The College is continuing to monitor the restrictions in Australia, New Zealand and around the World due to the current COVID-19 outbreaks. The College is continuing to monitor the restrictions in Australia, New Zealand and around the World due to the current COVID-19 outbreaks. In S2 2020, S1 2021 and S2 2021 several written examinations were successfully delivered via online proctoring.
To maintain the safety of candidates and considering variable and unpredictable jurisdictional lockdowns and limitations on travel, the College will deliver all written examinations via online proctoring in 2022.
Series 1 2023 Clinical Radiology Examinations
There are two major exams in the Clinical Radiology Training Program:
The Part 1 exams consist of examinations in Anatomy and Applied Imaging Technology (AIT) and must be completed within two years of commencing training:
One three-hour paper to assess trainee knowledge of radiologic anatomy:
120 labels worth ¼ mark each, across six body regions. Minimum one diagram per region and maximum of two.
60 MCQs worth one mark per question
30 VSAs worth one mark per question
20 SAQs worth three marks per question
There are six topic areas (body regions) covered in the examination. Please note, these percentages provide approximate weightings and may vary slightly between examinations:
One three-hour paper to assess trainee knowledge on imaging technology, quality and safety:
Nine CRQs worth 10 marks per question
Trainees may apply to sit the Anatomy and AIT examinations together, or independent of each other. Irrespective of whether they sit the examinations together or separately, trainees have four consecutive opportunities to sit the Phase 1 Examinations from the date of commencement of training. This rule applies regardless of the trainee’s full-time equivalent (FTE) status or the number of examinations sat at an opportunity. Not sitting the examination at an opportunity is considered and recorded as a missed opportunity unless the trainee is on College approved remediation or interrupted training or has been approved by the College to defer or withdraw from the examination under the Consideration of Special Circumstances Policy.
Trainees who fail to sit the first available opportunity following commencement of training (where the commencement of training date is prior to the examination application closing date) will be deemed to have lost that examination opportunity.
Once an examination has been successfully passed, only the remaining examination needs to be completed.
For the 2023 examinations, please refer to the 2022 Clinical Radiology Learning Outcomes.
For more information refer to: Phase 1 Examinations (Clinical Radiology) Policy
The Part 2 Examination structure and format will transition to Phase 2. Trainees transitioning into the Training Program 2022 must refer to transition arrangements information provided to them and also available within The Clinical Radiology Handbook.
Phase 2 Examinations include:
Pathology Examination
Writtens
maximum 3 opportunities
Clinical Radiology:
- MCQ Examination
- Case Reporting Examination
Objective Structures Clinical Examination in Radiology (OSCERs)
VIVAs
One three-hour examination to assess trainee’s core and advanced knowledge of pathology as applied to current radiological practice.
100 Qs, worth 1 mark per question
10 SAQs, worth 6 marks per question. There will be two general questions and one question per topic area.
MCQ Examination
One two-hour examination to assess trainee’s core and advanced knowledge of diagnostic radiology as applied to current radiological practice.
100 MCQs, worth 1 mark per question
Case Reporting Examination
One three-hour examination to assess trainee’s competencies in perception, interpretation, diagnosis and communication via the written report.
20 questions, worth 3 marks per question
10 questions, worth 3 marks per question
5 questions, worth 12 marks per question
The OSCER is a capstone assessment to assess the trainee’s competence to practice autonomously as a clinical radiologist, incorporating clinical reasoning, clinical judgement, medical skills and knowledge as well as broader intrinsic roles including communication and professionalism.
There will be seven OSCER stations across seven topic areas. The stations are:
Each question is mapped to one of the following domains:
There will be 25 minutes for each station, with 8-10 cases per station. The number of cases will be dependent on the topic area, modality and complexity. Trainees have three consecutive opportunities at the OSCERs.
For more information refer to: Phase 2 Examinations (Clinical Radiology) Policy - Draft
To sit the Phase 1 exam, you must be in an accredited training position. You must take the whole exam at once, on your first sitting.
To sit the Part 2 exam, you must have passed the Phase 1 exam, completed 3 years of training, all Phase 1 assessments and be in an accredited training position.
International medical graduates may be permitted to sit the Part 2 examinations in certain circumstances. See International Medical Graduates.
A note for Phase 1 candidates: At the time of the examination you must be employed as an accredited radiology trainee and you must have completed all required training program assessments at the time of applying to sit the examination. If you commence in an accredited radiology training position after the closing date for applications, in addition to submitting the examination application form, the completed and required attachments of the Approval of Course in Training Form must be submitted with your examination application prior to the closing date.
Trainees pay an examination fee to cover the costs of operating the exams. Visit the College Fees page for details on exam fees.
If you need to withdraw from an exam, you must inform the College in writing. Trainees/IMGs who have applied for an exam and wish to withdraw are required to submit an application for Consideration of Special Circumstances for withdrawal and determination of remaining exam opportunities (where applicable). To find out if you meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the Consideration of Special Circumstances (CSC), you can view the College policy here. Please ensure you attach supporting documentation and submit your CSC application no later than 5 calendar days after the date of the examination.
If the application is approved, there may be a financial penalty incurred depending on the time frame in which the Applicant has withdrawn from an exam. If you withdraw up to four weeks before the exam, there is no financial penalty. If you withdraw within four weeks of the exam, you will be refunded 50% of the exam fee. If you fail to attend the exam altogether, you will forfeit the exam fee. For further information, please refer to the College’s Examination Policies.