Assessment of Overseas Trained Dermatologists

Fees

The College charges the following fees for the assessment of overseas trained dermatologists:

• Initial assessment of documentation $AUD4,884.00 (inc. GST)
• Interview fee $AUD4,884.00 (inc. GST)

The College charges the following fees for the assessment of doctors applying for Area of Need positions in dermatology:

• Initial assessment of documentation $AUD4,884.00 (inc. GST)
• Interview fee $AUD4,884.00 (inc. GST)
• Fee for onsite visits and assessments per annum $3,850.00 (inc. GST)

The College charges the following fee for short term specified training (occupational training) program applications from hospitals/institutions:

• Fee for each application: $550 (inc. GST)

Please note that fees are subject to change as determined by the College.

General Information

Please note that our assessment does not imply or guarantee that you will:

• be entitled to registration by any medical authority; or
• be admitted to the training program of the College; or
• gain resident status in Australia

Please also note that registration by the medical boards or other medical authorities is a separate matter, and you will need to obtain detailed information from those authorities. Nor can the College assist you in obtaining resident status.

Similarly, admission to the training program of the College is based upon strict criteria, details of which are separately available.

A successful assessment of your qualifications and experience by the College does not guarantee registration for practice in Australia, or admission to the training program of the College in Australia.

Summary of Procedures for Assessment

1. Applications are made by the overseas trained specialist to the Australian Medical Council (AMC).
2. The AMC reviews the application and, if the documentation is bone fide and sufficient, forwards the OTS’s documentation to the Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD) for assessment on behalf of the AMC.
   
   The College proceeds with the assessment of an OTS only when it has received
   a formal request and relevant documentation from the AMC. Direct requests from other bodies or OTSs themselves are referred to the AMC.
   
   The application is initially considered by the Board of Censors, which decides the applicant’s level of equivalence and the subsequent assessment process. Payment of a fee for initial assessment of documentation is required prior to the assessment.
3. There are three possible initial outcomes:
   
   a) Applicants who are assessed as being of sufficient standing and experience do not require an interview and as being “equivalent” are referred to College Council for consideration of conferring Fellowship of the College. This would occur only in exceptional circumstances.
   
   b) Applicants who appear to have training and experience “near equivalent” to that of a Fellow of College, are interviewed to determine that equivalence and whether there is a need for further assessment/training and/or to sit College examinations.
   
   c) In the case of applicants whose training and experience is assessed as being “not equivalent”, in that they could not attain “equivalence” to an Australian trained dermatologist after a maximum of two years supervised clinical training, the AMC is notified (AMC Report 1).
4. The majority of applicants will need an interview to determine their status as compared to an Australian trained dermatologist. If an applicant is assessed to be “near equivalent”, i.e. they could attain “equivalence” within a two year interval of time, the Interview Panel determines what further training/assessment is needed and whether part or all of the College examinations should be sat. The interview is minuted and taped. Applicants may be accompanied by support persons but not legal counsel. Payment of an interview fee is required for application for an interview.
5. The composition of the OTS Interview Panel will be the Chief Censor, Honorary Secretary, two senior Fellows of the ACD, an appropriate health jurisdiction representative, and a layperson.
6. The recommendations by the OTS Interview Panel may be that:
   
   a) The OTS’s training and experience is fully “equivalent” to that of an Australian
   trained dermatologist currently entering the workforce and does not require any period of assessment/training or sit the College examinations. These applicants are referred to College Council for consideration of the applicant for Fellowship of the College. (AMC Report 1 is completed and sent to the AMC.)
   
   b) That the OTS is “near equivalent”. This implies that the applicant will need a period of further training/assessment up to a maximum of two years to obtain “equivalence”, and/or is required to sit for part or all of the College examinations and to fulfil all of the requirements of the curriculum as stated in the College’s Training Program Handbook. This recommendation also includes an identification of specific areas in which further training/assessment is required. (AMC Report 1 is completed and sent to the AMC.)
   If the recommendation is “near equivalent”, the Interview Panel will also detail training/assessment requirements of the OTS and notify the Honorary Secretary of the ACD. In particular, they will specify:
   
   (i) the number of months of further training/assessment needed;
   
   (ii) the areas of the curriculum where specialised training and/or attendance at specific courses is required;
   
   (iii) whether or not publication requirements need to be satisfied;
   
   (iv) that the OTS needs to undergo regular supervision and regular assessment;
   
   (v) that the OTS needs to follow the Code of Conduct of trainees of College.
   
   c) That the OTS is “not equivalent” and would need more than two years of supervised training/assessment to obtain “equivalence”. (AMC Report 1 is completed and sent to the AMC.)
7. If the applicant is required to undertake further supervised training, they are advised to contact the State Faculty of College of their choice, to negotiate training opportunities.
8. The OTS is able to appeal decisions of the College regarding the outcome of the assessment and interview. The College’s appeals procedures are set out in the Training Program Handbook on the College’s website, www.dermcoll.asn.au.

Documentation Required

Applicants will be required to submit the following documentation:

1. A detailed curriculum vitae containing full details of previous training and experience relevant to dermatology. This will include:
   
   • Specialist training undertaken in dermatology, including dates, length of course, institution or sponsoring body and activity and scope of the training.
   • Evidence of the level of supervision during training, name of supervisor.
   • Clinical experience, including number of clinics attended, types of patients seen and logbooks of dermatological procedures.
   • Information regarding training activities.
2. Information regarding the status of the hospital concerned.
3. Confirmation of employment and level of appointment from the hospital where training was completed.
4. Certified copies of qualifications.
   
   • Medical degree accepted by Australian universities
   • Medical registration in good standing from another country
   • Specialist qualification in dermatology
   • Other specialist degrees/qualifications
   • Membership of professional bodies and duration of membership.
5. Name of two professional referees willing to be contacted by the ACD who can provide a written report in support of the application. The applicant is also advised that the College has the right to seek in confidence reports from other referees not listed in the application that may be of assistance in the consideration of the application. These reports are supplied in confidence and the College will not necessarily disclose details to the applicant.
6. Experience post-training. Detailed information should be provided by the applicant as to which institutions and practices he/she has worked in since obtaining their specialist degree(s) and the range of clinical material seen.
   
   • Chronological account of experiences in the specialty to include clinics, type of practice, and institutions in which the OTS has worked
   • Capacity or responsibility in each place
   • Nature of work in each place
   • Reporting relationship
   • Hours per week
   • Dermatology practice for each position
   • Length of time (not working as a dermatologist).
7. Recency of practice.
8. Publications. The applicant is asked to provide a list of all publications and to indicate the five papers which they consider the most significant.
9. Details of presentations.
10. Other supporting material.

Interview Procedure
The aim of the interview is to determine and confirm the nature and quality of the applicant’s training and experience, and to ensure the applicant understands the standards of competence and safety expected of an Australian trained dermatologist. The Interview Panel will determine whether the applicant’s specialist training and experience considered in totality is comparable to those of an Australian trained dermatologist.

In relation to training, the Interview Panel considers the adequacy and quality of clinical exposure and experience, the academic environment of the training and the comparability of the training or otherwise to that undertaken by Australian trainees.

In relation to experience, the Interview Panel considers at what level the applicant was practising and other factors that indicate that the person was engaged in lifelong learning. These include participation in a continuing professional development program, evidence of research and publications, evidence of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and evidence of leadership at a local, national or international level in dermatology.

The interview focuses on the following:

1. Undergraduate/prevocational/vocational training and examinations
This aspect of the interview looks at what training the OTS has had, with particular emphasis on specialist training and final exit examinations. This should be comparable with the training and examination requirements of the College. Differences in training and examinations are carefully documented. In particular, experience in conditions common in Australia, such as skin cancers and solar damaged skin will be determined.

2. Post-specialisation experience
The interview looks at the history of the OTS after attaining their specialist qualification. In particular:

a. Clinical experience
b. Involvement in research
c. Involvement in education and teaching
d. Knowledge and awareness of current issues in dermatology
e. Recency of practice

a. Clinical Experience: the applicant will be asked in which institutions he/she has worked since obtaining specialist qualifications, and the range of clinical material seen. In particular, the applicant will be asked about their experience in the management of conditions common in Australia, (e.g. skin cancers and solar damaged skin). This evaluation is essential to determine how much and what type of extra clinical training may be necessary.

b. Research: the applicant should be prepared discuss past and ongoing research interests.

c. Education and Teaching: the applicant’s involvement in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching is explored, particularly the teaching methods he/she may have used.

d. Current Issues: this is an opportunity for the interview panel to explore and assess the applicant’s awareness and knowledge of major current issues in dermatology and whether he/she has maintained a documented continuing education program.

e. Recency of Practice: the applicant’s recent work history will be discussed.