Prevocational Pathway
The Prevocational Pathway establishes foundation-level knowledge and skills in obstetrics and gynaecology, with a focus on preparing prevocational doctors for entry into the Fellowship of RANZCOG specialist training program.
Introduction
By connecting prevocational doctors with resources and self-guided learning activities, the Prevocational Pathway provides:
opportunities to acquire core knowledge and skills before commencing specialist training
ongoing professional development for participants who are in a transition period while seeking entry to the Fellowship of FRANZCOG (FRANZCOG) training program
practical skills training via workshops relevant to the FRANZCOG training program
six points in the FRANZCOG trainee selection process (under the ‘Professional’ category in the CV application scoring)
This training pathway is intended for post-graduate year 1 and 2 (PGY1 and PGY2) medical graduates, and other doctors seeking to further specialise after completing the Certificate of Women’s Health, Diploma of RANZCOG or Advanced Diploma of RANZCOG.
Eligibility
In Australia, doctors must have completed and maintained the Certificate of Women’s Health, Diploma of RANZCOG or Advanced Diploma of RANZCOG.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, doctors must meet one of the eligibility requirements listed below.
Completed:
University of Auckland Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHSc)
University of Otago Postgraduate Certificate in Women’s Health (PGCertWHlth)
Completed or enrolled into:
University of Auckland Postgraduate Diploma in Obstetrics and Medical Gynaecology (PGDipOMG)
University of Otago Postgraduate Diploma in Obstetrics and Medical Gynaecology (PGDipOMG)
Please note that you must upload evidence of your enrolment into the PGDipOMG when applying for the Prevocational Pathway.
Additionally, you must provide evidence that you’ve completed the PGDipOMG to receive your Prevocational Pathway certification.
Apply
Doctors wishing to undertake the Prevocational Pathway can apply online here at any time.
Please note that the application asks you to provide proof that you’ve completed one of the following:
Certificate of Women’s Health, Diploma of RANZCOG, or Advanced Diploma of RANZCOG
(or a Letter of Participation confirming that you’ve completed the training requirements and you’re awaiting ratification of results)
Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHSc), Postgraduate Certificate in Women’s Health (PGCertWHlth), or Postgraduate Diploma in Obstetrics and Medical Gynaecology (PGDipOMG)
(or an official confirmation of enrolment for the PGDipOMG)
Please note that proof of eligibility must be issued by your university. Online print-outs will not be accepted.
If you hold qualifications in both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, either one will be eligible.
To minimise delays in processing, please ensure that the information and documentation you provide is true, accurate and meets the specified criteria.
Course content
The Prevocational Pathway consists of 12 online modules and three workshops that you can work through in any order, and at your own pace (within two years from the date of subscription).
Modules
Each module includes access to dynamic resources, self-guided learning activities and a short online assessment. It will take you approximately 33 hours to complete all 12 modules.
Module topics include:
anatomy
maternal physiology in pregnancy
placental physiology
neonatal physiology
physiological responses to surgery
long-acting reversible contraception
intercultural learning
abortion
management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and STI syndromes
developing effective communication skills
feedback for trainees
helping patients make informed decisions
Doctors must achieve an assessment score of at least 80 per cent to pass each module. Multiple attempts of each module are permitted.
Workshops
Workshops promote active learning and include practical activities to optimise your participation.
To meet course requirements, you must complete three workshops in the following areas:
Fetal surveillance
Neonatal resuscitation
Basic obstetrics skills
Doctors are responsible for making their own arrangements to complete these workshops and for all associated costs. Please see the section on Workshop Providers below for a non-exhaustive list of options you may wish to consider.
If you’re subsequently offered a place in the FRANZCOG training program, you will be exempt from repeating these workshops, so long as each one:
meets the workshops criteria outlined below
was completed within the two years before entry into the FRANZCOG training program
Workshop criteria
Each of the three workshops must meet the following criteria:
| Duration: | Four hours or more |
| Delivery format: | Face-to-face, or a combination of face-to-face and online* |
| Evidence: | Official certificate of completion (or official letter from the provider or assessor in the absence of a certificate) |
| Validity: | Completion within two years from your date of enrolment into the Prevocational Pathway |
*The RANZCOG Online Fetal Surveillance Education Program (OFSEP) is an exception to this requirement — it is a comprehensive, fully online program and is accepted for the fetal surveillance requirement.
If you complete a single workshop:
it must include a face-to-face component
the four hours may include pre-reading, but this must be noted in the evidence of completion
If you complete a combination of online and face-to-face workshops:
the combination must total four hours or more
all online modules must be completed within a year
certificates of completion for each module must be merged into one document and submitted together
Workshop providers
Please note that the below list of workshop examples is provided for information purposes only. The list is non-exhaustive and does not imply endorsement by RANZCOG.
Fetal surveillance
| Program | Provider |
|---|---|
| FSEP: Fetal Surveillance Education Program (face-to-face program) | RANZCOG |
| OFSEP: Online Fetal Surveillance Education Program (online certificate; exempt from face-to-face requirement) | RANZCOG |
| Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM) Master Tutor | IntelliLearn |
| Perinatal Training Programme (PTP)* | K2 Medical Systems |
| Perinatal Training Programme (PTP) Australia* | K2 Medical Systems |
| Advanced Fetal Assessment | King Edward Memorial Hospital (WA Health) |
| Fetal Safety Education — replacing the Fetal welfare, Obstetric emergencies and Neonatal resuscitation Training (FONT) program in NSW | NSW Health |
*Minimum modules to be completed include: Antenatal CTG: The non-stress test; Cord blood gas; Errors and limitations in fetal monitoring; Fetal physiology; Intrapartum cardiotocography; Intrapartum intermittent auscultati.
Neonatal resuscitation
| Program | Provider |
|---|---|
| Intermediate and advanced courses of four hours or more in duration | NeoResus |
| First Response | NeoResus |
| Face-to-face courses and online modules | Health Education and Training Institute (HETI) |
| Neonatal Resuscitation (NeoResus) | Mater Education |
| Newborn Life Support | New Zealand Resuscitation Council |
| Newborn Life Support (one-day course) | Western Health |
Basic obstetrics skills
| Program | Provider / Details |
|---|---|
| Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) | Advanced Maternal and Reproductive Education (AMaRE) |
| Preparation in Maternity Safety (ALSO, PIMS) | AMaRE |
| Advancing in Maternity Safety (ALSO part 2 AIMS) | AMaRE |
| Maternity and Newborn Emergencies (MANE) program | – |
| Interdisciplinary Training in the Management of Obstetric Emergencies (InTime) | – |
| Practical Obstetric Multi-Professional Training (PROMPT) | Four-hour initial course will be accepted as an exception — check with your individual hospital regarding the running of PROMPT workshops |
| Basic Obstetric Skills Workshop | Fiona Stanley Hospital |
| Fundamentals in Obstetric Care | Monash Health |
| SMaRT Obstetrics Emergencies Course | – |
| Maternity Education Program Advanced (MEP-Adv) courses | – |
| BOSS (Basic Obstetrics Skills Station) | Mater Education |
| NOVICE (Novice Obstetrics and Gynaecology Prevocational Interactive Clinical Education) | Mater Education |
| Rural Generalist Advanced Skills Training Introductory Workshop: Obstetrics & Gynaecology | Five-day workshop |
Completion requirements
To receive Prevocational Pathway certification, you must:
achieve a pass rate of 80 percent for each online module
provide certificates of completion for all three workshops
Please note that you must also complete a mandatory survey to receive your certificate.
Timeframes
Doctors will have access to the Prevocational Pathway for two years from the date of subscription. If you do not complete your training within this timeframe, you will need to resubscribe.
FRANZCOG National Selection
Doctors wishing to apply for the FRANZCOG training program must complete the Prevocational Pathway at least 10 business days before National Selection closes in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
This allows time for the College to check all documentation before issuing the Prevocational Pathway certificate.
For more information, please see our FRANZCOG Trainee Selection page.
Fees
Please note that this training fee does not include workshop costs. The training fee is payable at the time of application in Australian dollars (AUD), and is not subject to Australian GST.
Instructions for payment are included on the Prevocational Pathway application form — please see the Apply section above.
COVID-19 exemptions — for FRANZCOG National Selection*
*2022 selection cycle only
The College applied the following exemptions for those enrolled into the PVP from 15th September 2021 and who wanted to apply for the 2022 FRANZCOG National Selection period only.
Certificates dated from 1st January 2019 were accepted as evidence to the PVP for the 2022 National selection cycle only. This exemption aligns with 4.3 Professional Development of the RANZCOG Trainee Selection Process guidelines.
Official confirmation of registration to an upcoming workshop was accepted as evidence to the PVP. The workshop must have been scheduled and completed before 1st December 2022.
Participants should have first attempted to attend an approved online workshop, if not available then official confirmation of registration to an upcoming workshop was accepted.
Participants who wanted to apply to FRANZCOG were required to upload a confirmation of registration to an upcoming workshop and then request a COVID exemption letter, by emailing: pvp@ranzcog.edu.au.
PVP certificates will only be issued when the workshop has been completed and an official certificate of completion has been uploaded to the PVP eLearning platform. This must be submitted by 1st December 2022.
Non-completion of the workshop and therefore PVP certificate by 1st December 2022 may affect your Selection into the 2023 training year.
Contact
For more information, please contact the Prevocational Pathway coordinator at: pvp@ranzcog.edu.au.