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Radiation Oncology Training Pathway

How to become a radiation oncologist in Australia — the single vertically-integrated RANZCR program (FRANZCR), network-by-network selection, the two exam barriers, and a small specialty with a notably civilised lifestyle.

The bottleneck is getting in, not getting through. Accredited posts are capped by government funding, so only a handful open nationally each year — and there's no national selection. Every jurisdiction recruits independently on CV, references and interview, with no published applicant-to-offer ratio and no national rubric, so you compete network-by-network against a field you can't see.

Why radiation oncology

Overwhelmingly outpatient and clinic-based. A typical day mixes new-patient consults, follow-ups and on-treatment reviews with the cognitive core of the job: CT simulation, contouring tumour volumes and organs-at-risk, and building/checking treatment plans with medical physicists and radiation therapists. Multidisciplinary team meetings (breast, lung, head-and-neck, GI, GU, CNS) are central — radiation oncology is a consult-and-plan specialty embedded in cancer-team decision-making. On-call is light compared with most hospital specialties: emergencies (cord compression, SVC obstruction, painful bony mets needing urgent palliative RT) exist, but overnight and weekend work is limited and nearly all care is delivered in daytime hours.

✓ Draws

Genuinely good lifestyle: outpatient, daytime, minimal overnight on-call — rare among hospital specialties
Intellectually rich blend of clinical oncology, anatomy, imaging, physics and radiobiology
Strong continuity of care and a clear, technology-driven impact on cancer outcomes
Single integrated 5-year program — no separate competitive 'advanced training' bottleneck after the exams
Embedded in multidisciplinary cancer teams; strong research and academic culture

⚖ Trade-offs

Very few accredited training posts open nationally each year — entry is the hard part
Two serious exam barriers (Phase 1 oncology sciences; Phase 2 written + vivas)
Emotionally heavy: full-time oncology, a large palliative caseload, repeated bad news
Networked training means mandatory rotations to regional sites (often 6-12 months away from the metro base)
Small workforce and capped posts mean consultant job geography can be limited — you may have to move for a job

Subspecialties

Site-specific practice (breast, prostate/genitourinary, lung, head & neck, CNS, gastrointestinal, gynaecological, lymphoma)Stereotactic radiosurgery / SRS and stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR/SBRT)Brachytherapy (gynae, prostate, skin)Paediatric radiation oncologyParticle therapy / proton therapy (emerging in Australia)

The training pathway

The same fellowship, two very different timelines. The fast route assumes everything goes right; most people land on the realistic one.

Fastest route

~7 years from medical-school graduation to FRANZCR

Structural floor: 2 prevocational years to meet eligibility, then the minimum 5-year program with both exam sets passed first attempt and no extensions.

Internship (PGY1)

General registration with AHPRA. Counts toward the at-least-two-full-years prevocational experience required to apply.

Residency / PGY2 (+ secure an accredited post)

Eligibility requires at least two full years in an accredited hospital as an intern/resident (PGY1 + PGY2) by the time the post starts. Register with RANZCR for a CRVN, then apply to a state network's accredited registrar position. Securing a post is the real gate.

Phase 1 (oncology sciences)

1.5

Minimum 12 accredited months (maximum 30). Pass the Phase 1 Examination (Anatomy; Radiation Oncology Physics; Radiation & Cancer Biology) to progress.

Phase 2 (clinical training + final exams)

Usually a minimum of 36 months. Complete clinical/site requirements and the research project, then pass the Phase 2 Examination (written + vivas covering Radiation Oncology and Pathology), usually in the final year.

FRANZCR + specialist registration

Fellowship awarded; apply for specialist registration as a radiation oncologist.

Realistic route

~8-10 years from graduation to FRANZCR

Most trainees spend extra prevocational years strengthening their CV before they secure a post, and exam re-sits or program extensions add time. The program allows up to 10 years total.

Internship + residency (PGY1-2)

Minimum to be eligible. Many do oncology, palliative care, medical/radiation oncology or general medicine terms to build a competitive application.

Unaccredited / SRMO years building a CV

1-2

Common in practice: an unaccredited radiation oncology registrar or SRMO post, plus the Basic Sciences in Oncology Course and some research/publications, to be competitive. Applications to enter the program are capped at four non-consecutive attempts.

Phase 1

1-2.5

12-30 accredited months. The Phase 1 exams are a real barrier (3 attempts allowed); a re-sit pushes timelines out.

Phase 2

3-4

Usually a minimum of 36 months but frequently longer with rotations, the mandatory research project and Phase 2 exam attempts (3 attempts allowed).

FRANZCR + first consultant/fellowship post

0-1

Many do a post-Fellowship fellowship (e.g. SRS/SABR, brachytherapy, a site subspecialty) before a substantive consultant job — and may need to relocate for it.

How competitive is it?

Radiation oncology is hard to get into for a structural reason rather than a published cut-off: it is a very small specialty (roughly 330 employed radiation oncologists nationally per Jobs and Skills Australia; 591 radiation oncologists were on the FRANZCR database for the 2022 workforce census) and accredited training posts are capped by Commonwealth/state funding, so only a small number of new training places open across the country each year. The College does not run a national selection process for Australia — each state network recruits to its own posts on CV, references and interview — so no national applicant-to-offer ratio and no national scored rubric is published. Applications to enter the program are capped at four non-consecutive attempts, and trainees have three attempts at each of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 examinations. The exams add a second filter, but they are not the main bottleneck: in the 2025 Phase 2 Series 1 sitting (19 candidates) the overall pass rate was 78.9%, with written components passing at about 75-88% and the vivas at 88-100% — figures vary series to series on these small cohorts.

Unaccredited time: Not formally required, but in practice common. Many successful applicants have done an unaccredited radiation oncology registrar/SRMO year, the Basic Sciences in Oncology Course and some research before they secure an accredited post.

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia — Radiation Oncologists (ANZSCO 253918): 330 employed, RANZCR — Applying to the Radiation Oncology Training Program (eligibility; four-attempt cap), RANZCR — Radiation Oncology 2025 Phase 2 Series 1 Examination Report, Faculty of Radiation Oncology 2022 Workforce Census (591 radiation oncologists surveyed), RANZCR — Australia Site State Accredited Trainee Positions (Updated 1 Oct 2025, PDF).

Selection criteria & how to apply

Selection works very differently here than in physician or surgical training. For Australia, RANZCR does NOT run central selection — it sets eligibility and issues a College Registration Verification Number (CRVN), but each state training network advertises and selects to its own accredited posts. (Only New Zealand selection is run centrally by the College/FRONZ.) That means there is no national points rubric with percentage weightings to optimise against; the assessed components below are the standard ones jurisdictions use, but their exact weighting is set locally and not published nationally.

Eligibility & CRVNEligibility

You must be a graduate of a recognised medical school (or have passed AMC Parts I and II), hold unrestricted general registration, and have completed at least two full years in an accredited hospital as an intern/resident (PGY1 + PGY2) by the time the post starts. You must register with RANZCR and obtain a CRVN before applying — applications without a CRVN are not considered. This is a gate, not a scored item.

Curriculum vitae & academic recordAssessed

CV scoring is part of every jurisdiction's process (qualifications, relevant oncology/medical experience, research, publications, prizes). No national percentage weighting is published.

Referee reportsAssessed

Structured referee reports from supervisors are a standard component across networks. Weighting is set locally and not published.

Structured interviewAssessed

Interviews use questions aligned to standardised competency domains; panels follow jurisdictional HR policy and RANZCR's selection guidelines. Interview performance is typically decisive, but the exact share of the score is not published nationally.

Research / academic outputAssessed

Research experience and publications strengthen a CV and are valued given the specialty's strong academic culture, but there is no fixed national points value.

Key documents: RANZCR — 2026 Radiation Oncology Selection Process Overview (PDF), RANZCR — Radiation Oncology Training Program Handbook 2026 (PDF), RANZCR — Applying to the Radiation Oncology Training Program (eligibility, CRVN, attempts).

How selection is run in each state and territory

There are six accredited radiation oncology training networks covering Australia, several of which are combined across state lines (VIC+TAS, SA+NT, and a NSW/ACT Southern network). Each network advertises through its lead health service or the state JMO/RMO campaign and runs its own interview and ranking, then trainees rotate between sites within the network. Per-network applicant numbers are generally not published; the position counts below are from RANZCR's accredited-site list (updated 1 October 2025).

NSW

Who runs selection: Two RANZCR-accredited networks cover NSW. The NSW Northern Network is one of the largest in the country (eight home hospitals): Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre at Westmead & Blacktown, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse (Royal Prince Alfred), Nepean, Royal North Shore, and the regional Mid/North Coast sites (Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Lismore). The NSW/ACT Southern Network spans south-west and south-east Sydney plus the south coast and Canberra (Liverpool, Prince of Wales, St George, Macarthur, GenesisCare St Vincent's, Illawarra/Wollongong, Shoalhaven, The Canberra Hospital). The two NSW networks run a combined network teaching program.

Where to apply: NSW Health JMO Recruitment (statewide campaign) / WSLHD for the Northern network — application portal.

Positions: Accredited posts by site (RANZCR list, Oct 2025): Northern network — Westmead & Blacktown 7, Calvary Mater Newcastle 7, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse 6, Royal North Shore 4, Port Macquarie 4, Nepean 3, Coffs Harbour 3, Lismore 3. Southern (NSW/ACT) network — Liverpool 10, Prince of Wales 5, St George 5.2, Illawarra 5, Shoalhaven 3, Macarthur 2, GenesisCare (St Vincent's) 2, Canberra 4. Applicant-to-offer ratios are not published.

Worth knowing: The annual JMO campaign is coordinated by the NSW Ministry of Health; advanced-trainee posts are typically advertised from mid-July to early August with network interviews in August. RANZCR requires at least one 12-month rotation away from your home hospital, and the Northern network includes mandatory time at regional North Coast sites.

Links: Northern NSW Radiation Oncology Training Network (WSLHD), Northern NSW Radiation Oncology Training Network (NSW Government / WSLHD), RANZCR — Australia Site State Accredited Trainee Positions (PDF).

VIC

Who runs selection: VICTRANET — the Victorian/Tasmanian Radiation Oncology Training Network (combined with Tasmania): Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Parkville and satellite sites), Alfred Health, the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre (Austin), Andrew Love Cancer Centre (Barwon/Geelong), Ballarat, plus the W P Holman Clinic at Launceston General Hospital and Royal Hobart Hospital in Tasmania.

Where to apply: VICTRANET / PMCV Pathways (positions advertised by the network and its sites) — application portal.

Positions: Accredited posts by site (RANZCR list, Oct 2025) include: Peter MacCallum — Parkville 8, Moorabbin 4, Box Hill 2, Bendigo 2, Sunshine 1 (about 17 across its sites); Alfred (The Alfred 4, LaTrobe Regional 3); Olivia Newton-John (Austin) 2; Andrew Love (Geelong) 2; Ballarat 2; Launceston 1; Royal Hobart 1. Total annual new intake is not published.

Worth knowing: One combined VIC+TAS network — Victorian and Tasmanian posts are recruited together and trainees rotate within the same network. Positions are advertised through the network and its accredited sites (information and listings via PMCV Pathways) rather than a single nationwide match.

Links: PMCV Pathways — Radiation Oncology (VICTRANET), Radiation Oncology Registrar — Alfred Health.

QLD Statewide network; published trainee counts were 27 (2024), 32 (2025) and 27 (2026). Accredited sites (RANZCR list, Oct 2025) include Royal Brisbane & Women's 7, Princess Alexandra 5, Townsville University 5, ROPART 3, plus Sunshine Coast and several private (GenesisCare/Icon) sites. It is recommended to list radiation oncology as your first preference in the RMO campaign because selection is competitive.

Who runs selection: Queensland Radiation Oncology Training Network (QROTN) — a statewide RANZCR network rotating trainees between metropolitan and regional cancer centres.

Where to apply: Queensland Health RMO/Registrar Campaign (Medi-Nav) — application portal.

Positions: Statewide network; published trainee counts were 27 (2024), 32 (2025) and 27 (2026). Accredited sites (RANZCR list, Oct 2025) include Royal Brisbane & Women's 7, Princess Alexandra 5, Townsville University 5, ROPART 3, plus Sunshine Coast and several private (GenesisCare/Icon) sites. It is recommended to list radiation oncology as your first preference in the RMO campaign because selection is competitive.

Worth knowing: Single statewide recruitment run via the Queensland Health RMO/Registrar campaign; you must hold a RANZCR CRVN before applying. Selection is on interview, referee reports and CV scoring. Expect a minimum of 1-2 years in regional training sites.

Links: Queensland Health Careers — Radiation Oncology, RANZCR — Australia Site State Accredited Trainee Positions (PDF).

SA Accredited posts by site (RANZCR list, Oct 2025): Royal Adelaide Hospital 5, GenesisCare (Flinders Private) 2, Lyell McEwin Hospital 1, Alan Walker Cancer Care (NT) 1. Trainees rotate across SA and the NT during the 5-year program.

Who runs selection: RANZCR SA/NT Training Network (combined with the Northern Territory): Royal Adelaide Hospital, Lyell McEwin Hospital, GenesisCare (Flinders Private Hospital), and Alan Walker Cancer Care (Northern Territory Radiation Oncology) in Darwin.

Where to apply: SA Health careers (I Work for SA) — application portal.

Positions: Accredited posts by site (RANZCR list, Oct 2025): Royal Adelaide Hospital 5, GenesisCare (Flinders Private) 2, Lyell McEwin Hospital 1, Alan Walker Cancer Care (NT) 1. Trainees rotate across SA and the NT during the 5-year program.

Worth knowing: One network spanning two jurisdictions, public and private sites; SA-advertised registrar contracts are typically multi-year terms with rotations that can include Darwin.

Links: SA Health — careers (I Work for SA), RANZCR — Australia Site State Accredited Trainee Positions (PDF).

WA Accredited posts by site (RANZCR list, Oct 2025): GenesisCare (Fiona Stanley Hospital) 3, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital 2 (five accredited posts in the state). Advanced-training posts require a RANZCR CRVN in addition to the hospital application.

Who runs selection: WA training spans Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (the state's lead public radiation oncology service) and GenesisCare at Fiona Stanley Hospital; rotations can include metropolitan, outer-metropolitan and regional WA sites.

Where to apply: WA Health Medical Careers — application portal.

Positions: Accredited posts by site (RANZCR list, Oct 2025): GenesisCare (Fiona Stanley Hospital) 3, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital 2 (five accredited posts in the state). Advanced-training posts require a RANZCR CRVN in addition to the hospital application.

Worth knowing: WA has the smallest network by post count; training is anchored across SCGH and Fiona Stanley/GenesisCare with rotations out to other metro and regional services. Check both the hospital and RANZCR closing dates.

Links: Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital — Radiation Oncology, WA Health Medical Careers.

TAS Tasmanian posts (RANZCR list, Oct 2025): Launceston General 1 and Royal Hobart 1, recruited as part of the combined VICTRANET network with Victoria.

Who runs selection: Tasmania is part of VICTRANET (the combined Victorian/Tasmanian network) — the W P Holman Clinic at Launceston General Hospital and Royal Hobart Hospital are the Tasmanian training sites.

Where to apply: VICTRANET / PMCV Pathways (shared with Victoria) — application portal.

Positions: Tasmanian posts (RANZCR list, Oct 2025): Launceston General 1 and Royal Hobart 1, recruited as part of the combined VICTRANET network with Victoria.

Worth knowing: No independent Tasmanian network — trainees are selected and rotated as part of VICTRANET, so Tasmania shares Victoria's network and teaching program.

Links: PMCV Pathways — Radiation Oncology (VICTRANET, incl. TAS sites), RANZCR — Australia Site State Accredited Trainee Positions (PDF).

ACT The Canberra Hospital has 4 accredited trainee positions within the NSW/ACT Southern network (RANZCR list, Oct 2025), which also includes Illawarra/Wollongong (5) and Shoalhaven (3).

Who runs selection: The Canberra Hospital is part of the NSW/ACT Southern Radiation Oncology Training Network, run jointly with southern NSW.

Where to apply: Canberra Health Services careers (and the shared NSW/ACT Southern network) — application portal.

Positions: The Canberra Hospital has 4 accredited trainee positions within the NSW/ACT Southern network (RANZCR list, Oct 2025), which also includes Illawarra/Wollongong (5) and Shoalhaven (3).

Worth knowing: ACT training is networked with southern NSW rather than standalone; the Canberra department runs a strong in-house teaching program and trainees rotate across the combined network. Canberra also advertises unaccredited radiation oncology registrar/SRMO posts.

Links: Canberra Health Services — Radiation Oncology Unaccredited Registrar (PD), RANZCR — Australia Site State Accredited Trainee Positions (PDF).

NT Alan Walker Cancer Care (Darwin) has 1 accredited trainee position (RANZCR list, Oct 2025); NT training is delivered as part of the combined SA/NT network with rotations from South Australia.

Who runs selection: The Northern Territory is part of the RANZCR SA/NT Training Network — Alan Walker Cancer Care (Northern Territory Radiation Oncology) in Darwin is the NT training site.

Where to apply: SA Health careers (SA/NT network recruitment) / NT Health — application portal.

Positions: Alan Walker Cancer Care (Darwin) has 1 accredited trainee position (RANZCR list, Oct 2025); NT training is delivered as part of the combined SA/NT network with rotations from South Australia.

Worth knowing: No independent NT network — there is a single NT radiation oncology service, and trainees rotate to Darwin as part of the SA/NT network rather than being recruited separately.

Links: SA Health — careers (SA/NT network recruitment), RANZCR — Australia Site State Accredited Trainee Positions (PDF).

How to optimise your application

The honest read: Because posts are funding-capped and selection is decentralised with no published national rubric, you can't optimise against a points sheet. The realistic levers are (1) making yourself the obvious candidate at interview and on paper, (2) widening the net across every network that recruits, and (3) getting the structural eligibility and timing right so you never waste one of your four attempts.

Get oncology-relevant prevocational terms (tied to CV & referee reports, start PGY1-2) — Rotate through radiation oncology, medical oncology, palliative care, haematology and general medicine. A radiation oncology SRMO/unaccredited registrar year gives you both the strongest referees and a realistic feel for the job.
Do the Basic Sciences in Oncology Course (BSOC) early (tied to CV & Phase 1 readiness, start Before/at application) — BSOC front-loads the physics/radiobiology you'll need for Phase 1 and signals commitment; networks explicitly encourage prospective trainees and SRMOs to attend.
Build a small, real research output (tied to CV & academic record, start PGY1 onward) — An audit, case series or a published paper matters in a research-heavy specialty. It doesn't need to be big — it needs to be finished and presentable at interview.
Apply across multiple networks (tied to Number of posts you can compete for, start Application year) — Within a calendar year you can apply to multiple jurisdictions and it still counts as ONE of your four attempts — so geographic flexibility (and willingness to do regional rotations) materially increases your odds.
Sort eligibility and the CRVN before you apply (tied to Eligibility gate, start Months before deadlines) — Confirm you meet the two-full-years prevocational requirement, get your statement of service for PGY1-2 ready, and obtain your RANZCR CRVN early — applications without it aren't considered, and a wasted application still burns an attempt.

Key documents & official links

FAQ

How long does it take to become a radiation oncologist in Australia?

The RANZCR program itself is a single 5-year program (Phase 1 of at least 12 accredited months, then Phase 2 of usually at least 36 months), entered after your prevocational years. The structural floor is about 7 years from graduation (2 prevocational + 5 training) if you secure a post quickly and pass both exam sets first time. Realistically most people take 8-10 years, because the hard part is getting an accredited post and because exam re-sits, the research project and rotations add time. The program allows up to 10 years in total.

Is radiation oncology competitive to get into?

Yes — but for a structural reason rather than a published cut-off. It's a very small specialty (about 330 radiation oncologists employed nationally) and accredited training posts are funding-capped, so only a handful open across the whole country each year. RANZCR doesn't run national selection for Australia — each state network recruits to its own posts on CV, references and interview — so no national applicant-to-offer ratio is published. Applications to enter the program are also capped at four non-consecutive attempts.

What exams do you have to pass?

Two sets, with three attempts allowed at each. The Phase 1 Examination covers the oncology sciences — Anatomy, Radiation Oncology Physics, and Radiation & Cancer Biology — delivered as online written papers, and you must pass it to move into Phase 2. The Phase 2 Examination, usually in the final year, has written papers and vivas covering Radiation Oncology and Pathology. In the 2025 Phase 2 Series 1 sitting (19 candidates) the overall pass rate was 78.9%, with written components passing at about 75-88% and the vivas at 88-100%; the exact figures move around series to series on these small cohorts.

Is the radiation oncology lifestyle really as good as people say?

For a hospital specialty, yes — it's one of the genuine drawcards. The work is overwhelmingly outpatient and daytime, and overnight/weekend on-call is light (there are oncological emergencies like cord compression and SVC obstruction, but they're the exception). The honest trade-offs are that the cognitive work is heavy (contouring and planning are exacting), the caseload is emotionally demanding full-time oncology with a lot of palliative care, and networked training means mandatory regional rotations.

How is selection organised — is there one national application?

No. For Australia, RANZCR sets eligibility and issues you a CRVN (College Registration Verification Number), but it does NOT run a central match — each of the state training networks (the two NSW networks, VICTRANET for VIC/TAS, QROTN, the SA/NT network, and WA) advertises and selects to its own accredited posts, and several networks are combined across state lines. Only New Zealand selection is run centrally by the College/FRONZ. There's no national points rubric, so it pays to apply across multiple networks — within a calendar year that still counts as just one of your four attempts.

What do radiation oncologists earn in Australia?

There's no radiation-oncology-specific earnings figure published by the ATO. Radiation oncologists (ANZSCO 253918) roll up into the ATO's blended 'Other Medical Practitioners' category (about $259,802 average taxable income in 2022-23) — but that aggregate also includes dermatologists, pathologists, diagnostic/interventional radiologists, O&G, ophthalmologists and others, so it's a rough proxy, not a salary and not specific to radiation oncology. As a trainee, state registrar awards apply (typically a multi-year registrar contract on the relevant state medical-officer scale).

I'm an overseas-trained radiation oncologist — can I get recognised in Australia?

RANZCR (accredited by the AMC on behalf of the Medical Board of Australia) assesses you for comparability to an Australian-trained radiation oncologist, including an interview with two Fellow assessors. There's no 'defined scope' shortcut in radiation oncology — that route applies only to clinical radiology — so you're assessed against the full scope of practice. Most applicants are found partially comparable, which means up to 24 months of supervised upskilling in an accredited post plus passing the FRANZCR Phase 2 Examinations before you can apply for Fellowship; those found substantially comparable instead do up to 12 months of peer review. A separate Area of Need pathway exists if you hold a consultant qualification overseas and have secured a designated AoN position.

Trained overseas? (IMG pathway)

How overseas-trained radiation oncology doctors get recognised

Overseas-trained radiation oncologists are assessed by RANZCR (which the AMC accredits to do specialist assessments on behalf of the Medical Board of Australia) for comparability to an Australian-trained radiation oncologist. There is no 'defined scope' pathway in radiation oncology — the College's defined-scope route applies only to clinical radiology — so you are assessed against the full scope of practice, including an interview with two Fellow assessors. Outcomes: most applicants are found PARTIALLY comparable, which means up to 24 months of supervised upskilling in an accredited post PLUS passing the FRANZCR Phase 2 Examinations before you can apply for Fellowship; applicants found SUBSTANTIALLY comparable instead complete up to 12 months of peer review in an accredited training site. A separate Area of Need (AoN) route exists for specialists who hold a consultant qualification overseas and have secured a designated AoN position.

See the RANZCR — International Medical Graduates (Australia) and our IMG internship guide.

Medical Oncology RACP / MOGA Radiology RANZCR Nuclear Medicine AANMS / RACP & RANZCR Haematology RACP / RCPA Palliative Medicine AChPM (RACP)

Last reviewed 2026-06-01.