Radiation oncology

Vocational training in radiation oncology is undertaken through the Faculty of Radiation Oncology of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR). Once RANZCR training is completed, the doctor is awarded the Fellowship of the RANZCR (FRANZCR) in radiation oncology.

 Am I able to work as a recognised specialist in New Zealand?

To apply for vocational registration in radiation oncology, you would need to hold:

• the FRANZCR qualification in radiation oncology; or
• an international postgraduate medical qualification in radiation oncology, where your combination of qualifications, training and experience will be assessed against the standard of the FRANZCR.

What standard will I be compared against?

To obtain the FRANZCR in radiation oncology, the trainee completes 7 years of training:

• 2 years of general medical experience
• 5 years of advanced training, on completion of which the trainee will have had exposure to the following:
  • epidemiology, etiology, pathology and the natural history of human neoplasms
  • diagnosis and staging of neoplasia
  • use of radiation treatment for neoplasia and other conditions
  • supportive care of patients with neoplasia, including pain management, social and psychological support
  • use of other cancer therapies such as hormonal agents and cytotoxic chemotherapy
  • knowledge of the role of surgery in the management of neoplasi
  • 4½ years must be spent in radiation oncology and 6 months must be spent in either medical oncology, haematology or palliative care
• a pass in the Phase I written examination in radiation oncology (covering radiation oncology physics, radiation and cancer biology, anatomy and pathology) required by the second year of training
• a pass in the Phase II written and clinical examination in radiation oncology (covering radiation therapy, clinical oncology and pathology) required by the fifth year of training
• FRANZCR in radiation oncology awarded on satisfactory completion of examination and training requirements
• participation required in the RANZCR continuing professional development programme

Oncology departments providing training are accredited by the RANZCR to ensure adequate training standards and facilities are provided. Accreditation requires the following standards:

• trainees must be adequately supervised by a specialist radiation oncologist
• there must be access to a full range of modern radiation oncology equipment including linear accelerators, treatment simulators, planning computers and brachytherapy facilities
• trainees must have involvement with multidisciplinary cancer clinics
• there must be access to full diagnostic facilities including scintigraphy, CT scanning and MRI scanning
• trainees must have access to a library with up to date oncology text books and subscriptions to major oncology journals
• the department’s case mix gives trainees exposure to the full range of cancers treated with radiotherapy.

I want to make a vocational registration application

If you wish to make a vocational registration application, please refer to the Vocational Registration Homepage and select the Option appropriate for you.

Am I able to apply for other types of registration?

You may be able to apply for more than one type of registration. To find out which is the best fit for you, please use our self assessment tool

Self assessment tool

Related information

• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists