Neurology a subspeciality of Internal Medicine in Oz ?

[Marsupilami]

Yes, that's my question. I ask this because I have recently heard from two German trained neurologists that their training was not recognized in Oz due to the fact that they went straight on to do their Neurology residency after med school and internship ( like in the US, apparently) instead of working in internal medicine for some time. If I'm correct, Neurologists in Oz don't have their own college but belong to the RACP, so that probably means that they undergo training in various fields of internal medicine before they start as registrars in neuro....is this correct ?
Furthermore, I'd really like to know how competitive Neurology is Down Under...I just cannot decide between IM and Neuroloy

Thanks

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[Ezekiel20]

Yes, that's my question. I ask this because I have recently heard from two German trained neurologists that their training was not recognized in Oz due to the fact that they went straight on to do their Neurology residency after med school and internship ( like in the US, apparently) instead of working in internal medicine for some time. If I'm correct, Neurologists in Oz don't have their own college but belong to the RACP, so that probably means that they undergo training in various fields of internal medicine before they start as registrars in neuro....is this correct ?
Furthermore, I'd really like to know how competitive Neurology is Down Under...I just cannot decide between IM and Neuroloy

Thanks

That is correct. Neurologists first train in the BPT (basic physician training) scheme, doing various rotations through IM.

They must then pass the college exam (MCQ followed by clinical - also known as 'long case' exams), after which they're selected into the various subspecialties within IM.

The popular subspecialities are cardiology and gastroenterology (mostly due to high salary thanks to the bread-and-butter procedures). Neurology is relatively easy to get into.

BTW you cannot simply do 'IM' in Australia, unless you want to practice in rural areas. Medical specialists in the big cities invariably have qualifications in their chosen areas of specialty.


Hope this helps,

 

[Marsupilami]

That is correct. Neurologists first train in the BPT (basic physician training) scheme, doing various rotations through IM.

They must then pass the college exam (MCQ followed by clinical - also known as 'long case' exams), after which they're selected into the various subspecialties within IM.

The popular subspecialities are cardiology and gastroenterology (mostly due to high salary thanks to the bread-and-butter procedures). Neurology is relatively easy to get into.

BTW you cannot simply do 'IM' in Australia, unless you want to practice in rural areas. Medical specialists in the big cities invariably have qualifications in their chosen areas of specialty.


Hope this helps,

So after becoming a fellow of the RACP, can one directly enter the neurology route ? Or does one have to work in IM also after the RACP exams as an aspiring neurologist ?

Actually Cardiology would be the specialty of my choice in IM...I wonder what the chances for an IMG are.

Anyway, your reply was of great help. Thank you !

 

[Ezekiel20]

So after becoming a fellow of the RACP, can one directly enter the neurology route ? Or does one have to work in IM also after the RACP exams as an aspiring neurologist ?

Actually Cardiology would be the specialty of my choice in IM...I wonder what the chances for an IMG are.

Anyway, your reply was of great help. Thank you !

Once you've passed the written and the clinical exams at the end of the BPT and gotten into a training scheme (whether it be neurology, cardiology, etc), you're an advanced trainee, not a fellow of the college.

You only become a fellow of the RACP (ie. FRACP) upon completion of the advanced physician training programme, by which time you will have become a qualified neurologist/cardiologist/gastroenterologist etc.

 

[Marsupilami]

Ok, Ezekiel, now I get it . Thanks again.