Clinical Radiology Examinations

Updates

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:

Anatomy 

 One three-hour paper to assess trainee knowledge of radiologic anatomy: 

  • Labelling

           120 labels worth ¼ mark each, across six body regions. Minimum one diagram per region and maximum of two. 

  • Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) 

           60 MCQs worth one mark per question 

  • Very Short Answer Questions (VSAs) 

           30 VSAs worth one mark per question 

  • Short Answer Questions (SAQs) 

           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: 

    1. Brain                                20%
    2. Head and neck                    15% 
    3. Spine                                   10% 
    4. Thorax                                 15% 
    5. Abdomen and pelvis            25% 
    6. Limbs                                15%

 Applied Imaging Technology

One three-hour paper to assess trainee knowledge on imaging technology, quality and safety: 

  • Constructed Response Questions (CRQs) 

           Nine CRQs worth 10 marks per question 

  • Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) 

           60 MCQs worth one mark 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

Writtens

maximum 3 opportunities

Objective Structures Clinical Examination in Radiology (OSCERs)

VIVAs

maximum 3 opportunities

Pathology Examination 

One three-hour examination to assess trainee’s core and advanced knowledge of pathology as applied to current radiological practice. 

  • Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) 

           100 Qs, worth 1 mark per question 

  • Short Answer Questions (SAQs) 

           10 SAQs, worth 6 marks per question. There will be two general questions and one question per topic area. 

 Clinical Radiology Examination

MCQ Examination 

One two-hour examination to assess trainee’s core and advanced knowledge of diagnostic radiology as applied to current radiological practice. 

  • Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) 

           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. 

  • Short Cases 

           20 questions, worth 3 marks per question 

  • Medium Cases 

           10 questions, worth 3 marks per question 

  • Long Cases 

           5 questions, worth 12 marks per question

 Objective Structured Clinical Examination in Radiology

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: 

  • Abdominal 
  • Neuroradiology/Head and Neck 
  • Thoracic and Cardiovascular 
  • Breast 
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology 
  • Musculoskeletal 
  • Paediatrics 

Each question is mapped to one of the following domains: 

  • Intrinsic Roles 
  • Observation 
  • Interpretation 
  • Management 
  • Pathology 
  • Anatomy 
  • AIT/ Patient Safety 

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 the 2023 examinations, please refer to the 2022 Clinical Radiology Learning Outcomes

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.

    1. Complete the online examination application form or download the PDF version of the application form which can be submitted via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Application forms are available on the Examinations Page of the College website.
    2. Forward any other required items, such as passport photo’s, DoT/HoD/NTD signed documentation, or amended submissions, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by no later than 4pm (AEST/AEDT) on the relevant closing date. Late applications are not accepted.
    3. An acknowledgement of receipt of applications will be emailed within 10 business days of the application being received by the College (where reasonably practical). Confirmation of receipt of application will not be provided via phone. Contact the College immediately if you have not received an acknowledgement within 10 business days.
    4. An invoice will be raised, and an email notification will be sent once available for payment. All examination fees are now paid via the College’s online member portal MYRANZCR for your convenience and security.

      Examination fees must be paid in full to sit the examination, examination results will not be released until all outstanding fees are paid in full. For more information on examination fees refer to the Fees section on the College website.

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.