Accreditation for Training Sites and Units

Learn more about how to apply for hospital accreditation and reaccreditation.

Certificate and Procedural training site accreditation

RANZCOG accredits all training sites offering the Certificate of Women’s Health (CWH), Associate Training Program (Procedural) (PTP) and Associate Training Program (Advanced Procedural) (APTP).

A hospital or training site offering the Certificate and/or Associate Procedural qualification(s) must meet accreditation and re-accreditation standards set out by the Conjoint Committee for Associate Procedural Training (CCAPT). The CCAPT is a tripartite committee, comprising representatives from RANZCOG, RACGP and ACRRM, that oversees CWH, Associate Procedural and Associate Advanced Procedural training.

For more information, please refer to the Certificate & Procedural Training Sites Standards and Procedures.

Apply

To apply for accreditation, hospitals must complete the Certificate and Procedural Training Site Accreditation and Re-Accreditation Application Form. Please note that when your training site is due for reaccreditation, the College will send you the necessary documentation for completion.

Through implementation of these standards, the College aims to:

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Ensure that the core requirements for clinical and educational experience, as defined in each program’s curriculum, are being met for all trainees.

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Assist accredited sites in their role as training providers - not just service providers, by identifying factors that are adversely affecting their capacity to deliver effective and supported training to trainees in each program.

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Work with training sites and the CCAPT to formulate strategies that will maximise training opportunities and ensure efficient and safe service delivery.

Fellowship of RANZCOG (FRANZCOG) training site accreditation

The FRANZCOG training program comprises four years (184 weeks) of Basic Training and two years (92 weeks) of Advanced Training.

The College accredits all training sites offering FRANZCOG Basic Training throughout Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Accredited training sites include:

Major public teaching hospitals
Outer suburban/peripheral hospitals
Rural/regional hospitals

Basic Training

For the purposes of Basic Training, a combination of these different training sites forms a consortium, each known as an Integrated Training Program (ITP). Trainees receive a significant proportion of their Basic Training at a single home/base hospital and rotate to other hospitals in that ITP.

An ITP normally comprises at least two training sites, and includes at least one tertiary hospital and one rural hospital. Collectively, these hospitals must be able to provide trainees with the range of experiences in obstetrics and gynaecology necessary to meet all FRANZCOG training and assessment requirements for Basic Training.

Collectively, these hospitals must be able to provide trainees with the range of experiences in O&G necessary to meet all FRANZCOG training and assessment requirements for Basic training.

Across 184 weeks (four years), your ITP will provide you with access to rotation through two or more different training sites, with at least:

46 weeks in a tertiary hospital
23 weeks in a rural hospital
46 weeks in a non-base hospital (can include rural rotation)

Advanced Training

Advanced Training is not confined to training sites which have been accredited for Basic Training, and are instead prospectively approved by the relevant regional Training Accreditation Committee based on their ability to meet the requirements of an Advanced Training Module (ATM), as part of an Advanced Training Pathway (ATP).

Training sites electing to offer training for any ATM should be able to provide trainees with the necessary resources and clinical material to complete relevant training and assessment requirements as described in the relevant module within the Advanced Training Pathway, including access to minimum numbers of procedures (as primary operator or direct supervisor) to enable completion of the logbook requirements.

Accreditation standards

The College considers the below standards necessary for the provision of effective training and support for trainees in the FRANZCOG training program.

Support for RANZCOG Officers and engagement with hospital accreditation processes.
Appointment and support for training supervisors.
Consultant involvement with and support for FRANZCOG trainees.
Provision of clinical supervision and experience.
Provision of structured education programs, teaching sessions and learning opportunities.
Workplace culture, registrar staffing, safe working hours, leave arrangements and assistance for rural rotations.

Support for RANZCOG Officers and engagement with hospital accreditation processes.
Appointment and support for training supervisors.
Consultant involvement with and support for FRANZCOG trainees.

Provision of clinical supervision and experience.
Provision of structured education programs, teaching sessions and learning opportunities.
Workplace culture, registrar staffing, safe working hours, leave arrangements and assistance for rural rotations.

Reaccreditation

Initial Accreditation

In-hospital Credentialing

Supporting Documents

Hospitals are normally reaccredited on a five-yearly cycle, for periods of six months to four years with provisional accreditation, or five years with full accreditation.

Prior to the end of an accreditation period, the College will arrange a reaccreditation visit (this may be virtual or physical) at a mutually convenient time. The aim of this site visit is to ensure that training is being delivered in accordance with the Accreditation Standards and Criteria.

The format of a reaccreditation visit is similar to that for initial accreditation.

1. Consultation with STANZ TAC
Prior to application, discussion with the relevant STANZ TAC Chair and ITP Coordinator must take place, with their support for the application obtained.

2. Application
Application must be completed in full and with all documents from the application checklist provided and with reference to the FRANZCOG Accreditation Standards. You will need to submit this to the accreditation team accreditation@ranzcog.edu.au for initial review.

3. Site visit
A site visit is conducted by a panel of a Lead Fellow, a Trainee Representative, a member of the relevant STANZ TAC (if available), and one or more members of RANZCOG accreditation team.

4. Outcome
A recommendation is made to the RANZCOG TAC via the Accreditation Steering Group.

5. Follow-up visit
A follow-up visit will be made by an Accreditation panel at the end of the first year trainees rotate through the site. Ongoing accreditation visits take place on a 5-yearly basis (either virtual or face to face).

FRANZCOG accreditation standards require that every hospital training site has a documented credentialing process in place to identify competence for each FRANZCOG trainee in relevant obstetric and gynaecological surgical procedures.

The College has developed a standardised in-hospital credentialing resource for ITPs in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

The use of this resource is not compulsory and is presented as a sample only. This can be adjusted to suit the needs and processes at the individual site, or used to develop a bespoke version as necessary.

The College recommends that credentialing documentation is kept up-to-date and made available to all relevant consultants and nursing staff.

Policy	Category	Link	hf:doc_categories
Appropriate Working Hours for a FRANZCOG Trainee	Training Site Resources	Download Preview	training-site-resources training-resources
Breastfeeding/Lactation in the Workplace Room Suitability Checklist	Training Support Resources	Download Preview	training-support-resources training-resources
FRANZCOG Accreditation Process and Guidelines	Training Site Resources	Download Preview	training-site-resources training-resources
FRANZCOG Accreditation Standards and Criteria	Training Site Resources	Download Preview	training-site-resources training-resources
FRANZCOG Training Program – Registrar In-House Credentialing	Training Site Resources	Download Preview	training-site-resources training-resources
FRANZCOG Training Site Accreditation Application Form	Training Site Resources	Download	training-site-resources training-resources
Guidelines for Hospitals in the FRANZCOG Training Program: Gynaecological Surgical Training	Training Site Resources	Download Preview	training-site-resources training-resources
Guidelines for Hospitals in the FRANZCOG Training Program: Ultrasound Training	Training Site Resources	Download Preview	training-site-resources training-resources
Strategies for Training Hospitals to Improve Trainee Gynaecological Surgery Procedure Numbers	Training Site Resources	Download Preview	training-site-resources training-resources

Subspecialty training unit accreditation

Subspecialty training comprises of three years (138 weeks) of training. An elective third year may be prospectively approved in an unaccredited training unit with a certified subspecialist. For further information please visit Subspecialty Training Programs.

Each unit must have a Program Director (who holds the relevant subspecialty certification) who will be responsible for coordinating the training program. Further information about the Program Director and Training Supervisor roles are available on our Training Supervisors page.

Trainees will:

Undertake training at a minimum of two accredited training units (this does not apply to the CREI training program).
Spend at least six months (full-time equivalent) in one training unit.

Training unit standards

The College has developed Accreditation Process and Guidelines for Subspecialty Training Units, which apply to all five subspecialty training programs.

Accreditation standards and criteria

The College has also developed Accreditation Standards and Criteria that apply to training units in each of the five subspecialty training programs.

Each set of accreditation standards and criteria consists of the eight standards as below:

Support for RANZCOG officers and engagement with unit accreditation process
Supervision
Clinical experience
Education programs and activities
Facilities
Research, publications and presentations
Quality assurance
Workplace culture, safe working hours and leave arrangements

Apply

To apply for accreditation or reaccreditation, training units can obtain the relevant application form by contacting subspecialtyaccreditation@ranzcog.edu.au

For reaccreditation, you must submit your application at least three months before the current accreditation period end date.

The relevant Subspecialty Committee will review your application and determine any terms and conditions of accreditation, such as:

Maximum number of subspecialty trainee positions
Length of accreditation period (maximum of five years)
Level of accredited position(s)
Requirement for any further accreditation activity, this may include a virtual or physical visit

Please note that the Committee may also opt to conduct a site visit at any time during the accreditation period to learn more about your training unit, particularly where issues or concerns have been communicated.

Policy	Category	Link	hf:doc_categories
Accreditation Process and Guidelines for Subspecialty Training Units	Training Site Resources	Download Preview	training-site-resources training-resources
CGO Accreditation Standards and Criteria	Training Site Resources	Download Preview	training-site-resources training-resources
CMFM Accreditation Standards and Criteria	Training Site Resources	Download Preview	training-site-resources training-resources
COGU Accreditation Standards and Criteria	Training Site Resources	Download Preview	training-site-resources training-resources
CREI Accreditation Standards and Criteria	Training Site Resources	Download Preview	training-site-resources training-resources
CU Accreditation Standards and Criteria	Training Site Resources	Download Preview	training-site-resources training-resources