Applications are open between 1 February and 1 September each year. Applications received outside of this may be delayed due to office closures over the holiday season.

Specialist Recognition Assessment evaluates the training, qualifications and experience of SIMGs for comparability with Australian-trained ophthalmologists. Australian trainees graduate as specialists equipped to undertake safe, unsupervised, comprehensive, general ophthalmology practice with experience in each of the 12 clinical areas of ophthalmology. It is recommended that SIMGs familiarise themselves with the RANZCO Vocational Training Program and its Curriculum Standards (including required minimum number of procedures) in order to make an informed decision prior to application.

SIMGs are required to be recognised as specialists in ophthalmology in their country of training in order to be eligible for Specialist Recognition Assessment.

Before an SIMG can apply for Specialist Recognition Assessment an application must first be submitted to the Australian Medical Council (AMC) for primary source verification of their medical qualifications.

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2026 Interview dates

To be confirmed.

To be eligible to participate in any of the below interviews you will need to submit your completed application at least 6 weeks prior to the interview date and be invited to interview.

Please note: Referees will automatically receive a link to the referee form once an applicant has submitted their online application.

Click here for more information on the Specialist Recognition Assessment.

• Primary Medical Qualification(s) in medicine and surgery awarded by a training institution recognised by both the Australian Medical Council and the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
• Pre-ophthalmic Postgraduate Training (internship – min 1 year)
• Specialist Qualification (min 3 years) – satisfied all the training and examination requirements to practise as an ophthalmologist on the Specialist register in their country of training
• Detailed Surgical Logbook(s) and certified SLB Summary(s)
• Cataract Audit of the 100 most recent UNSUPERVISED (consultant not scrubbed) cases including but not limited to intra-operative complications, post-operative complications including endophthalmitis (and refractive outcomes desirable) – see template provided
• Ophthalmic Research – one of:

• • A publication in a peer-reviewed journal as first author.
  • Being first author and a significant contributor to a paper presented at a meeting for which abstracts are subject to peer review and selection, for example: The Colleges Annual Scientific Congress, the Australian Visual and Ophthalmic Science Conference, or a State/New Zealand Branch Scientific meeting.
  • An approved period of full-time research
  • A higher degree gained by research or thesis (a higher degree by course work alone is not sufficient).

Short-term training positions are usually conducted in a sub-specialty area (e.g. glaucoma) to enable overseas specialists or specialists-in-training to upskill or gain further experience. These positions are often approximately 12 months long, but the timeframe may vary. The Medical Board of Australia (MBA) states that these positions are conducted on the understanding that the applicant will return to their country of training on completion. RANZCO assesses the suitability of the proposed training position for the specific applicant only. Short-term training does not lead to specialist recognition in Australia.

Click here for more information on the Short-Term Training in a Medical Specialty Pathway.

RANZCO may conduct the assessment, or training, of SIMGs in the processes outlined below. The successful completion of each leads to eligibility to apply for Fellowship of RANZCO (FRANZCO) and with it the recommendation to the MBA for specialist registration in Australia.

Click here for more information on the Processes Outside of the MBA’s Specialist Pathway.

• RANZCO Checklist for Specialist and Area of Need Assessment
• Specialist Recognition and AoN Assessment Application Form – sample only
• SIMG Surgical Logbook Requirements for Specialist Recognition Assessment
• SIMG Summary of Surgical Logbook Template
• Cataract Audit Template
• RANZCO SIMG Curriculum Vitae
• Reference Request Form – sample only (do not send to referees)
• SIMG RACE Exam Registration Form (for eligible applicants only)

Information on Further Requirements

• RANZCO Examination Timetable
• Period of Supervised Practice
• Specialist Assessment Guide

*Not all assessment tasks will be required for all applicants, see Specialist Recognition Assessment.

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Reports

• Specialist Medical Colleges’ Specialist Pathway Data
• Health Workforce Data

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Reconsideration, Review and Appeals

SIMGs wanting to apply for reconsideration, review and appeal of a Final Decision need to sign in to the portal on the RANZCO website and click on the ‘Applications’ tile on the dashboard.

Applicants who do not have a RANZCO log in will need to select the ‘Register’ button and complete the registration form to apply for a RANZCO log in.

The cost to lodge an appeal is AUD 5,000 plus GST. Information for all three applications can be found in the Reconsideration, Review and Appeals Policy on RANZCO’s Policy and Guidelines page.

 

Trouble submitting your SIMG Application? See the SIMG Application Troubleshooting Guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What is RANZCO’s role in the assessment of Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) in Australia and New Zealand?

RANZCO’s role is to assess the training, qualifications and experience of the SIMG for ‘comparability’ with an ophthalmologist trained and qualified in Australia. See Australia or New Zealand for more information.

• Does RANZCO organise visas?

No, the applicant may choose to use a migration agent or liaise directly with the Department of Home Affairs themselves. Sometimes an employer is involved with the organisation of a visa.

• What information does RANZCO require to assess an application for Specialist Pathway or Area of Need/Specialist Pathway assessment?

Please see the RANZCO Checklist for Specialist and Area of Need Assessment and the Specialist Recognition and AoN Assessment Application Form.

• If an SIMG is assessed by RANZCO and is required to undertake further ophthalmic training or experience, does RANZCO provide that training or experience?

No. If an applicant is required to undertake further upskilling or a period of oversight as a result of the specialist recognition assessment, they need to arrange for a position to address the further requirements themselves. Please note: such positions and supervisor arrangements need to be approved by RANZCO’s SIMG Committee prior to start working.

• Can an SIMG apply to the RANZCO Vocational Training Program (VTP)?

Yes. SIMGs may apply to RANZCO to register for selection if they meet all of the eligibility criteria. See Vocational Training Program for further information.

• Does RANZCO organise short-term training fellowships for International Medical Graduates?

No. The SIMG must contact a suitable training institution/employer directly. Once a position is secured, the employer needs to apply to RANZCO on behalf of the applicant.
As part of a short-term training fellowship application, the Department of Home Affairs requires RANZCO’s endorsement that the position to be occupied by the applicant is a genuine training position and the training program is appropriate to the needs of the applicant.

• Does RANZCO organise short-term elective blocks for trainee doctors/trainee ophthalmologists from other countries?

No. The SIMG must contact a suitable hospital directly (see above).

• Is RANZCO a direct employer of specialist ophthalmologists?

No. RANZCO conducts the postgraduate Vocational Training Program (VTP) for ophthalmologists within Australia and New Zealand which is conducted onsite in training hospitals; runs the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program for RANZCO members and looks after various other ophthalmic matters within Australia and New Zealand.

• What are the assessment fees?

For fees relating to Specialist Recognition in Australia see the RANZCO Schedule of Rates. For fees relating to Vocational Registration in New Zealand please see MCNZ’s website.

• What is the concurrent Specialist and AoN assessment?

The aim of the Area of Need (AoN) assessment process is to determine the applicant’s suitability for a specified position in a designated Area of Need.

AoN sites are in regional locations throughout Australia. AoN site status is determined by States and Territories and can be any location where there is an identified shortage of specialists.

Only applicants who have been selected by an employer are eligible for an AoN assessment.

While the AoN assessment determines suitability for the nominated AoN position, all applicants will also be assessed for comparability, unless previously assessed for specialist recognition/ comparability.

• What are my Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Requirements while working, training (short-term training), or undergoing specialist recognition assessment?

As any other medical practitioner, you will need to have a CPD Home and complete at least 50 hours of CPD each year and provide professional development plans.

Being assessed by RANZCO does not automatically make RANZCO your CPD Home. You will need to apply for RANZCO membership in order to have RANZCO as your CPD Home. Further information can be found here.

• Can I complete the Specialist Recognition pathway from overseas?

No. All SIMGs on the Specialist Recognition pathway are required to work in Australia or New Zealand while on the pathway.

SIMGs found partially comparable are required to undertake upskilling in Australia while SIMGs found substantially comparable are required to complete a period of oversight in an Australian or New Zealand clinical environment.

• Where can a SIMG specialist work?

SIMGs are bound by the 10-year Medicare moratorium and only eligible to receive Medicare provider numbers for Districts of Workforce Shortage for 10 years from initial medical registration in Australia. After 10 years of medical registration in Australia, SIMGs are eligible to apply for Medicare provider numbers for any location.

Becoming a Fellow of the College does not reduce the 10-year Medicare moratorium. Further information can be found here.

RANZCO’s Role in MCNZ’s Assessment Process

As part of MCNZ’s assessment process, RANZCO is directed to provide either;

‘Preliminary Advice’ – based on review of the SIMG’s application documents, or

‘Interview Advice’ – based on review of the SIMG’s application documents and a face-to-face or virtual interview.

In both, RANZCO’s SIMG Committee assesses the training, qualifications and experience of SIMGs for ‘equivalence’ with the training and qualifications of New Zealand-trained ophthalmologists. Therefore, there is some scope for deficiencies in training to be offset by subsequent qualifications and experience. New Zealand trainees graduate as specialists equipped to undertake safe, unsupervised, comprehensive, general ophthalmology practice with experience in each of the 12 clinical areas of ophthalmology. It is recommended that SIMGs familiarise themselves with the RANZCO Vocational Training Program and its Curriculum Standards (including required minimum number of procedures) to make an informed decision prior to application.

Upon completion of an assessment, RANZCO will provide advice to MCNZ, making recommendations as to whether additional assessment tasks should be undertaken in order to further determine ‘equivalence’, and whether or not a SIMG applicant should be granted Vocational Registration.

Although RANZCO’s advice is taken into consideration, it is only a part of MCNZ’s process. The final decision on assessment task requirements and the granting of Vocational Registration is made by MCNZ.

• Process Flowchart – Vocational registration for IMGs
• Pathway to registration within a vocational scope for IMGs

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RANZCO Fellowship Eligibility: Ophthalmologists Assessed by the Medical Council of New Zealand

Assessment by the MCNZ and Vocational Registration in New Zealand does not automatically lead to RANZCO Fellowship.

IMGs who have been assessed as either “equivalent” or “as satisfactory as” and granted Provisional Registration within the scope of Ophthalmology by the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) may apply for the Dual Pathway to RANZCO Fellowship (FRANZCO). Applicants are assessed by RANZCO under the same process as Specialist Recognition applicants.

For further information see:

• RANZCO Fellowship Eligibility: Ophthalmologists Assessed by the Medical Council of New Zealand
• Specialist Recognition Assessment
• Dual Pathway Application Form

Please contact RANZCO at img@ranzcodev.dev.nucleoserver.com if you have further questions about the Dual Pathway and/or RANZCO Fellowship.

You can apply for registration through this pathway if you have an overseas specialist qualification on the MCNZ’s approved list, and have a job offer to work in New Zealand for 12 months or less.

For more information, please see MCNZ’s website for Locum tenens | Medical Council.

If you intend to work in New Zealand for more than 12 months and wish to be registered as a specialist, then you will need to apply for provisional vocational registration: VOC3 Vocational (specialist) registration | Medical Council (mcnz.org.nz).

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is RANZCO’s role in the assessment of Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) in Australia and New Zealand?

RANZCO’s role is to assess the training, qualifications and experience of the SIMG for ‘comparability’ with an ophthalmologist trained and qualified in Australia. See Australia or New Zealand for more information.

• Does RANZCO organise visas?

No, the applicant may choose to use a migration agent or liaise directly with the Department of Home Affairs themselves. Sometimes an employer is involved with the organisation of a visa.

• If an SIMG is assessed by RANZCO and is required to undertake further ophthalmic training or experience, does RANZCO provide that training or experience?

No. If an applicant is required to undertake further upskilling or a period of oversight as a result of the specialist recognition assessment, they need to arrange for a position to address the further requirements themselves. Please note: such positions and supervisor arrangements need to be approved by RANZCO’s SIMG Committee prior to start working.

• Can an SIMG apply to the RANZCO Vocational Training Program (VTP)?

Yes. SIMGs may apply to RANZCO to register for selection if they meet all of the eligibility criteria. See Vocational Training Program for further information.

• Does RANZCO organise short-term elective blocks for trainee doctors/trainee ophthalmologists from other countries?

No. The SIMG must contact a suitable hospital directly.

• Is RANZCO a direct employer of specialist ophthalmologists?

No. RANZCO conducts the postgraduate Vocational Training Program (VTP) for ophthalmologists within Australia and New Zealand which is conducted onsite in training hospitals; runs the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program for RANZCO members and looks after various other ophthalmic matters within Australia and New Zealand.

• What are the assessment fees?

For fees relating to Vocational Registration in New Zealand please see MCNZ’s website.

• Can I complete the Specialist Recognition pathway from overseas?

No. All SIMGs on the Specialist Recognition pathway are required to work in Australia or New Zealand while on the pathway.

SIMGs found partially comparable are required to undertake upskilling in Australia while SIMGs found substantially comparable are required to complete a period of oversight in an Australian or New Zealand clinical environment.