Endocrinology Training Pathway
How to become an endocrinologist in Australia — RACP Basic Physician Training, the Divisional exams, the competitive jump onto Advanced Training in Endocrinology, the diabetes-and-hormones case-mix, and what the published ATO data shows endocrinologists earn.
Two bottlenecks, not one: getting onto Basic Physician Training, then — after both Divisional exams — winning an accredited Advanced Training post. Selection is run by hospitals/networks/states, not the RACP, with no published national rubric. And endocrinology is a non-procedural cognitive specialty, so its ATO income code sits below the physician blend rather than above it.
- Training length
- 6+ (3 BPT + 3 Advanced)
- Competitiveness
- Moderate
- Exams
- RACP Divisional Written + Clinical (end of BPT)
- Lifestyle
- Largely clinic-based and cognitive; limited acute on-call
- Fellowship
- FRACP (Endocrinology)
- Time to qualify
- 8–11 years
Why endocrinology
You diagnose and manage disease of the endocrine glands and metabolism — diabetes (including in pregnancy and with pump/CGM technology), thyroid, pituitary and adrenal disorders, calcium and bone, reproductive endocrinology, obesity and lipids. The work is predominantly clinic-based and cognitive — history, dynamic biochemical testing and long-term management — with inpatient consults for diabetes and hormonal emergencies. It's largely non-procedural, though some perform thyroid ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration.
- Cognitive, clinic-based work with long-term patient relationships
- Generally controllable lifestyle with limited acute on-call
- Diabetes and metabolic medicine — large, growing and varied caseload
- Strong outpatient and chronic-disease focus, broad subspecialty options
- Two competitive bottlenecks (BPT, then Advanced Training)
- No published national selection rubric to optimise against
- Non-procedural — its ATO income code sits below the physician blend
- Long pathway (minimum ~6 years of college training after internship)
Subspecialties
The training pathway
The same fellowship, two very different timelines. The fast route assumes everything goes right; most people land on the realistic one.
How competitive is it?
No national applicant-to-offer ratio is published for endocrinology Advanced Training, so the true success rate isn't known. The PMCV (Victoria/Tasmania) match listed 28 positions across accredited health services for 2025, with no companion applicant count, so no ratio can be derived. NSW Health's 2019 modelling counted about 50 advanced trainees and about 208 specialist fellows in NSW. On workforce scale, the Department of Health fact sheet (2016 NHWDS data, now dated) recorded about 622 employed endocrinologists, about 42% in private practice — a lower private share than the procedural physician subspecialties. National trainee numbers ran between about 115 and 153 across 2013–2016.
Unaccredited time: No formal 'unaccredited' tier as in surgery, but Advanced Training is competitive enough that many do extra unaccredited endocrinology/registrar time and research after the Divisional exams to build a CV. No required or typical number of years is published.
Sources: RACP — Endocrinology Advanced Training, PMCV — 2025 Endocrinology (Vic/Tas) Match, Department of Health — Endocrinology 2016 Factsheet (NHWDS), NSW Health — Endocrinology workforce modelling (2019 data).
Selection criteria & how to apply
Endocrinology has two competitive entry points, neither a national scored round with published weightings. First you compete for a Basic Physician Training post (you apply to a hospital or BPT network — the RACP sets standards but doesn't recruit); after passing both Divisional exams you compete again for an accredited Advanced Training post. That second step is state/network-run, and neither the College nor the states publish numeric weightings — the PMCV rules even state that 'overall ranking will not be available to candidates.' The components below are qualities assessed, not percentages (state specifics are in the accordion):
Key documents: RACP — Endocrinology Advanced Training, RACP — Entry into Basic Training, PMCV — 2025 Endocrinology (Vic/Tas) Match, Queensland Health — Endocrinology (Advanced Training).
How it works, state by state
NSW NSW: about 50 endocrinology advanced trainees and about 208 specialist fellows (2019 modelling)
Who runs selection: BPT is via centralised NSW recruitment into BPT networks; endocrinology Advanced Training posts are then recruited through hospitals/networks. Selection is not run by the RACP.
Where to apply: HETI / NSW Health BPT recruitment; hospital/network Advanced Training posts — application portal.
Positions: NSW: about 50 endocrinology advanced trainees and about 208 specialist fellows (2019 modelling)
Worth knowing: The largest endocrinology training footprint; NSW Health modelling (2019) projected demand growing about 2.6–3.3% to 2035, with the workforce about 56% female.
Links: HETI — Basic Physician Training in NSW, NSW Health — Endocrinology workforce modelling.
VIC VIC/TAS: 28 endocrinology Advanced Training positions listed across accredited health services for 2025
Who runs selection: Endocrinology Advanced Training entry is via the PMCV computer match (shared with Tasmania), which ranks applicants on CV and academic record, referees and a scored interview — without published percentage weightings.
Where to apply: PMCV endocrinology match (Victoria/Tasmania) — application portal.
Positions: VIC/TAS: 28 endocrinology Advanced Training positions listed across accredited health services for 2025
Worth knowing: A formal Gale–Shapley computer match: listed health services must use the match and may not appoint outside it, only one offer is made to each successful candidate, and overall ranking isn't released to candidates.
QLD
Who runs selection: Endocrinology Advanced Training entry is via a centralised statewide recruitment process, with positions allocated on interview ranking, CV score and referee reports by a combined panel of facility directors.
Where to apply: Queensland Health statewide endocrinology recruitment — application portal.
Positions: QLD: per-state trainee count not published as a verified figure
Worth knowing: Two referees must upload reports or the applicant isn't eligible; trainees are commonly allocated to a non-metropolitan hospital for the first year, then a second year by preference and merit.
Links: Queensland Health — Endocrinology (Advanced Training).
SA
Who runs selection: BPT and endocrinology Advanced Training are recruited through the Adelaide teaching hospitals/networks. Selection is not run by the RACP.
Where to apply: SA Health / network recruitment — application portal.
Positions: SA: per-state trainee count not published
Worth knowing: A compact statewide training footprint anchored by the major Adelaide hospitals.
WA
Who runs selection: BPT requires securing an RMO/registrar post at a network hospital first; endocrinology Advanced Training is recruited through the Perth teaching hospitals/networks.
Where to apply: WA Health / network recruitment — application portal.
Positions: WA: per-state trainee count not published
Worth knowing: Entry to BPT networks generally requires first securing employment at a network hospital.
TAS TAS: counted within the Victoria/Tasmania combined match (Hobart and Launceston participate)
Who runs selection: Endocrinology Advanced Training entry is via the PMCV computer match shared with Victoria, so applicants can be matched to interstate posts.
Where to apply: PMCV endocrinology match (Victoria/Tasmania) — application portal.
Positions: TAS: counted within the Victoria/Tasmania combined match (Hobart and Launceston participate)
Worth knowing: Royal Hobart and Launceston General participate in the PMCV match, so rotations and matching can involve Victorian posts.
ACT
Who runs selection: BPT and endocrinology Advanced Training in Canberra are recruited through hospital/network processes. Selection is not run by the RACP.
Where to apply: ACT Health / network recruitment — application portal.
Positions: ACT: per-state trainee count not published
Worth knowing: A small training footprint centred on Canberra Hospital.
NT
Who runs selection: The Northern Territory has a very small endocrinology training footprint; advanced training is commonly delivered with interstate rotations.
Where to apply: NT Health / network recruitment — application portal.
Positions: NT: per-state trainee count not published
Worth knowing: Limited local capacity; trainees often rotate interstate for core endocrinology training.
How to optimise your application
- Pass the Divisional exams cleanly (tied to Eligibility gate, start during BPT) — Both the Divisional Written and Clinical Examinations must be passed to be eligible for Advanced Training — a first-time pass keeps you on timeline and frees time for research and endocrinology terms.
- Build a CV with research and endocrinology exposure (tied to CV / academic record, start PGY2 onwards) — Both the PMCV match and the Queensland process score CV and academic record — aim for endocrinology/diabetes rotations, publications and presentations early.
- Line up strong referees (tied to Referee reports, start BPT / post-exam) — Strength of references is a core ranking factor in both processes; sustained endocrinology terms let you field strong consultant referees who have worked with you recently.
- Prepare thoroughly for interview (tied to Interview, start pre-application) — The scored panel interview is central to ranking — practise structured answers and be ready to discuss your research, clinical experience and motivation.
Key documents & official links
- RACP — Endocrinology Advanced Training
- RACP — Endocrinology & Chemical Pathology (dual training)
- RACP — Entry into Basic Training
- RACP — Divisional Written Examination (past results)
- RACP — Divisional Clinical Examination
- Endocrine Society of Australia — trainee information
- RACP — Standard Specialist Assessment Pathway (IMGs)
FAQ
Is endocrinology hard to get into?
How long does training take?
Is selection national or state-based?
What are the exams and are there procedure requirements?
How much do endocrinologists earn?
Trained overseas? (IMG pathway)
How overseas-trained endocrinology doctors get recognised
Overseas-trained endocrinologists are assessed by the RACP under the Standard Specialist Assessment Pathway for comparability to an Australian-trained endocrinologist. Substantially comparable applicants do up to 12 months of peer review (supervised practice); partially comparable applicants do up to 24 months total including any further training and assessments; applicants who can't reach comparability within 24 months aren't offered this route. An Accelerated Specialist Pathway — which includes endocrinology — is a faster route for substantially comparable consultants from the UK, Ireland, India, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka, usually without an interview.
See the RACP — Standard Specialist Assessment Pathway and our IMG internship guide.
Related specialties
Last reviewed 2026-06-09.