecialty Training Program, excluding approved extended leave applications approved after 31 July 2019.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C5.3 Eligibility

C5.3.1 Subspecialty trainees will be eligible to sit the Subspecialty Written Examination when, at the closing date for applications for that examination, they have been credited with a minimum of forty-six (46) weeks FTE of prospectively approved and satisfactory training in a subspecialty training program.

[Revised and Ratified by the ESC, September 2024]

C5.3.2 All subspecialty trainees, except for CU Trainees, will be eligible to sit the Subspecialty Oral Examination when, at the closing date for applications for that examination, they have been credited with a minimum of forty-six (46) weeks FTE of prospectively approved and satisfactory training in the subspecialty training program.

Per section 2.9 of the Examinations Policy and Procedure, CU trainees are not required to sit an Oral Examination.

[Revised and Ratified by the ESC, September 2024]

C5.3.3 Any additional training requirements and/or assessments required by the relevant subspecialty committee, other than the research project, must be satisfactorily completed before sitting either the Written or Oral examination as applicable.

[Revised and Ratified by the ESC, September 2024]

C6 In-Hospital Clinical Ultrasound Assessment/Examination

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022 — Creation of Examinations Policy and Procedure]

C6.1 Ultrasound Modules

C6.1.1 CMFM trainees must complete the Diploma of Diagnostic Ultrasound (DDU) Part 1 and the In-Hospital Ultrasound Examination (IHCE).

C6.1.2 COGU trainees must complete the In-hospital Clinical Ultrasound Assessment (IHCA).

C6.2 Attempts

C6.2.1 The IHCA/IHCE may be repeated as a summative assessment as many times as is necessary, but not within four (4) weeks of an unsuccessful attempt.

C6.3 Eligibility

C6.3.1 CMFM trainees must complete the DDU Part 1 before the IHCE is attempted. CMFM trainees may undertake the required IHCE after completion of 46 weeks FTE of prospectively approved and satisfactory subspecialty training.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C6.4 Assessors

C6.4.1 All assessors/examiners must be selected in accordance with the requirements of the relevant subspecialty.

C7 Scholarly Elective

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022 — Creation of Subspecialties Scholarly Elective Policy]

C7.1 Scholarly Elective

The scholarly elective is the completion of a research stream option or non-research stream option, on some aspect of, or pertaining to, the relevant subspecialty. Every subspecialty trainee must complete a scholarly elective.

Gynaecological Oncology, and Urogynaecology trainees are eligible to apply for the research stream (C7.2). Maternal Fetal Medicine, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility and Obstetric and Gynaecological Ultrasound trainees are eligible to apply for either of the scholarly elective pathways.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C7.2 Scholarly Elective Policy

The process for Subspecialties Scholarly Elective is managed under these regulations and the Subspecialties Scholarly Elective Policy.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C8 Subspecialty Certification

C8.1 Subspecialist Certification

C8.1.1 Subspecialty certification is awarded to persons who have met all the following requirements:

C8.1.1.1 admission by the Board as a Fellow of the RANZCOG; and

C8.1.1.2 satisfactory completion of the requirements of the relevant subspecialty training program, including completion of all associated administrative requirements.

C8.1.2 Subspecialty certification of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists will be awarded for a period of three (3) years in the first instance and thereafter for periods of three (3) years subject to completion of all recertification requirements.

C8.2 Applications for Certification

C8.2.1 An application for Certification may be made upon satisfactory completion of the requirements of the relevant subspecialty training program, and all associated administrative requirements; including the completion of the required 138 weeks FTE of satisfactory prospectively approved training involving the completion of at least six (6) Six-monthly Summative Assessments. It is the responsibility of the trainee to submit their application for subspecialist certification, including necessary supporting evidence RANZCOG.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C8.2.2 In order to be considered by the relevant meeting of the Subspecialties Committee, signed and dated application forms, together with any additional documentation specified therein must be received at RANZCOG.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, November 2022]

C8.2.3 Applicants for subspecialty Certification must complete all administrative requirements, including completion of relevant documents and payment of any necessary fees within six (6) calendar months of the Subspecialty Certification date or the offer of Certification will lapse and an additional application will need to be made.

[Revised and ratified by the RANZCOG Board, July 2016]