Introduction

The AMPA training programme is a four year process leading to vocational registration in Accident & Medical Practice, as described in the Trainee Accreditation Handbook. It consists of:

1. An examination (AMPEX). Students may opt to enrol in the Accident and Medical Care course, a one year part time course which prepares for AMPEX. 

2. Four years of supervised clinical experience, and

3. The Post Graduate Diploma of Community Emergency Medicine.

Eligibility

Doctors must be fully registered with the MCNZ or other AMPA-approved registration body, and providing accident and medical care from a facility approved by AMPA for training.

How to join the Training Programme

1) Complete the online application form.

2) If you have passed any of the following examinations, send copies to the Board of Censors, c/o the AMPA office.

a) AMPEX

b) ACEM Part 1 examination

c) Post Graduate Diploma of Community Emergency Medicine.

The Board of Censors will reply, confirming eligibility for entry to the AMPA training programme, and at what level - trainee, advanced trainee or graduate, per the vocational registration criteria.

The Education Committee will be send an enrolment pack giving more detail on the requirements for training and the logbook.

The A&M Care Course

AMPA offers an optional one-year part-time course to prepare students for AMPEX. To enrol, complete the A&M Care Course application form.

Supervision

Please refer to the Guidelines for supervisors and trainees.

Cost of training

Training Programme membership is $843.75 per annum, and free to full members. The AMPEX examination fee is $843.75, but is also free for full members.

The AMPA membership fee is $843.75 per annum. All figures include GST.

From 2010 on, the Clinical Training Agency is reimbursing costs for some students. Please contact AMPA for more information.

The optional A&M Care Course cost is $4,500. For PGDipCEM costs, please refer to the University PGDipCEM web page.

ED-based Accident and Medical Practitioners

ED-based Accident and Medical practitioners, in common with all ED doctors who are not Fellows of the Australasian College of Emergency Physicians (FACEMs), must must be in a 'collegial relationship" (as defined by the Medical Council) with a Fellow of the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (FACEM).

The MCNZ has provided the following oversight guidelines in discussion with AMPA:

 "…How [oversight] is achieved is to be mutually decided by the overseer and the overseen. Oversight will be given as set out in the General Oversight booklet produced by the Medical Council.

 For example:

• the two people may meet at individual meetings six times a year.

• the six interactions may include group meetings of several doctors being overseen and one overseer.

• the relationship may be more indirect between the overseer and the overseen if the clinical director is more experienced, e.g. the clinical director is an AMPA doctor.

• the vocationally registered emergency medicine doctor could delegate some of his/her responsibilities, at his or her discretion, to another suitably trained and qualified doctor such as a vocationally registered AMPA doctor or other vocationally registered doctor who was on site. This would be done with the approval of the Medical Council and with clearly defined responsibilities for the oversight."

ED experience is fully accepted by AMPA for Accident and Medical training and recertification purposes. FACEMs may require additional CME activities as a condition of oversight.

Admission to MCNZ A&M Vocational Scope Register

If the Board of Censors has confirmed that you have completed AMPA's training programme, download the appropriate form from the MCNZ web site and send to the MCNZ. The forms change periodically. As of January 2009 the relevant form was here. The MCNZ will compare applications with a list, supplied by AMPA, of doctors who have fulfilled AMPA's criteria.

MCNZ expectations of all vocational registrants include the following:

1. All vocationally registered practitioners are expected to be willing to make themselves available for appointment to a Complaints Assessment Committee or a Competence Review Committee and /or recommend other appropriate colleagues.
2. All vocationally registered practitioners are expected to be willing to refer for a competence review any practitioner whose competence is of concern and to be willing to assist the Medical Council in the development and implementation of educational interventions for those undertaking a competence programme.

General Scope

The MCNZ requires doctors registered in a General Scope, or who practise outside their vocational scope, and who are not in an accredited training programme, to practise in a collegial relationship with a doctor registered in that scope, and do Continuing Professional Development.

Doctors in vocational training

"If you are a doctor in an accredited vocational training programme, you will have an established relationship

with your supervisor. As long as you stay in your vocational training programme, as shown on your APC application form and verified by your College or other training authority,

you do not have to keep CPD records or establish a collegial relationship. If you withdraw from vocational training and continue practising you must establish a collegial relationship"

(excerpt from MCNZ CPD brochure.)