Hospital Accreditation

ANZCA accredits Hospital Departments of Anaesthesia and other training institutions across Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia, to provide approved training in anaesthesia for ANZCA trainees. Accreditation requires an onsite review by the College in order to assess a hospital’s ability to provide training and supervision of the required standard, and its degree of compliance with ANZCA Professional Documents. 

The Training Accreditation Committee (TAC) is a Committee of ANZCA Council which is responsible for overseeing the accreditation process and finalising recommendations to hospitals based on reviewers’ reports. 

For a list of ANZCA Accredited Hospitals in each region, click below:

• Australian Capital Territory
• Hong Kong
• Malaysia
• New South Wales
• New Zealand
• Queensland
• Singapore
• South Australia & Northern Territory
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

Accreditation Visits 

The aim of accreditation visits is to assist hospitals in meeting ANZCA criteria so that they can best train vocational Trainees. Regular cyclical accreditation visits enable the College to gauge the extent to which hospitals are meeting ANZCA criteria, and any possible remedial action needs to be taken. They also provide hospitals with a stimulus to undertake a systematic process of self-assessment and self-directed improvement. 

Rotational Training Schemes

All accredited hospitals must be part of an approved training program. This is a regionally based, rotational arrangement involving a group of approved hospitals which together provide trainees with a comprehensive and integrated training experience covering the essential requirements of all ANZCA training modules. It is the hospital’s responsibility to arrange its own inclusion in a rotation, in conjunction with the Regional/National Committee, Rotational Supervisors and other relevant parties.

The Accreditation Cycle

Accredited hospitals are reviewed according to a seven-year cycle. Where possible, an entire rotation or training scheme is reviewed at the same time. Sometimes it is necessary to visit individual hospitals in between the seven-year rotational reviews. This is usually a result of major staffing or structural changes within the hospital, or a particular concern raised by the hospital, the Trainees, the Regional/National Committee or other parties. 

Approval of Departments

The College approves departments as a whole as being suitable for training; it does not approve a particular number of posts. The number of Trainees is decided by the hospital. 

Basic, Advanced and Provisional Fellowship Training

Hospitals are normally approved for both Basic and Advanced Training (i.e., they may take Trainees in any of the five years of training). Under very rare circumstances, a hospital may be approved for Advanced Training only.

Hospitals may also be approved for the potential to offer a Provisional Fellowship Program. This is normally in addition to approval for Basic and Advanced Training, but some hospitals may be deemed suitable for Provisional Fellowship training only. Trainees wishing to be appointed as Provisional Fellows must seek prospective approval from the College Assessor.

Criteria for Duration of Accreditation

Each hospital is approved for a duration of six months or one, two or three years in Basic and Advanced Training. The criteria for determining duration:

1. The maximum duration at any one hospital in clinical anaesthesia during Basic and Advanced training is six months or one, two or three years.
2. Further time extra to the maximum duration in clinical anaesthesia can be spent at a hospital in attachments other than clinical anaesthesia, such as intensive care medicine (15.5.2.2), and the other disciplines (as listed in 15.5.2.3), namely clinical medicine, emergency medicine, pain medicine, other disciplines related to anaesthesia, and in a formal research program.
3. The criteria for one year approval are that:
   • There is an appropriate Department of Anaesthesia, with an appropriate quality assurance and educational program;
   • The hospital meets the College’s standards as expressed in the College Policy Professional Documents and Regulations; and
   • There should be adequate experience for the Trainee to complete module 1 and at least one other clinical module if it is a general hospital; if the hospital is a specialist hospital, such as a paediatric hospital, then it must provide adequate clinical experience to allow completion of a clinical module.
4. The criteria for two years’ approval are that:
   • All of the criteria for “one year” are met; and
   • The clinical experience to complete Modules 1 and 2, and at least two other modules requiring clinical experience is available.
5. The criteria for three years’ approval are that:
• All of the criteria for “one year” are met;
• The clinical experience to complete most or all of the Modules is available (i.e., at least 7 of the 9 requiring clinical experience);
• Experience adequate to complete the Formal Project is available; and
• Access to good examination preparation courses is provided.
6. A maximum duration of four years may be spent in any one hospital in any capacity, during the training period.

Hospitals Seeking Accreditation

The following documents provide quidelines for those hospitals seeking accreditation for the ANZCA Training Program. If you have any queries regarding the process or required steps please email the Administrative Officer, Facility Accreditation at jdevlin@anzca.edu.au or telephone +61 (3) 9510 6299.

Procedure for Accreditation of Hospitals for Anaesthesia Training

A brief outline of the eligibility requirements and application procedure for hospitals or other institutions wishing to apply for accreditation by ANZCA. Also applicable to currently accredited hospitals wishing to vary their duration or conditions of accreditation.

Handbook for Hospitals undergoing ANZCA Accreditation

A detailed guide for hospitals preparing for review by ANZCA. Covers the aims and practice of accreditation, the preparation required for a review, the review process, and suggestions for maximising benefits.
Handbook for Hospitals undergoing ANZCA Accreditation (183 kB)

Criteria for Approval of Duration of Training for Accredited Hospitals

Outlines the criteria which hospitals must meet in order to be accredited for one, two, or three years.

Hospital Data Sheet and Accreditation Report

Application form for use by hospitals applying for accreditation, applying to vary their accreditation, or undergoing routine review by ANZCA.
Hospital Data Sheet and Accreditation Report ( 1.3 MB)

Trainee Workload Survey

Measures the number and type of cases undertaken by trainees in accredited hospitals and the level of supervision available. For use by hospitals as requested by the College.
Trainee Workload Survey ( 115 KB)