The Dual Training Recognition Process offers a mechanism for combining training towards FANZCA and FCICM in less time than it currently takes to complete both training programs sequentially.
Upon successful completion of each training program, a dual training graduate will be both a FANZCA and a FCICM. These qualifications together are particularly advantageous in rural and regional centres across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand given the same individual could work in both specialist scopes of practice.
A Dual Training Recognition Process takes advantage of the skills shared between anaesthesia and intensive care medicine whilst ensuring that the dually qualified specialist has achieved equivalent learning outcomes to graduates from each individual training program.
The Dual Training Recognition Process will be available to trainees who have been accepted into both the ANZCA and CICM training programs. Each college will maintain its existing selection processes.
This can be done in a variety of ways, and we recommend trainees wishing to undertake the Dual Training Recognition Process to consult with an ANZCA Director of Professional Affairs (DPA) and CICM Training Team.
The Dual Training Recognition Process has been designed to offer completion in less time than ANZCA and CICM training programs being undertaken separately.
A Guidance Document has been drafted to support trainees, supervisors and other key stakeholders navigating the Dual Training Recognition Process. It presents the most efficient way to achieving a Fellowship for both training programs.
Duration to completing dual training will depend on individual trainees’ circumstances however will allow completion in a reduced overall timeframe (approximately 2.7 years shorter), if both training programs were to be undertaken sequentially.
Yes. A recognition of prior learning process will be available.
Dual trainees may apply to the Directors of Professional Affairs (DPAs) at each college for assessment and awarding of training credits.
ANZCA and CICM will open the applications for RPL on Monday 03 August 2026.
ANZCA has established guidelines for reviewing and assessing RPL for trainees undertaking Dual Training Recognition Process. The relevant regulations can be found in ANZCA Regulation 37 - 37.7.2 Recognition of prior learning in an anaesthesia-related specialty.
CICM will publish its RPL guidelines for dual trainees soon.
Dual trainees are required to complete the following examinations throughout dual training:
| Training period | Examination |
| ANZCA Basic Training / CICM Phase 1 | ANZCA Primary Exam plus CICM Gap Assessment OR CICM First Part Exam plus ANZCA Gap Assessment |
| CICM Phase 2 | CICM Second Part Examination |
| ANZCA Advanced Training | ANZCA Fellowship Examination |
A trainee who has commenced vocational training with one college before being admitted to Fellowship of the other college is eligible to undertake the exam gap assessment.
A trainee who is already a Fellow of either college is not eligible to sit the exam gap assessment as an alternative to the Primary / Basic Sciences Examination.
Trainees undertaking the ANZCA CICM Dual Training Recognition Process will not be required to sit both the ANZCA Primary and the CICM First Part examinations.
Dual trainees will be required to successfully complete one core examination, either the ANZCA Primary OR the CICM First Part Exam, plus a gap assessment. The gap assessment addresses syllabus not covered by the selected core exam, i.e. trainees undertaking the CICM First Part exam are required to complete the ANZCA Gap Assessment, and vice versa.
A dual trainee will only be eligible to sit either, not both, the ANZCA Primary or CICM First Part exam. If the dual trainee is unsuccessful with the selected exam and wishes to continue with Dual Training Recognition Process, they will be required to continue with the selected (first attempted) exam and be subject to the rules governing the examination process, including the maximum number of permitted attempts, as stipulated by the respective college.
This process is for Dual Trainees only. If a trainee decides to withdraw from dual training and continue with single specialty training – they must comply with the relevant college’s training requirements.
PLEASE NOTE: The regulations and timelines related to completion of the ANZCA Primary / CICM First Part exam and gap assessment are still being considered. FAQs and the Guidance document will be updated as soon as decisions are confirmed by ANZCA Council and CICM Board.
No, each college will maintain its current standards and program requirements to ensure alignment with the specialist graduate outcomes.
There are rules and regulations outlined in the guidance document that are specific to the Dual Training Recognition Process.
The Dual Training Recognition Process will be available from Monday, 3 August 2026. Guidance and support for both trainees and their supervisors will be offered.
Trainees will need to be selected onto both training programs and seek advice from the ANZCA DPA and/or CICM Training Team to plan training activities/progression.
Dual trainees will continue to pay the training fee of the primary college in which a trainee is currently enrolled. A reduced fee will be charged for registered dual trainees when completing training at the other college.
Dual trainees applying for RPLE must apply to the relevant college and pay the associated non-refundable RPLE fees.
Dual trainees will pay a fee to complete the Gap Assessment on top of the core exam fee. (This fee is yet to be determined).
Both ANZCA and CICM are being transparent about the work that has been undertaken to date to enhance the integration of the two specialty training programs.
The name has been changed to better reflect what is being offered as a result of collaboration between ANZCA and CICM, which is NOT a new training program leading to the award of dual Fellowship, but rather the streamlined recognition of prior learning (RPL) process for trainees wanting to train in both scopes of practice.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between ANZCA and CICM establishes the collaboration for joint acknowledgment of a Dual Training Recognition Process with the aim to actively cultivate and maintain the highest principles and standards in the training, practice and ethics of anaesthesia and intensive care medicine. The MOU also defines the project governance and terms of reference for the Conjoint Committee which oversees the development of the Dual Training Recognition Process.
The Conjoint Committee is chaired by Professor Peter Morley AM, a dual Fellowship holder. The Conjoint Committee has nine members consisting of representatives from ANZCA, CICM, dual Fellowship holders, a community representative and a current ANZCA / CICM dual trainee.
Two working groups report to the Conjoint Committee.
- The Curriculum Integration Working Group (CIWG) was formed to undertake the ANZCA and CICM curriculum comparison work. The scope of this work included all training components, except for the examinations. The CIWG provided findings and recommendations for cross-recognition of training requirements to achieve community-focused outcomes which were endorsed by the Conjoint Committee, ANZCA Council and CICM Board in late 2023.
- The ANZCA and CICM Primary Examination Comparison Working Group (PEC-WG) was established to assess commonalities and differences between the ANZCA primary and CICM first part examinations. Recommendations from this working group were endorsed by the Conjoint Committee and approved by ANZCA Council and CICM Board in 2024.
ANZCA and CICM will maintain autonomy in selecting trainees into their respective training program.
A trainee is considered a dual trainee if they have been successfully selected into both CICM and ANZCA vocational training programs and registered their dual training status with each college.
No, there is no such list. Trainees are advised that ICM training must be undertaken in units accredited by CICM and anaesthesia training must be completed in departments recognised by ANZCA for training. There are many hospitals which are accredited for both ANZCA and CICM training.
Both CICM and ANZCA retain autonomy over their own vocational training program and accreditation of their own training sites.
The paediatric intensive care training is not part of the Dual Training Recognition Process.
Example scenarios
Here are some generic case-based scenarios to help you better understand the DTRP.
To register as a Dual Training Recognition Process trainee, you must have been selected for both training programs – that is, you must be undertaking vocational training with both CICM and ANZCA simultaneously.
To be selected into the ANZCA training program, the candidate has been through the local selection process and has been offered a vocational position (as an anaesthetic registrar) by an ANZCA-accredited training site. The local selection process may vary from region to region. In some regions/territories, it is a centralised process, while some training sites may make appointments independently. The DTRP does not change this selection process.
Prospective ANZCA trainees are advised to speak with the anaesthesia supervisors of training and/or education officers for further information on the local selection process. Supervisors of training at each ANZCA training site and regional education officers can be found on the ANZCA website.
You can apply to the DPA Assessor for recognition of prior learning after being selected into the ANZCA training program.
A registered dual trainee must have passed the CICM First Part examination to be eligible for the anaesthesia gap assessment. The anaesthesia gap assessment dates are being finalised and will become available in coming months.
As long as you are part of both training programs, ANZCA will recognise a successful CICM First Part Exam attempt plus the anaesthesia gap assessment (instead of sitting the ANZCA Primary Exam).
Both colleges will maintain autonomy in selecting trainees into their respective training program. If you aren’t selected into the CICM training program at this time, you’ll need to sit the ANZCA Primary Exam to progress through ANZCA training. You can reapply to CICM after you’ve sat the ANZCA Primary Exam.
Once a trainee has been selected into the ANCZA training program, their ICM experience will be eligible for recognition of prior learning. The ANZCA DPA will be able to provide further guidance at that time.
The selection process for ANZCA training varies from region to region. Selection in Victoria for intake at the beginning of a hospital employment year is through a centralised process, administered by the Victorian Anaesthesia Training Scheme (VATS), and trainees should apply to VATS. However, from time to time, individual departments may recruit independent trainees when a vacancy becomes available due to rotational trainees taking extended leave. Therefore, you may wish to contact individual departments for availability in training positions outside the usual annual intake (February of each year).
You need to follow the local (NSW) processes to be selected into the ANZCA training program. They can make enquiry with the ANZCA NSW office, and another resource would be the anaesthesia SOT at RPA. You can then register for dual training – this will be via a form that will be available soon.