Posted May 30 2025
By Alasdair Spinner
Greetings,
In an unexpected and bold move the Royal Australasian College of Psychiatry has introduced a new application . It's an initial straightforward online application for a new accelerated pathway.
It appears to be in response to the Expedited Specialist Pathway for Psychiatry , introduced by the Medical Board of Australia. There was no press release or announcement by RANZCP.
This streamlined process is designed to fast-track applications for psychiatrists holding MRCPsych (UK) alongside CCT/CCST, with the goal of attracting more highly trained specialists to Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Key Benefits
✅ No Interview Required
✅ Less Documentation
✅ Waived Assessment Fee*(for eligible applicants)
✅ Approximate Processing Time: 9 weeks.
✅ Certainty towards FRANZCP pathway (which ESP did not have currently).
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the accelerated pathway, applicants must:
* Hold the MRCPsych (UK) with CCT or CCST.
* Have AMC primary source verification.
* Intend to **live and work permanently** in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand
Over time, RANZCP also plans to broaden the list of recognised international qualifications eligible for the accelerated stream.
There are fees - a non-refundable application fee of AUD$511 - a huge saving on the traditional assessment application fee. With no panel review required and with no interview requirement either, the specialist assessment fee for this new accelerated pathway applicants is waived.
If you are assessed as substantially comparable on this accelerated pathway you will still need to pay the substantial comparability placement fee (this can be paid when in Australia, before you start on the substantially comparable cohort).
Outcome
Successful applicants will receive notification by email and begin the next steps toward placement under substantial comparability.
➡️ If you’re a UK-based psychiatrist and want to know if you qualify, get in touch today to explore this and job opportunities across Australia.
alasdair@spinnermedical.com
+447414531583