Certificate and Diploma training
RANZCOG recognises that women’s health services are delivered by a range of medical practitioners, and in locations without a tertiary hospital or immediate specialist assistance.
Introduction
As part of our commitment to ensuring access to high-quality health outcomes for women in Australia and New Zealand, the College offers three women’s health qualifications for medical practitioners:
Certificate of Women’s Health (CWH)
Diploma of RANZCOG (DRANZCOG)
Advanced Diploma of RANZCOG (DRANZCOG Adv.)
These training pathways are intended for GP trainees, registrars and medical graduates.
For more information on the Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma, please see the corresponding sections below.
Please note Diploma and Advanced Diploma programs offered by RANZCOG are vocational training for graduate medical practitioners and are not higher education awards in accordance with the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Training pathways
The three-tier structure of the Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications is reflective of the progressive increase in knowledge and skills required, and the shift toward independent practice as trainees continue from one training program to the next.
Fundamental to these qualifications is flexibility — the College encourages you to select the pathway that best suits your development and personal circumstances.
The three qualifications can be undertaken separately or concurrently, as follows:
| Pathway | Minimum training period (approx.) | Maximum training period |
|---|---|---|
| CWH | 3 months | 2 years |
| DRANZCOG | 6 months | 2 years |
| DRANZCOG including CWH | 6 months | 4 years |
| DRANZCOG Adv. | 6 months | 2 years |
| DRANZCOG Adv. including DRANZCOG | 12 months | 4 years |
| DRANZCOG Adv. including CWH and DRANZCOG | 12 months | 4 years |
Learning primarily occurs in the workplace with the support of a collaborative community of clinical educators, supervisors and peers. Training is also supported by targeted face-to-face workshops and a selection of eLearning resources, spread across the three qualifications.
Certificate of Women’s Health
The Certificate of Women’s Health (CWH) is intended for medical professionals with a special interest in office-based obstetrics and gynaecology.
This qualification can be undertaken on its own, or in combination with the Diploma and/or Advanced Diploma of RANZCOG.
Following successful completion of the Certificate, you will be qualified to deliver shared antenatal and postnatal care, office gynaecology and family planning.
Eligibility
To undertake the Certificate of Women’s Health, you must be:
qualified in Medicine and Surgery, with a primary degree issued by a medical school listed in the WHO Publication World Directory of Medical Schools
registered with the Medical Board of Australia or Medical Council of New Zealand
undertaking your first or subsequent postgraduate year
Additionally, you must satisfy one of the following requirements:
Currently providing shared antenatal care with a recognised facility, or practising in an established GP clinic with an arrangement approved for training by the College
Currently an RACGP and/or ACRRM registrar in a GP placement where a suitable training mentor is available
Commencing or currently undertaking a hospital appointment in an obstetric resident medical officer (RMO) rotation at post-graduate year 1 (PGY1) and above, generally for a minimum of three months
RACGP: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. ACRRM: Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.
Apply
To apply for the Certificate of Women’s Health, you must:
Secure a training position in an accredited hospital or GP clinic.
Nominate a training mentor (who must hold the Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Fellowship of RANZCOG).
If training is hospital-based, your training mentor must be located on-site.
If training is practice-based, your training mentor does not need to be located on-site but must be able to meet with you on a regular basis.
Submit your application as instructed on the form, at least four weeks before commencing your training.
Course content
To receive the Certificate of Women’s Health, you must complete the training and assessment requirements outlined below.
EXPERIENCE
| Family planning | ≥ 12 consultations |
| Antenatal care | ≥ 70 consultations |
| Gynaecological | ≥ 70 consultations |
ASSESSMENTS
| Logbook | Record of training experience, workplace-based assessments, workshop participation and monthly logbook checks by the training mentor |
| Workplace-based assessments | Three paper-based assessments of clinical and procedural skills |
| Training program | Medical termination of pregnancy (mTOP) |
| Written examination | 100 multiple-choice questions (2 hrs, 15 mins) |
OPTIONAL
| Workshop | Women’s Health Practical Skills |
Please see the below sections on the Diploma and Advanced Diploma for more information on undertaking the Certificate of Women’s Health as a combined qualification.
For more information on course content, please follow the link below to the full curriculum:
Completion requirements
To be awarded the Certificate of Women’s Health, you must complete:
logbook requirements, including monthly sign-off by your training mentor
three workplace-based assessments (paper-based assessments of clinical skills)
online mTOP training course for medical termination of pregnancy (unless already an authorised PBS prescriber of MS-2 Step)
written examination, with associated fees
Timeframes
While there is no minimum training period, the Certificate of Women’s Health usually involves a minimum of three months of practice-based or hospital-based training at an accredited training hospital.
All training and assessment requirements must be completed within two years of commencing training, regardless of whether training is on a part-time or full-time basis.
Fees
Please note that the training and examination fees are payable in Australian dollars (AUD), and are not subject to Australian GST.
The College will send you instructions for payment via email.
Diploma of RANZCOG
The Diploma of RANZCOG (DRANZCOG) builds on the skills developed through the Certificate of Women’s Health. It’s intended for medical professionals with a special interest in hospital-based obstetrics and gynaecology.
This qualification can be undertaken on its own, or in combination with the Certificate of Women’s Health and/or Advanced Diploma of RANZCOG.
Following successful completion of the Diploma, you will be qualified to safely undertake non-complex deliveries, and perform basic gynaecological procedures.
Eligibility
To undertake the Diploma of RANZCOG, you must be:
qualified in Medicine and Surgery, with a primary degree issued by a medical school listed in the WHO Publication World Directory of Medical Schools
registered with the Medical Board of Australia or Medical Council of New Zealand
undertaking your second or subsequent postgraduate year
accepted into a training post accredited for the Diploma of RANZCOG
Apply
To apply for the Diploma of RANZCOG, you must:
Secure a training position in a hospital accredited by RANZCOG (or an approved combination of hospital and clinic settings if you’re undertaking the Diploma and Certificate together).
Nominate a training supervisor who:
is in active obstetric practice in the hospital where you’re undertaking training
holds either the Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Fellowship of RANZCOG
Submit your application as instructed on the form, at least four weeks before commencing your training.
Course content
To receive the Diploma of RANZCOG, you must complete the training and assessment requirements outlined below.
EXPERIENCE
| Procedures | Personally perform a minimum number of obstetric and gynaecological procedures |
| Antenatal care | ≥ 70 consultations |
| Gynaecological | ≥ 70 consultations |
ASSESSMENTS
| Logbook | Record of training experience, workplace-based assessments, workshop participation and monthly logbook checks by the training mentor |
| Workplace-based assessments | Five paper-based assessments of clinical and procedural skills |
| Training program | Fetal Surveillance |
| Workshops | Management of Obstetric Emergencies CPR of a Pregnant Woman Neonatal Resuscitation |
| Written examination | Diploma only: 50 multiple-choice questions (1 hr 10 mins) Diploma and Certificate: 150 multiple-choice questions (3 hrs 15 mins) |
Please see the below section on the Advanced Diploma for more information on undertaking the basic Diploma as a combined qualification.
For more information on course content, please follow the link below to the full curriculum:
Completion requirements
To be awarded the Diploma of RANZCOG, you must complete:
logbook requirements, including monthly sign-off by your training mentor
five workplace-based assessments of your clinical skills
fetal surveillance training program (unless already completed within the 12 months prior to commencing training)
three workshops (including a workplace-based assessment for each one)
written examination, with associated fees
all Certificate of Women’s Health training and assessment requirements (see section above)
Please note that there is no need to repeat previous training and assessment requirements if you have:
already completed the Certificate of Women’s Health
maintained your knowledge and skills by participating in continuing professional development programs approved by the Conjoint Committee for the Diploma of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Timeframes
The Diploma of RANZCOG involves at least six months of hospital-based training at an accredited hospital, under the supervision of a training supervisor. Both the training program and supervisor must be prospectively approved by the College.
All training and assessment requirements must be completed within:
two years, if undertaking the Diploma only
four years, if undertaking the Diploma in combination with the Certificate of Women’s Health
Fees
Please note that the training and examination fees are payable in Australian dollars (AUD), and are not subject to Australian GST.
The College will send you instructions for payment via email.
Advanced Diploma of RANZCOG
The Advanced Diploma of RANZCOG (DRANZCOG Adv.) builds on the skills developed through the basic Diploma. It’s intended for medical professionals who wish to further develop their knowledge and skills in hospital-based obstetrics and gynaecology.
This qualification can be undertaken on its own, or in combination with the Certificate of Women’s Health and/or Diploma of RANZCOG.
Following successful completion of the Advanced Diploma, you will be qualified to undertake complex deliveries and advanced gynaecological procedures, and to perform basic early and late pregnancy ultrasound scanning.
Eligibility
To undertake the Advanced Diploma of RANZCOG, you must be:
qualified in Medicine and Surgery, with a primary degree issued by a medical school listed in the WHO Publication World Directory of Medical Schools
registered with the Medical Board of Australia or Medical Council of New Zealand
undertaking your second or subsequent postgraduate year
accepted into a training post accredited for the Advanced Diploma of RANZCOG
Apply
To apply for the Advanced Diploma of RANZCOG, you must:
Secure a training position in a hospital accredited by RANZCOG (or an approved combination of hospital and clinic settings if you’re undertaking the Advanced Diploma in combination with the Certificate and/or basic Diploma).
Nominate two training supervisors, ensuring that:
at least one supervisor is in active obstetric practice in the hospital where you’re undertaking training
both supervisors hold either the Advanced Diploma or Fellowship of RANZCOG
Submit your application as instructed on the form, at least four weeks before commencing your training.
Course content
To receive the Advanced Diploma of RANZCOG, you must complete the training and assessment requirements outlined below.
EXPERIENCE
| Procedures and scans | Personally perform a minimum number of procedures and ultrasound scans |
ASSESSMENTS
| Logbook | Record of training experience, workplace-based assessments, workshop participation and monthly logbook checks by the training mentor |
| Workplace-based assessments | Seven paper-based assessments of clinical and procedural skills |
| Case syntheses | Five de-identified written case syntheses on a range of obstetric conditions |
| Workshop | Basic Obstetric Skills |
| Training programs | Obstetric Anal Sphincter InjurieS (OASIS) Medical termination of pregnancy (mTOP) |
| Summative assessment | Final written supervisor assessment (with optional formative appraisal feedback prior to this assessment) |
| Oral examination | Eight stations, each involving: – 2 minutes for reading – 12 minutes for examination – 20 marks |
For more information on course content, please follow the link below to the full curriculum:
Completion requirements
To be awarded the Advanced Diploma, you must complete:
logbook requirements, including monthly sign-off by your training mentor
seven workplace-based assessments of your clinical skills
five written case syntheses on a range of obstetric conditions
Basic Obstetric Skills Workshop
Obstetric Anal Sphincter InjurieS (OASIS) course (unless already completed within the 12 months prior to commencing training)
online mTOP training course for medical termination of pregnancy (unless already an authorised PBS prescriber of MS-2 Step)
oral examination, with associated fees
all Diploma of RANZCOG training and assessment requirements (see section above)
Please note that there is no need to repeat previous training and assessment requirements if you have:
already completed the Diploma of RANZCOG (and/or the Certificate of Women’s Health)
maintained your knowledge and skills by participating in continuing professional development programs approved by the Conjoint Committee for the Diploma of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Timeframes
The Advanced Diploma of RANZCOG involves at least 12 months of hospital-based training at an accredited training hospital, under the supervision of two training supervisors.
Both your training program and supervisors must be prospectively approved by the College.
All training and assessment requirements must be completed within:
two years, if undertaking the Advanced Diploma only
four years, if undertaking the Advanced Diploma in combination with the basic Diploma
Fees
Please note that the training and examination fees are payable in Australian dollars (AUD), and are not subject to Australian GST.
The College will send you instructions for payment via email.
Contact us
For more information, please contact Certificate and Diploma Services at: dts@ranzcog.edu.au.
Application processing
The College processes training applications in the order in which they are received. Once your application has been processed, you will receive your supporting training documentation, including a logbook and essential information letter.
Please allow four weeks from the time of submission for processing to occur.
If you haven’t received your documentation prior to your nominated start date, you can begin a record of your procedures and then transcribe them into your logbook, once you receive it.
If you haven’t received your training documentation, and four weeks has passed from the time of submission, please contact: dts@ranzcog.edu.au.