What does a career as a Medical Specialist in Clinical Immunology and Allergy offer?

Specialist physicians in Clinical Immunology and Allergy are all medical practitioners who are trained in adult or paediatric medicine to provide care for patients with a range of interesting and challenging diseases involving the immune system. The range of practice for a specialist in Clinical Immunology and Allergy includes:

• Allergic diseases (food allergy, insect allergy, anaphylaxis, rhinitis and asthma)
• Autoimmune diseases (vasculitis and other connective tissue diseases)
• Immunodeficiency diseases (inherited and acquired, including transplantation immunology)

Training in Clinical Immunology and Allergy provides a unique and fascinatiing career for a specialist physician who is well equipped to embrace the health care developments brought about be immunological advances leading to personalised medicine.  Due to the large increase in prevalence in allergic disease there is currently a shortage of community based Clinical Immunology and Allergy physicians in Australia and New Zealand.

Training as a specialist physician in Clinical Immunology and Allergy involves 2 core and 1 elective year in accredited positions located in Departments of Clinical Immunology and Allergy in hospitals in Australia and New Zealand, with some opportunities for clinical trainees in private practice settings.

Participation in clinical research is encouraged as immunology is a strong and active research discipline in Australia and New Zealand.

Many trainees also undertake joint formal training in laboratory medicine (immunopathology). 

Training for clinical and laboratory streams is supervised by a Joint Speciaist Advisory Committee (JSAC) of the RACP and RCPA, which provides the only pathway to specialist recognition of Clinical Immunology and Allergy training in Australia and New Zealand.

A career in Clinical Immunology and Allergy is likely to involve work in:

• Private practice
• Hospital based medicine
• Diagnostic immunology
• Research 

What training is required to become a Medical Specialist in Clinical Immunology and Allergy?

There are two training pathways in Clinical Immunology and Allergy which can be undertaken by adult or paediatric physician trainees after successful completion of a medical degree, basic physician training and the FRACP clinical examination.

1. FRACP training in Clinical Immunology and Allergy

This is a three-year training program in Clinical Immunology & Allergy leading to fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP). Completion of this program will enable an adult physician or paediatrician to practice as a clinical immunologist and allergist in a community private practice and/or hospital setting.

2. Combined FRACP and FRCPA in Clinical Immunology, Allergy and Immunopathology

This is a four-year training program which includes laboratory training in diagnostic Immunopathology leading to fellowship of both the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (FRACP FRCPA). This requires fulfillment of the RCPA requirements. On completion, the adult physician or paediatrician will be able to practice as a clinical immunologist, allergist and immunopathologist in a community private practice, hospital setting and/or diagnostic pathology laboratory (public or private).

Both training pathways can also include the option of pursuing a higher degree (PhD, MPH, etc) during or following advanced training.

Advanced Trainees

Further Information

(for Basic Physician Trainees, Medical Graduates, Medical Students)

Dr Melanie Wong
Co-ordinator of Advanced Training in Immunology & Allergy
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Dr Charlotte Slade
Advanced Trainee Representative on Immunology/Allergy JSAC
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This information is provided by the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA).

ASCIA is the peak professional body of clinical immunology and allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand.

The mission of ASCIA is to advance the science and practice of clinical immunology and allergy, by promoting education and the highest standard of ethical medical practice.

PO Box 450 Balgowlah NSW 2093
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Further information on ASCIA is available on this website.

Content updated February 2013