Training Post Accreditation – FAQs

A prospective Health Setting is responsible for completing and submitting the Training Post Accreditation Application. The application should be completed by the Applying Officer, who will be the main contact for all communications regarding the training post application. This may be the Line Manager, Training Supervisor or a dedicated Accreditation employee of the Health Setting. Candidates are not able to complete the application.

Training post Accreditation Application forms may be submitted at any time throughout the year. If you are a current Candidate who is changing training posts that require accreditation, please also see FAQ no.8. Prospective Candidates must have an Accredited or Provisionally Accredited training post to be eligible for entry into the Fellowship Training Program (FTP). The timing of submitting applications for accreditation should be carefully considered, as processing may take several months. This timeframe may be extended if a site visit is required.

Please see FAQ 3.

The Australian Medical Council recommends that new health settings submit an accreditation application at least six months before a trainee is due to commence in the training post.

The time required to complete the accreditation process can vary significantly, depending on several factors, including:

• Completeness of the initial application – Applications are often submitted without all the required evidence and supporting policies. The Accreditation and Training Unit will follow up with the health setting after the initial review, and delays can occur while waiting for these documents.
• Ability to meet accreditation standards – Some health settings may meet the standards readily, while others may need to provide additional evidence or documentation, as determined by the Accreditation Committee. This may take anywhere from a week to several months.
• Fact-checking of the draft Accreditation Report – Health settings are provided with a draft Accreditation Report to review and provide feedback. This stage can take additional time if further correspondence, clarification or meetings are needed.
• Timing of application submission – The Accreditation Committee meets monthly to consideration accreditation outcomes.

If you have any concerns about the timing of your application, please contact the Accreditation and Training Unit.

If your accreditation has lapsed, please contact the Accreditation and Training Unit to discuss the next steps.

In most cases, the health setting will be required to submit a new application demonstrating that it meets all applicable accreditation standards. The College may also provide guidance on any specific actions that need to be taken before reapplying.

Yes — if you are considering applying for the RACMA Fellowship Training Program (FTP) and currently hold a medical management position, your organisation must have the position accredited as a training post. This requires submitting a Training Post Accreditation Application Form. Please refer to [FAQ 3] for information about the timing of accreditation.

Applications for the Fellowship Training Program are only accepted during specific periods. For key dates and further information, please follow this link.

A Training Post may be accredited for a Registrar Role or a Substantive Role.

• Registrar Training Post: A position suitable and accredited for Registrars undertaking training towards Fellowship of RACMA.
• Substantive Training Post: A substantive role or position which the Candidate/prospective Candidate in employed and which has been assessed and accredited as suitable for training towards Fellowship of RACMA.

A training post may be granted one of the following accreditation statuses:

• Provisional Accreditation is typically granted for a period of up to six months following a desktop review of the application. This period allows the Candidate, Training Supervisor and Line Manager to establish appropriate training processes within the health setting.

A site visit is then conducted by an Accreditation Panel. Based on the findings of the site visit, the accreditation outcome will be determined.

• Full Accreditation: Granted when the training post meets all accreditation requirements. Full accreditation is typically valid for up to four years, with annual monitoring and reporting requirements.

• Accreditation with Conditions: Granted when certain conditions need to be addressed within a specified timeframe. The training post will be subject to review to ensure compliance with the conditions and annual monitoring and reporting.

• Accreditation Withdrawn: If an Accredited training post no longer meets the standards, accreditation may be withdrawn.

• Not Accredited: If a health setting applies for accreditation but does not demonstrate that it meets the required standards—and these cannot be addressed through conditions—accreditation will not be granted. The College will work closely with the health setting to develop a plan for improvement. This process may include implementing corrective actions, such as structured training plans and regular consultations with the Training Supervisor or Line Manager. Once these actions have been taken, the health setting may reapply for accreditation

Moving training posts must be approved by RACMA for the Candidate to be eligible for credited time in supervised practice.

If you plan to move to a training post that already holds accreditation, a review of training post’s suitability for you is required, please complete the Request to Move Training Post Form.

If the health setting you are moving to is not an accredited training post, then a  Request to Move Training Post Form and a Training Post Accreditation Application are required.

Please contact the Accreditation Unit by email accreditation@racma.edu.au or call +61 3 9824 4699 (option 3) for guidance on how to proceed and to ensure your MyRACMA training dashboard is updated.

Yes, a health setting can apply for Training Post Accreditation without a Candidate in place. If the training post is deemed suitable, it may be provided Provisional Accreditation. Once a Candidate is identified to fill the training post, a desktop review will be conducted to assess the training post’s suitability for the Candidate.

1. If a training post has a Candidate who commenced training in 2025 under the renewed Fellowship Training Program (2025 FTP), or who has opted into the 2025 FTP, the post must meet the accreditation requirements for Workplace-Based Assessments (WBAs). 

   If the Candidate plans to move training posts, the accreditation of the new post may need to be reviewed to ensure it aligns with the requirements of the 2025 FTP.

    

   Training posts with Candidates who commenced prior to 2025 are not required to meet the WBA criteria.

If you believe there is a conflict of interest related to your accreditation, you should promptly declare this to the College Accreditation Unit. It is essential to communicate any personal or professional interests that could affect the impartiality of the accreditation process.

The College will review any disclosed conflict of interest and determine suitable next steps. This may include reassessing the involvement of specific individuals—such as Accreditation Committee members—or adjusting the composition of the Assessment Team as needed.

Training settings are expected to work with College staff to develop the site visit schedule. To support a smooth accreditation visit, all interviewees should be informed of their scheduled interview times and be available on the day. Suitable interview spaces or video conferencing facilities should also be arranged in advance.

Please note that the lack of availability of key stakeholders may impact the timelines for completing the accreditation process.

During an accreditation site visit, you can expect the following:

Pre-Visit Preparation: The Accreditation Team will coordinate with the health setting to arrange logistics, including identifying key stakeholders and scheduling interviews. The site visit will always include the Line Manager, Training Supervisor and Candidate.

Document Review: Relevant documentation – such as training policies, procedures, and evidence related to WBAs – will be reviewed to assess compliance with accreditation standards.

Interviews: The Accreditation Team will conduct interviews with key stakeholders. These interviews provide an opportunity to discuss stakeholder experiences, training processes, and the support provided. The Accreditation Team may also undertake observations in the training site.

Confidential Discussions: Following the interviews, the Accreditation Team will meet privately to evaluate the training post against the accreditation criteria and prepare their findings.

Feedback Session: At the end of the site visit, the Accreditation Team may share preliminary feedback, highlighting strengths and any areas for improvement.

Overall, the site visit is a collaborative process designed to ensure the training post meets the standards required for accreditation.

The Accreditation Team determines the training post Accreditation outcome through a structured process that involves several key steps:

Reviewing Evidence: The team reviews the submitted documentation, including the site self-assessment form, details of training processes, ability to meet workplace-based assessments (WBAs), and feedback from Candidates, Training Supervisors and Line Managers.

Conducting Site Visits: see FAQ 13 for further information.

Assessment Against Criteria: The Accreditation Team evaluates the training post against the established RACMA Training Post Accreditation Standards.

Risk Assessment: A risk assessment is conducted to identify any issues that may affect accreditation. This includes considerations of Candidate safety, quality of the program delivery, and the likelihood of addressing identified gaps.

Findings and Recommendations: Based on the evidence, the Accreditation Team prepares a draft Accreditation Report outlining the outcome, findings, recommendations and any conditions. This report is sent to the health setting, which has 10 business days to provide feedback.

Accreditation Outcome: The Accreditation Committee considers the Accreditation Team’s findings and recommendations and determines the accreditation outcome. The outcome is communicated to the health setting.

This thorough and systematic approach ensures that the accreditation outcome accurately reflects the training post’s ability to meet the necessary standards for effective training.

If a training post does not meet the RACMA Training Post Accreditation Standards, the College will work closely with the health setting to develop a plan for improvement. This process may include implementing corrective actions, such as structured training plans and regular consultations with the Training Supervisor or Line Manager. Once these actions have been taken, the health setting may reapply for accreditation.

If a training setting disagrees with an accreditation outcome, it may follow the Reconsideration, Review, and Appeals (RRA) process outlined in the College policy.