Medical education in Australia is concerned with both the basic training of medical practitioner and further post-graduate training. A physician is a person who practices medicine. ...

Medical school

Various models of medical education exist in Australia. Undergraduate-entry program typically last 5-6 years, and permit entry from secondary school matriculation. Graduate medical programs typically last 4-4.5 years, and require the entrant to have attained a previous bachelor degree qualification at a certain level of achievement in addition to aptitude tests and interviews. Secondary school may refer to Secondary school in the United Kingdom, is the general term for the schools for children between the ages of eleven and eighteen in most areas (a few areas have schools for 13-18 year olds instead, and these are called upper schools). ... A bachelors degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course that generally lasts three or four years. ...

In early years, theoretical domains of study predominate, with increasing clinical focus during the program. However, early clinical exposure — in which students commence clinical skills from very early in the course, concurrently with theoretical study — is a component of many degrees, most notably the graduate medical programs.

Depending on the program undertaken, students graduate as Bachelor of Medicine / Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), or simply a Bachelor of Medicine (BMed), in addition to any other degrees attained during study. Medicinæ Baccalaureus & Baccalaureus Chirurgiæ (MB BChir or MB ChB or MBBS or variations thereof) are the two degrees awarded after a course in medicine at a university in the United Kingdom and other places following the British tradition. ...

Internship

All States and Territories require recently qualified medical practitioners to successfully undertake and complete at least one year of supervised practise, generally known as an internship; the internship is undertaken in hospital positions accredited for this purpose. Unlike the US counterparts who have essentially begun traineeships in their chosen field of specialty, interns in Australia are 'undifferentiated', meaning that they undertake rotations through many different specialties, typically in blocks lasting 5-7 weeks. Australia, having a federal system of government, is divided into states and territories. ... For information about a medical intern, see the article on Medical residency. ...

Aside from experience gained through working, formal educational opportunities are required to be provided by hospitals for junior doctors. Accreditation and oversight of this phase of medical education is by each State's postgraduate medical council.

Residency

Upon successful conclusion of the intern year, doctors qualify for a full registration in the Medical Board of their State or Territory, and are licensed to engage in independent medical practice. Most, however, choose to continue their training as Resident Medical Officers (RMOs) in hospitals, which typically last two years.

Some states (e.g. New South Wales) also require junior doctors to undertake a second generalist year, that is their first RMO year. Other states permit streaming from the first RMO year.

Specialist training

Specialist training varies considerably from specialist college to college. In some specialist college training programs (e.g. surgery) a trainee continues as a RMO in their early training, whilst in others trainees begin at registrar level.

At the same time as working in hospitals, registrars also prepare for examinations for admission into specialist medical colleges, such as the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, etc.

Those successful in completing the requirements of their college program become fellows of that college. They are now specialists in the case of most areas of medicine (and typically work in specialist private practice and/or as a consultant in a hospital); an exception are fellows of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, who are general practitioners, not specialists.

Continuing medical education

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All professional colleges require their members to undertake continuing medical education; the requirements of each college vary. Continuing medical education (CME) or continuing professional development (CPD) consists of educational activities which serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills, and professional performance and relationships that a medical practitioner uses to provide services for patients, the public, or the profession. ...