Endoscopy training is usually assessed in the context of the Specialist Advanced Training Program of either the RACP or RACS. Training undertaken in other specialist programs e.g. RACGP will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The Committee recognises that some specialists and trainees will undergo, or have undergone, training that does not fit into the mainstream. The Committee has established additional criteria to meet some of these situations.

Possible pathways for recognition of training are:

• Australian-trained
• Additional overseas training
• Experienced Practitioner Pathway (EPP)
• Overseas Specialist
• New Zealand-trained Specialist

All CCRTGE applications (apart from those for additional overseas training) are to be submitted online.

Applications must be received by the CCRTGE prior to 15 March for applications to be assessed at the April/May meeting and prior to 15 October for applications to be assessed at the November meeting.

All information for Applicants is available here.

If you have any inquiries please contact us.

Australian Specialist Training Program (RACP/RACS/Other Specialist Medical College)

Full recognition is dependent on the completion of training, experience and supervision pursuant to training programs. Recognition of endoscopy training will be given at the completion of Specialist Advanced Training. The Committee expects gastrointestinal endoscopic training to be completed within an eight-year period unless exceptional circumstances can be shown.

Un-accredited registrars and other medical doctors not yet participating in a advanced training program are eligible to log procedures in this pathway if they are training in or performing endoscopy outside of a recognised training program. Full recognition of training will not be awarded until completion of an advanced training program and admission to a college as a fellow.

Applicants must:

• Register and pay fees online

• All prospective applicants for recognition of training must register online and pay the applicable fee. Once registered, the trainee will receive an email containing a username and password to permit access to the online logbook system.

• Be in their final year of specialist training

• Trainees are encouraged to register when they commence their training and to log their procedures throughout their training. However, they may only apply for recognition in their final year of training.

• Organise supervision

• Before logging procedures trainees must nominate supervisors to oversee their endoscopy training. If a supervisor agrees to assist with your training you then must nominate them via the online logging facility. The supervisor must “accept” the nomination before logging any procedures. At the end of a trainee’s training supervisors are able to complete a Supervisor Rating Report (SRR) only if they have acknowledged at least 10 procedures.

  Before a logbook will be reviewed by the Committee you must arrange for at least two of your supervisors to each submit an SRR. Together the submitted SRRs must cover the majority of the 50 most recently logged procedures.

• Set up logbooks

• Trainees select the logbook for the procedure they wish to complete. Logbooks for additional procedure types can be added at any time without needing to re-register.

• Log procedures for the duration of training

• Details of all cases attempted from the commencement of training to the completion of training, including those not successfully completed, must be recorded prospectively and sequentially in the online logbook. Individual entries on the log must be acknowledged by the supervisor as soon as possible after the procedure is completed. Ideally at the end of the list.

• Please note that no more than 50 procedures can be recorded on a logbook without acknowledgement from a supervisor. Once this limit is reached a supervisor must acknowledge at least some of the procedures before more procedures can be recorded.

• Procedures should be entered and signed off by supervisors while fresh in memory. After the 1 September 2015 it will not be possible to enter into the logbook system procedures older than six (6) months.

• All regulations that are set out in Information for Applicants continue to apply, including those that require the submission of a cleaning sheet and payment of relevant fees.

• Recognition of training is based on the trainee's logbooks being an accurate reflection of their training experience.

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Recognition of training undertaken in an overseas facility

Applicants are expected to undertake the majority of their training in Australia. Should they elect to undertake part of their training overseas, the CCRTGE will accept logbooks recorded during this period provided a number of criteria are met prior to commencing overseas training.

• The trainee must request approval from the CCRTGE in writing prior to the commencement of the intended overseas training.
• The facility must be approved by the CCRTGE.
• Each nominated supervisor must be regarded by the CCRTGE as a specialist in the procedure.
• The registrant must provide:-
• confirmation in writing from the overseas training institution of their consent to the arrangements specified for CCRTGE-recognised training;
• confirmation in writing from the overseas training institution of the offer of a position to the applicant;
• a completed application summary form;
• details of the facility in which the training will be undertaken:-
• type of endoscopy unit e.g. department, clinic, unit etc;
• staff levels and specialities;
• type of endoscopy services and training offered and
• an estimate of the number of endoscopy patients treated and procedures undertaken during a typical year;
• a completed registration form for each proposed supervisor who will need to be familiar with the Australian Endoscopy Standard;
• a curriculum vitae for each proposed supervisor including details of the supervisor’s qualifications for each procedure type to be supervised and
• a completed spreadsheet of supervisor and procedure type details.

It may be that other CCRTGE applicants have undertaken training at the same institution before - if you can provide details of those applicants this would be useful. It may also be that your desired supervisors already have CCRTGE accounts - please check if this is the case and let us know.

The Committee will consider the details of the training and inform the registrant of the suitability of the arrangements.

The applicant should continue to submit, via the CCRTGE online system, logs of procedures performed in Australia while their request is being considered.

The applicant will be required to submit a log of locally-supervised cases following their return.

All regulations that are set out in Information for Applicants continue to apply, including those that require the submission of a cleaning sheet and payment of relevant fees.

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Experienced Practitioner Pathway (EPP)

For applicants with at least five years of endoscopy experience working as a specialist in Australia.

If you are an overseas-trained specialist who can provide supporting evidence of their international endoscopy training please refer to the Overseas Trained Specialist Pathway. If you cannot provide the required supporting evidence for that pathway you may be eligible for the EPP.

To be eligible for the EPP practitioners must provide evidence that they have been admitted as a fellow to a recognised Australian medical college at least five years prior to the CCRTGE Committee meeting at which your EPP application will be assessed.

The CCRTGE have re-introduced the Experienced Practitioner Pathway (EPP) (previously known as “Grandfathering”). Procedures for which practitioners may apply for recognition of their training and experience via the EPP are Gastroscopy (adult) and Colonoscopy (adult). Other procedures will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants must:

Register and pay fees online

All prospective applicants for recognition of training must register online and pay the applicable fee. Once registered, you will receive an email containing a username and password to permit access to the online logbook system.

Demonstrate Experience

To be eligible to apply via the EPP, you must provide evidence of admittance to a recognised Australian medical college for at least 5 years prior to the meeting at which your application will be assessed.

Organise supervision

The EPP requires 10% of logged procedures to be directly supervised by a supervisor recognised by the CCRTGE in the relevant procedure. Ideally a supervisor should be CCRTGE-certified in the procedure, an established consultant in the field, and clearly your senior. If in doubt you should seek advice from the CCRTGE before embarking on training with any supervisor.

Set up logbooks

You must select logbooks for the procedure you wish to perform. Only gastroscopy (adult) and colonoscopy (adult) are currently offered via the EPP. Other procedures may be available at the discretion of the Committee on a case-by-case basis.

Logging procedures

Gastroscopy logbooks require a total of 200 procedures to be logged. The majority of the logbook can consist of unsupervised procedures (10% of all procedures must be performed under direct supervision). These can be retrospective cases.

Colonoscopy logbooks require a total of 200 procedures to be logged. The majority of the logbook can consist of unsupervised procedures (10% of all procedures must be performed under direct supervision). These can be retrospective cases.

Upload Written Reference

It is a requirement for you to request a written, signed reference from at least one of your supervisors who is familiar with your current practice and has supervised a minimum of 10% of your logged cases. The letter should be on your referee's letterhead, be signed and dated by the referee and be addressed to the chair of the CCRTGE. As all references must be reviewed and form part of your logbook criteria they must be uploaded at least a week prior to the submission deadline.

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Overseas specialist with prior training and endoscopic experience relocating to Australia

For applicants who have completed supervised endoscopic training in a recognised training institution overseas and have practised endoscopy at a specialist level in an overseas institution.

Applicants must have completed oversight and be awarded Fellowship from an Australian Specialist Medical College prior to CCRTGE recognition of training being considered.

To be eligible applicants must provide evidence of:

• registration issued by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to practice at specialist level (or under oversight supervised by a Specialist Medical College) in Australia - the applicant should also be recognised by either the RACP or RACS and
• eligibility to practice at the level of consultant/specialist in gastrointestinal endoscopy prior to transferring to Australia.

Applicants are strongly advised to contact us to discuss their particular situation before registering.

Applicants must:

• register online and pay the required fee for the procedures in which they seek recognition of training;
• provide details of the initial overseas training institution including logbooks and supervisors’ reports;
• provide a written reference from a training supervisor familiar with the applicant's prior overseas training and practice for each procedure for which application is made;
• submit completed online logbooks from current practice for a minimum of fifty (50) prospective cases for each procedure type and
• submit a referee’s report from a CCRTGE-recognised supervisor familiar with the applicant’s current practice and who has personally supervised the applicant in a minimum of twenty-five (25) of the required procedures.

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Applicant recognised by the New Zealand Conjoint Committee for Recognition of Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Consideration under this pathway is available to applicants who have received recognition of gastrointestinal endoscopy training by the New Zealand Conjoint Committee for Recognition of Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Currently only gastroscopy, colonoscopy and ERCP are covered by this pathway.

The following are the requirements for endoscopy recognition from the CCRTGE:

• proof of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recognition in the relevant procedure(s) by the New Zealand Conjoint Committee;
• proof of Fellowship with either RACP or RACS;
• proof of confirmed registration to work in Australia and
• the name and address of at least one referee (who must hold Australian CCRTGE recognition) who is familiar with the applicant's current practice.

Applicants must first register with the CCRTGE and then apply and pay any applicable fee(s) via the online logbook system.

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