Pain medicine exams
Pain medicine trainees are assessed via long case assessments and the fellowship exam during the pain medicine training program.
Past examination reports can be found in Networks under the Fellowship examination folder located in the FPM Trainee Support Resources. Trainees will need to log into their Networks account to access these resources.
Long case assessments
Trainees must successfully complete at least one local long case assessment and one external long case assessment during the training program. Both assessments use the same marking form. To achieve a pass the trainee must demonstrate proficiency at the level of a specialist pain medicine physician in their first year of practice.
Units will need to comply with local COVID-19 guidance when running the long case.
Local long case assessment
The local long case assessment is held in the training unit and assessed by two FPM fellows.
The assessors do not necessarily need to work at the unit or know the trainee but at least one of the fellows must have previously assessed a long case. The patient should be known to one of the assessors but not the trainee and must be invited as opposed to being a waiting list patient.
Guidance notes and a marking form have been prepared to support units in the delivery of the local long case assessment. Units will need to comply with local COVID-19 advice in delivering long cases.
The marking form must be submitted with the subsequent in-training assessment to the faculty.
Once a trainee has passed a local long case they can sit the external long case assessment. If they are then unsuccessful at the externally run long case assessment, they must re-sit the local long case assessment and achieve a pass before they can repeat the external long case assessment.
External long case assessment
External long case assessments are usually held in major cities across Australia and in New Zealand twice a year, and once a year in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Recognising that a number of external long case assessments have been postponed due to COVID-19, trainees who have less than 3 months training remaining and who have completed the local long case, the fellowship examination and have submitted the clinical case study may apply to sit the external long case assessment within their training unit. For information on what steps would be required for this temporary arrangement please contact fpmexams@anzca.edu.au.
This temporary arrangement remains available for trainees who continue to be impacted by changing circumstances affecting their attendance at the external long case assessment. For information on what steps would be required for this temporary arrangement, please contact fpmexams@anzca.edu.au.
External Long Case dates
Venues and dates for upcoming external Long Case Assessments will be announced in the coming months.
| State |
Date |
Venue |
| QLD |
Monday 9 May 2022 |
Metro South |
| NSW |
Friday 13 May 2022 |
St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney |
| NZ |
Thursday 9 June 2022 |
Wellington Regional Pain Unit |
| VIC |
Friday 10 June 2022 |
Pain Specialists Australia |
| NSW |
Wednesday 3 August 2022 |
Prince of Wales Hospital |
| SA |
Saturday 27 August 2022 |
Queen Elizabeth Hospital |
| VIC |
Friday 2 September 2022 |
St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne |
| QLD |
Saturday 10 September 2022 |
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital |
Candidates sitting the external long case assessments are advised that they will need to complete a rapid antigen test (RAT) within 24 hours prior to attending the assessment, and upon arrival, will be required to sign the declaration form stating that their completed test result is negative.
The faculty strongly recommends that candidates informs the faculty at the earliest opportunity, if the result is positive, as admission to the examination venue will not be allowed.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible to sit the external long case assessment, the following criteria must be met by the application closing date:
- Completion of at least one satisfactory ITA
- Completion of the general physical examination assessment and
- Successful completion of a local long case.
If unsuccessful at the external long case assessment, a trainee must complete an additional local long case assessment prior to re-sitting the external long case.
FPM fellowship exam
The Fellowship examination covers the theory and practice of pain medicine and comprises of two sections; the written examination and the oral examination. Candidates who are successful in the written examination are invited to the oral examination. Candidates must complete both sections of the fellowship examination in the same sitting to achieve a pass.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes in the pain medicine training program curriculum guide the range of content which may be assessed. Competencies relevant to the knowledge, behaviours and clinical skills are found in sections one to three of the FPM curriculum.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate an understanding of what treatments/therapies are available and may be undertaken when referring a patient to other pain management specialists.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible to sit the fellowship exam, trainees must:
- Complete two satisfactory in-training assessments (ITAs) by the application closing date.
- Submit the application form with payment of the examination fee by the closing date
Late applications are unable to be accepted.
Format
|
Section
|
Format
|
Duration
|
|
Written section
|
10 short-answer questions (SAQ)
|
2.5 hours
|
|
Oral section
|
4 objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) stations
|
10 minutes each
|
|
4 structured Viva voce examination stations
|
15 minutes each
|
Dates and venues
|
Section
|
Dates |
Venue(s) |
|
Written examination
|
22 September 2022 |
Australia: Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Townsville
New Zealand: Wellington
Other FPM regions: Hong Kong and Singapore |
|
Oral examination
|
3 December 2022 |
Melbourne |
Exam date and venue may need to change in case of evolving circumstances.
It is anticipated that the oral examination will be held face-to-face in Melbourne on Saturday 3 December 2022.
As we step into 2022, hoping that restrictions and the latest waves will cease, we remain conscious that we may need to adapt to different plans in case of changing circumstances.. If this occurs, the faculty will advise all prospective candidates accordingly.
Supporting resources
Several resources are available to assist candidates with the preparations of the fellowship examination:
Withdrawing from the examination
Candidates wishing to withdraw their application on medical or compassionate grounds must inform the faculty in writing before the date of the exam.
Trainees unable to attend the examination
On the day of the exam, if a candidate is unable to present for the exam on medical or compassionate grounds, the candidate must submit a written notice and provide evidence of cause within seven days of the exam.
No special consideration will be given to a candidate who elects against advice to continue with the exam.