Primary examination requirements

The primary examination is a test of knowledge and understanding of the basic sciences applied to anaesthesia, intensive care and pain medicine.

You are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the subject matter and show your ability to integrate the relevant information so that it is applicable to the practice of clinical anaesthesia, intensive care and pain medicine.

The subject matter is defined in the Syllabus for the Basic Sciences in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care.
 

It consists of two subject areas:

• Pharmacology including statistics
• Physiology including clinical measurement.

 You must pass both subject areas in order to complete the ANZCA primary examination.

You may sit either or both subjects during an examination sitting; the same fee will apply regardless of how many subjects you sit. There is no penalty if you sit both subject areas and pass only one – you will be credited with the subject area that you passed and will be required to sit the other subject area later. You will, however, have to pay a new examination application fee.

You cannot proceed to advanced training until you have passed the primary examination. 

Further information about the primary examination can be found in Regulations 14 and 15.

Eligibility

You do not need to have started training at an ANZCA-approved training site to sit the exam, but you must be registered with the College and have sent documented evidence proving you are eligible to sit the exam at least two weeks prior to the closing date.

In order to sit the primary examination, you must:

• Be registered as a trainee with the College
• Have a recognised medical degree and complete at least 12 months of prevocational medical education and training
• NOTE: If you have already started approved training you will need to have completed at least 24 months of prevocational medical education and training.
• Pay the primary examination form fee and have no other outstanding ANZCA fees
• Complete the Primary Examination Application Form which must be received by the College by the closing date.

Critical dates and venues – primary examination

• Via email – applications will be time and date stamped electronically via primary exam inbox, these applications will receive an immediate email auto response acknowledging receipt of the application.
• Via fax – applications will be time and date stamped at the time of receipt
• Via post – applications will be time and date stamped by Australia Post at the time of processing.  Please note that if you are sending the application via Express Post envelope you must post the envelope over the counter at and Australia Post outlet and request it be date stamped.  Express Post envelopes posted in a street box will not be date stamped by Australia Post and cannot be verified by the College.  Please also note all overseas applicants need to allow for the method of date stamping in their country of postage.

Acknowledgement of applications received between December 22 & 26, 2011 will be acknowledge by COB  Monday January 6, 2012.

All applications received prior to Thursday December 22 will be acknowledged via email within 48 hours of receipt by the College.

  Format

The primary examination consists of two subject areas:

1. Pharmacology including statistics
2. Physiology including clinical measurement.

You must pass both subjects in order to complete the ANZCA primary examination.

Each subject area is divided into three sections with a different format as given in the table below.

Candidate Information Sheet ( 82.6kB)

Requirements for passing the primary examination

To attend the oral section of the primary examination, candidates must obtain a mark of at least 40 per cent in the multiple choice and 40 per cent in the short answer sections. To achieve a pass in either subject area you must obtain a mark of at least 50 per cent in the sum of the multiple-choice (25 per cent) short-answer (25 per cent) and viva (50 per cent) sections.

Exemption

Exemption from sitting the primary examination is rare and is only likely to apply if you have completed an overseas qualification that has been accepted by Council as comparable to the College examination. This means that if you passed, for example, the primary examination of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, you will not be exempted unless you have completed the Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists. Application for exemption must be made to the College and will be considered by the Assessor.

Examination reports

Examination reports are prepared to help candidates and their supervisors prepare for their examinations. These reports are not intended to represent model answers nor imply that all points mentioned are necessary in order to achieve a pass. Supervisors are encouraged to discuss recent reports in detail with candidates they are preparing for future examinations.

(Download PDFs of exam reports here)

Preparation courses

Each year some ANZCA regional offices in Australia and New Zealand conduct courses designed to assist trainees who are preparing to sit for the primary examination. Priority is given to applicants who have registered to sit the examination. Participants must also be registered with the College as a trainee.

Information regarding course dates, course descriptions and enrolment forms are available from ANZCA’s New Zealand and Australian regional websites.

•     New South Wales
•     New Zealand
•     Queensland
•     South Australia and Northern Territory
•     Victoria
•     Western Australia

For further information about the primary examination, please contact the primary examination officer on +61 3 8517 5369 or Primaryexam@anzca.edu.au.