Information for Applicants

The CCRTGE offers applicants formal recognition of their training to common Australian standard in order to improve and promote the quality of the gastroenterological services provided to the Australian community.

The recognition process is overseen by a Committee of senior gastroenterological appointees from GESA, RACP & RACS on a voluntary basis. Fees and charges are set on a cost recovery basis.

Recognition of training is based on persuading the Committee that applicants have reached the required standard.

CCRTGE recognition of training is based on three core requirements:-

  • that the training be contemporary;
  • that the training meets current Australian standards of competency and practice and
  • that the training be undertaken, at least in large part, in Australia.

The CCRTGE may consider, on a case-by-case basis, applications that fall outside these requirements and you should read the information on the various pathways offered by the CCRTGE to help you decide how to proceed with your application.

If you are considering augmenting your Australian training with additional training overseas you should read the information in the relevant pathway, noting especially that you must obtain consent from the CCRTGE before you apply for the overseas training.

In addition to the requirements specified on this web site the CCRTGE reserves the right to ask for additional information, to require additional training and to reject applications which it believes do not demonstrate that the applicant has achieved the required level of competency.

Please read each of the following sections carefully.

REGISTRATION

Registration with the CCRTGE may only be done online.

Applicants for Recognition of Training must first register with the Committee.

Once you have registered you will be given access to an online logbook in which you will record details of each procedure undertaken. The procedures must be recorded in the order in which they are undertaken.The details of all procedures undertaken from the commencement of training must be recorded, irrespective of the clinical outcome.

Individual log entries must be acknowledged by the supervisor immediately after the procedure is completed. It is your responsibility to obtain supervisor sign off.

Successful application for recognition is based on your logbooks being an accurate reflection of the training experience.

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APPLICATION FOR RECOGNITION

An application for recognition of your training may only be made online.

Applications for recognition by CCRTGE close on 15 March and 15 October each year. A fee is payable at the time of application. See Fees for a list of all fees payable.

The CCRTGE assesses each applicant against a strict set of criteria. You are required to demonstrate a high level of technical competence by completing a minimum number of cases/procedures successfully and fulfilling all other requirements specific to that procedure.

A proportion of applications for recognition of training will be reviewed and/or audited and additional supporting information may be requested at the time of review of an application.

The requirements for each procedure may be found under Procedural Requirements.

The requirements are revised regularly to better reflect higher standards of competence and trainees are encouraged to check this website regularly to inform themselves of any recent changes.

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TRAINING

The Committee expects that gastrointestinal endoscopic training is completed within a five (5) year period.

Trainees may apply for Recognition in their final year of Advanced Training, however endorsement will not be granted until the Committee receives notification that the prospective applicant has successfully completed Specialist Advanced Training.

Please ensure you attach your letter of confirmation indicating your fellowship number when submitting your application.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate cognitive and interpretative skills combined with a clear understanding of the role of endoscopy in patient management. These skills are considered by the Committee to be as important as technical skills.

The Committee requires applicants to:

  • have received training in radiological and pathological findings as well as the technical aspects of endoscopy;
  • have received training in sedation practices pertaining to endoscopic procedures based on the current edition of "Guidelines on Sedation and/or Analgesia for Diagnostic and Interventional Medical, Dental or Surgical Procedures - Review PS9 (2014)";
  • demonstrate an understanding of the principles of and practice of cleaning and disinfection of modern endoscopic instruments as outlined in the current edition of "Infection Control in Endoscopy";
  • familiarise themselves with the drugs of sedation and have experience in airway support; and
  • keep abreast of current endoscopic literature obtain training in fluoroscopic theory and practice - in some States it is a requirement that a licence be obtained for use of radiology equipment.

It is necessary to hold Recognition of Training in Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy prior to applying for Recognition of Training in Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS).

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LOGBOOKS

Details of all cases attempted from the commencement of training to the completion of training, including those not successfully completed, must be recorded contemporaneously and sequentially in the appropriate online logbook. Logbook entries must be recorded within six (6) months of the case being undertaken.

Please note that the Committee reserves the right to be able to request supporting documentation such as colonoscopy reports (including photographs), pathology reports, histology reports, theatre lists etc to enable an audit and validation of logbook entries.

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PROCEDURE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must ensure that the following requirements are met or exceeded before submitting their application. Requirements vary for each procedure and it is the responsibility of the applicant to check the website regularly and familiarise themselves with any updates or changes.

Please note that the Committee reserves the right to be able to request supporting documentation such as colonoscopy reports (including photographs), pathology reports, histology reports, theatre lists etc to enable an audit and validation of logbook entries for all procedure types and application pathways.

Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (UGI)

  • Trainees are required to perform at least 200 unassisted and complete examinations independently under supervision.
  • Examinations must include a minimum of 20 therapeutic procedures.
  • The types of therapeutic procedures that may be counted are listed below.
    • Adrenaline
    • Argon Beam
    • Banding
    • Clipping
    • Coagulation
    • Dilation
    • Naso-jejunal feeding tube
    • PEG
    • Removal of a foreign body
    • Sclerotherapy
    • Stent
  • NOTE - neither a polypectomy nor a biopsy may be counted as a therapeutic procedure.
  • It is desirable that the examinations include some instances involving control of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Paediatric Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

  • Trainees are required to perform at least 200 unassisted and complete examinations independently under supervision.
  • Examinations must include a minimum of 100 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies in paediatric patients under the supervision of a recognised paediatric upper gastrointestinal endoscopy supervisor.
  • Examinations must include a minimum of 20 therapeutic procedures.
  • The types of therapeutic procedures that may be counted are listed below.
    • Adrenaline
    • Argon Beam
    • Banding
    • Clipping
    • Coagulation
    • Dilation
    • Naso-jejunal feeding tube
    • PEG
    • Removal of a foreign body
    • Sclerotherapy
    • Stent
  • NOTE - neither a polypectomy nor a biopsy may be counted as a therapeutic procedure.
  • It is desirable that the examinations include some instances involving control of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

  • Trainees must perform a total of 200 unassisted ERCP examinations in patients with intact papillary sphincters.
  • Procedures performed must include a minimum of 80 supervised, independently performed, sphincterotomies in patients with intact papillary sphincters and a minimum of 60 stents.
  • Cannulations performed in patients with previous sphincterotomies should also be contemporaneously recorded in the logbook to permit assessment of the entire training experience.

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Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)

Trainees are encouraged to undertake training in both gastro-oesophageal and pancreatico-biliary areas of EUS. However, there will be a small number of practitioners who will only require training in gastro-oesophageal EUS.

Gastro-oesophageal and pancreatico-biliary EUS

Trainees are required to:

  • independently perform a minimum of 200 examinations, including
    • a minimum of 100 examinations for gastro-oesophageal lesion/tumour and
    • a minimum of 100 examinations for pancreatico-biliary investigation and
  • independently perform a minimum of 50 FNA examinations with at least 25 being pancreatico-biliary.

EUS guided, Fine Needle Biopsy (FNA) examinations can be counted within those for either gastro-oesophageal or pancreatico-biliary conditions

Catheter probe EUS that is placed down a gastroscope can be counted but must not represent more than 10% of all cases.

Gastro-oesophageal only EUS

Trainees are required to:

  • independently perform a minimum of 150 examinations and
  • independently perform a minimum of 50 FNA examinations.

EUS guided FNA can be counted towards the minimum 150 examinations.

Catheter probe EUS that is placed down a gastroscope can be counted but must not represent more than 10% of all cases.

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Colonoscopy

Assessment for recognition of training in colonoscopy primarily involves assessment of the caecal intubation rate at the completion of training.

Trainees are required to:

  • perform a minimum of 200 large bowel endoscopic examinations that can include colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopies and colonoscopy via colostomy on patients with intact or non-intact colons;
  • perform a minimum of 100 unassisted, supervised, complete colonoscopies to the caecum or the ileum in patients with intact or non-intact colons;
  • perform successful snare polypectomies on a minimum of 50 patients and
  • to achieve at least a 90% caecal intubation rate by the completion of training.

Procedures on patients with obstructing cancer and/or severe colitis must be recorded but are excluded from the calculation of overall intubation rate.

Paediatric Colonoscopy

Trainees are required to:

  • perform a minimum of 100 unassisted, supervised, complete colonoscopies to the caecum and preferably to the ileum, including a minimum of 75 procedures in paediatric patients under the supervision of a recognised paediatric colonoscopy supervisor.

Some polypectomy experience is expected.

A success rate of at least 90% for intubation of the caecum (preferably into the ileum) should have been achieved on the completion of training.

Procedures on patients with severe colitis must be recorded but are excluded from the calculation of overall intubation rate.

Capsule Endoscopy

If you commenced training in Capsule Endoscopy before this pathway opened and have been recording your procedures in a paper log book and having them signed off by your CCRTGE-recognised supervisor(s) you may now enter those procedures in your online logbook.

You should record the procedure date in your paper log book as the date on which you first read the capsule report. Only reports read within the last twelve (12) months may be entered into the CCRTGE online system.

Trainees are required to:

  • perform and log a minimum of 50 supervised, complete procedures including
    • at least 25 abnormal complete studies;
    • at least 5 studies where the trainee is wholly responsible for the unassisted preparation of the equipment, patient set-up and administration of the capsule (as attested to in a supervisor rating);
  • demonstrate an understanding of the indications for, contra-indications to, and complications of Capsule Endoscopy (as attested to in a supervisor rating) and
  • provide evidence of attendance at a recognised capsule endoscopy training workshop (e.g. NETI, industry, or other as recognised by the CCRTGE). If you are planning on attending an alternative capsule endoscopy course to the NETI course, you must request approval from the CCRTGE in writing prior to commencing the course.

A supervisor who has supervised the bulk of the last 50 procedures logged must submit a supervisor rating at the end of the applicant's training with that supervisor.

Please see the CCRTGE guidelines for the content of capsule endoscopy reports.

Cleaning and Disinfection
It is required that a minimum of fifteen (15) instruments be cleaned under the supervision of either a suitably trained and experienced CSSD technician or of a registered nurse who may conduct training for endoscopic cleaning. See the current edition of "Infection Control in Endoscopy" for guidelines. Download the cleaning log form from here.

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SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Trainees
Trainees must:

  1. register with the Committee at the commencement of training;
  2. contemporaneously record all procedures including unsuccessful and assisted procedures in the logbook from the commencement of training until completion of training (it is the responsibility of the trainee to ensure that occurs);
  3. have the logbook entries acknowledged by the supervisor on the day of the procedure (NB no more than 50 procedures can be recorded in a logbook without acknowledgement from a supervisor - once this limit is reached a supervisor must acknowledge some procedures before more procedures can be recorded);
  4. demonstrate competence in a wide variety of skills including clinical management, cleaning and disinfection, technical expertise and interpretation of pathology and radiology;
  5. complete at least the minimum number of unassisted and supervised procedures required for each procedure type (it is understood that most trainees will require more procedures than the minimum required in order to achieve competence and satisfy all criteria);
  6. have at least two of your supervisors each submit an online rating report (Supervisor Rating Report – SRR) for you for each procedure type - a Supervisor Rating Report may only be submitted by a supervisor who has supervised at least 10 of your procedures;
  7. have enough supervisor rating reports to collectively cover the majority of the last 50 procedures submitted;
  8. inform the Committee of any changes in contact information or withdrawal from the program;
  9. regularly check the website for updates relevant to the training program;
  10. apply for recognition of training (this is permitted in the final year of training, with recognition being granted on completion of Specialist Advanced Training);
  11. ensure that the relevant forms for the registration of training and the application for recognition of training are completed and correct (incomplete or incorrect forms will be returned to the applicant for completion before acceptance and may result in a delay in assessment) and
  12. notify the secretariat of any intention to undertake training overseas.

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ASSESSMENT

The Committee meets twice a year, generally in April and November, to assess applications. Late applications will be assessed at the following meeting. Results of the assessment will be sent to the applicant by email, and a certificate issued to successful applicants on successful completion of training. The results of the applications will be sent by the end of June for the April meeting and by the end of February for the November meeting.

Applications submitted for assessment must meet the criteria. Applications that are considered to be inadequate will be returned and the applicant asked to undertake further training or provide further evidence of training to meet the criteria.

Applicants will be given two (2) years from the date of original assessment to provide additional information requested by the Committee. After this time the applicant will need to reapply and may be asked to fulfil additional requirements.

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FEES

Please note that fees are reviewed annually. Please check the fee prior to submitting your registration request and whenever submitting an application for recognition of training.

Fees may only be paid by credit card.

Registration
A once-only, non-refundable registration fee of $510 including GST is due at the time of registration. Once you have paid the registration fee you will be provided a link to your logbook.

Application for Recognition of Training

Once you have completed the required training activities and recorded them in your logbook you can apply for recognition of your training.

A separate application fee is incurred on a "per procedure type" basis and is payable when each completed application for recognition of training is submitted.

The fee for each procedure type is $600 including GST.

Replacement Letters/Certificates

The administration office is able to supply replacement copies of Certificates or letters upon request. There is a fee of $110 including GST for this service. Please contact GESA to make your request.

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