Joint and dual training options

The below information ONLY applies to trainees who started the FACEM Training program prior to 2022.

For trainees starting the FACEM Training program from 2022, a Joint PEM training option will be available and information will be updated by the end of 2021.

Duration: Minimum four years full-time (part-time available)
Structure: Stages 1, 2 and 3

Eligibility

You must be:

1. Registered as an Advanced trainee with either ACEM or RACP (the ‘parent College’) for the purpose of undertaking your initial specialist training (concurrent registration with both Colleges is not required), or
2. A Fellow of ACEM (FACEM), or
3. A Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP).

Curricula

FACEM Trainees undertaking the Joint Paediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) Training Program are guided and supported in their training by the PEM Advanced Training Curriculum, used in conjunction with ACEM’s Curriculum Framework.
 
The curricula specify the learning outcomes expected at the completion of each stage of training, building upon the pre-existing knowledge, skills and professional attributes of trainees. Assessment of Joint PEM trainees occurs through In-Training Assessments (ITAs) conducted by the PEM DEMT or Supervisor.

Requirements:

	ACEM Trainee Requirements	RACP Trainee Requirements
Stage 1	12 months Provisional Training in an Adult/Mixed Emergency Medicine Pass the Primary Exam	36 months Basic Training Pass FRACP Part 1 (written and clinical exams)
Stage 2	12 months paediatric medicine 18 months1 paediatric emergency medicine 6 months Paediatric ICU2 12-24 months3 adult EM Fulfil Trainee Research Requirement Pass Fellowship Exam On completion of this stage, achieves ACEM Fellowship and a letter confirming completion of Stage 2 training ACEM Pathway.	12 months Adult Emergency Medicine Training 18 months1 Paediatric Emergency Medicine Training 6 months Paediatric ICU2 Development & Psychosocial training Advanced Paediatric Life Support Course Logbook (Adult EM Procedures) Research requirement On completion of this stage, achieves RACP Fellowship and a letter confirming completion of Stage 2 training RACP Pathway.
Stage 3	12 months paediatric medicine  Pass FRACP Part 1 (written and clinical exams)  Complete Developmental & Pyschosocial requirements including 6 months mandatory training and RACP research projects On completion of this stage, receives a Dual Fellowship with ACEM & RACP	12 months adult EM  Fulfil ACEM Trainee Research Project Pass ACEM Fellowship Exam  On completion of this stage, receives a Dual Fellowship with ACEM & RACP

¹The 18 months of mandatory paediatric emergency medicine training time may only be undertaken in departments that have specific PEM accreditation and, unlike adult ED training, must be wholly undertaken during Advanced Training.

²PICU sites classified by CICM as either ‘Foundation’ or ‘Limited General Training (G6)’ will not count towards the PICU requirement of the Training Program. Sites must be classified as ‘General Training (Gen)’.​

³Dependent upon the amount of adult emergency medicine training a trainee completes during their Provisional Training phase. A minimum of 24 months adult emergency medicine training must be completed to receive FACEM and Stage 2 Letter of Completion.​

Assessments:

• Emergency Medicine Workplace-based Assessments
• In-Training Assessments

Training end-point:

There are two potential end-points to specialist training in paediatric emergency medicine:

1. Single Fellowship

Trainees may elect to terminate Joint Paediatric Emergency Medicine training at the end of stage two of the joint program, ie. once they receive Fellowship of their parent College and a letter from the Joint Training Committee stating that they have completed all requirements of the Joint PEM Training Program.

At this point, Fellows may apply to AHPRA for recognition as a Specialist Paediatric Emergency Physician.

2. Dual Fellowship

Trainees who wholly complete stage two of the joint program may also elect to continue with stage three of joint training. Before commencing stage three, it is necessary to register as a trainee with the other College (ACEM or RACP, as appropriate). Completion of all components of stage three will lead to dual fellowship of both ACEM and RACP.

Forms

Complete the relevant enrolment form: 

• Stage 2 PEM Enrolment Form (ACEM Trainees and FACEMs)
• Stage 3 PEM Enrolment Form (FRACPs)

If you are currently training with RACP, or are a FACEM wishing to commence dual Fellowship training requirements in PEM, please contact RACP directly for information about enrolling into the Joint Training Program in Paediatric Emergency Medicine.

Neonatal ICU Towards General Paediatric Medicine
The CJCT-PEM have approved in principle that up to 3m NICU training time may be accredited towards the General Paediatric Medicine component of PEM Training, subject to their review and approval of the training site and learning outcomes of the role.

For the CJCT-PEM to review 3m of your NICU placement for contribution towards the PEM training time requirement of General Paediatric Medicine, please provide the following:

• Confirmation of the NICU site at which you intend to complete this placement.
• A position description for the placement.
• If possible, confirmation of your supervisor for this placement.
• Cover letter on how you intend to address Learning Outcomes.

Joint PEM Trainees are expected to meet the Learning Outcomes as outlined in the Guideline on Certification of Neonatal ICU (NICU) to The General Paediatric Medicine Requirement for Joint PEM.

To request that an additional 3m of NICU training time be considered towards General Paediatric Medicine requirements (6m in total), you will need to submit a Special Consideration request. You should review the Exceptional Circumstances and Special Consideration Policy and if you wish to proceed, submit an application on this form, together with relevant supporting documentation.

It is unlikely that your supporting documentation will be very different to that supplied for your first request, but you may wish to include a letter of support from a relevant supervisor that identifies any specific benefits resulting from an additional 3m in this placement. An application for Special Consideration is subject to a $220 application fee.

For any questions, please contact [email protected].

RACP

e [email protected]​
m 145 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
t +61 2 8247 6232

If you have any questions, please contact the ACEM Training Team on [email protected] or call +61 (0)3 9320 0444.

The below information ONLY applies to trainees who started the FACEM Training program prior to 2022.

For trainees starting the FACEM Training program from 2022, a streamlined dual training option in Intensive Care Medicine will no longer be available.

Prerequisite: You must be concurrently registered as a specialist training program trainee of both ACEM and the College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM). This training is not a formal joint program but allows you to streamline training in both specialties.

Requirements:

Formal concurrent registration as a trainee with both CICM and ACEM is essential. This should be done as early as possible to maximise the opportunities for training components being accredited by both Colleges. 

48 months of Advanced Training, made up of:

• 24 months of Advanced Training in emergency department(s) accredited by ACEM for emergency medicine training
• 24 months of non-ED training in posts approved by the Council of Education comprising:
  - 12 months FTE intensive care medicine
  - Six months FTE anaesthetics
  - Six months FTE medicine.

How to vary your training program

Important to note

• Only at the point of application for election to Fellowship can you apply for the variation to the ACEM Advanced Training requirements
• Each College mandates and assesses the components of their individual training programs
• Retrospective recognition of prior training will not be accepted.

How to Apply

FACEM trainees who have completed concurrent training with CICM, may apply to have the standard Advanced Training requirements varied as follows:

• 24 months approved ED training will be required (rather than 30 ED months)
• 24 months approved non-ED training will be required (rather than 12 months non-ED and six months discretionary).

The substitution of six months ED training for six months non-ED training allows for completion of further six months in an approved medical term, which can also be counted towards CICM core requirements. The medical term must be completed and assessed while undertaking concurrent ACEM training. However, this substitution will not be accredited towards the FACEM qualification until completion of all dual training requirements.

Remember you should register with both ACEM and CICM as early as possible to maximise the opportunities for training components being accredited by both Colleges.

What you need to do

1. Follow the instructions for the standard FACEM Training Program application process starting at the top of this page.
2. Enrol with CICM.
3. Advise ACEM of your dual trainee status.

Contact

e [email protected]
t +61 3 9320 0444

 

Progression to Fellowship

For dual emergency and intensive care medicine trainees, the FACEM qualification will not be awarded prior to the completion of all dual training requirements that includes:

1. Obtaining CICM Fellowship, including any variation to the CICM training requirements (as specified by CICM)
2. Satisfactory completion of the FACEM Specialist Training Program, including any variation to Advanced Training (as detailed above).

Further information relating to CICM training requirements can be viewed on the CICM website.