Careers

How to train as a Paediatrician

In Paediatrics we have three levels of Junior Doctors. The most junior are House Officers, who tend to be in their first three years of training and rotate through many specialties, of which paediatrics is only one. Once these doctors have decided to pursue Paediatrics as a career, they tend to do these jobs for about one year, before they become a Basic Training Registrar. In our rotation (Auckland only) we work across three different hospitals in four month rotations. These include a mix of subspecialty, General Paediatrics, Paediatric Emergency, and Neonatology. Everyone must do at least three years of basic training (which includes time as a house officer). In reality it's often a year or two longer.

After this time we sit a difficult set of exams involving both written and clinical components. Upon success we become an Advanced Trainee, working in areas of interest or that we require for training. This takes at least a further three years. The Registrars at basic or advanced level tend to be the people on the ground around the clock, and make the bulk of decisions on discussion with their consultants. In our bigger hospitals there are consultants on site until late in the evening, who are also contactable overnight, so you are well supported.

Registrars have the opportunity to participate in two formal comprehensive teaching programmes; the Diploma in Paediatrics and the FRACP (Paediatrics). The latter includes a nine-month schedule of formal lectures, interactive teaching sessions, monthly MCQs, an intensive 2 week full-time lecture programme and regular clinical examination practice. A range of weekly continuing education activities is available that includes Grand Round, scientific update, journal club and a variety of case based subspecialty teaching sessions. Research projects are encouraged and supported by Paediatricians and the School of Medicine. The training and educational opportunities are flexible and can be tailored to the needs of individuals.

For more information about training requirements visit the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) website.

For more information about the Diploma in Paediatrics, visit these websites:

• University of Auckland
• University of Otago