Fellowship of the Australian College of Sports Physicians (FACSP)

This is recognised as the specialist training programme in sports medicine in both New Zealand and Australia, although government recognition as a medical specialty in Australia is still awaited. In New Zealand, sports medicine has been recognised as a special discipline.

The term “sports physician” is reserved for Fellows of the Australian College of Sports Physicians (ACSP) and “sports medicine practitioner” is used for all other doctors with a qualification—for example, Master of Sports Medicine, Diploma of Sports Medicine—and/or interest in sports medicine.

Fellowship of the ACSP is obtained after a minimum of seven years approved postgraduate medical experience and training. Trainees must be registered to practise in Australia.

An initial three years of internship or hospital residency and perhaps primary care experience is prescribed before a prospective trainee can sit the part 1 fellowship examination of the college. This consists of two three hour multiple choice examination papers which cover physiology, anatomy, pharmacology, and pathology. It is a college specific examination but equivalence has been granted for part 1 examinations of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.

Successful completion of these papers confers eligibility to apply for a training position with the Advanced Training Program of the ACSP. At the time of writing, there are 11 training posts in Australia and New Zealand. All teaching is carried out by Fellows of the ACSP and fellows of other specialist colleges appointed by the ACSP, and advanced training takes at least four years. The …