1. When are the intakes in a year?
- Two intakes per year, in May and November.
- Selection is usually done in February/March (for May intake) and August/September (for November intake) respectively.
An application form for Advanced Traineeship post can be downloaded from the SingHealth Intranet E-Forms when the applications are open. You are required to submit the application form to the JCST Secretariat if you are applying AST post in any one of the specialties
2. Who is eligible to apply for Advanced Specialist Training?
- MOs completed three years of basic training or equivalent experience
- MOs obtained a M.Med in the relevant specialty or equivalent qualification.
- Foreign-trained doctors who meet the AST admission requirements may apply.
- Additional reports from basic training supervisors may be requested in some cases.
3. What are the specialties available?
- A list of SingHealth specialties is available here.
4. How do I register for AST?
- Successful applicants selected for AST post must formally register (Form AST 113) as an Advanced Trainee at the point of their Registrar's appointment.
5. What does the AST program contain?
- Training in accredited departments with sufficient volume and variety of cases.
- Rotation to other hospitals/departments during training.
- A period of at least 12 months is recommended. This should be spent in an accredited overseas training centre for purposes of increasing the scope of training and exposure.
- Overseas attachment approval should be obtained from the JCST Secretariat.
- Details of the duration and content of training in the respective specialties are outlined in separate specialty training guides.
- Unless otherwise stated, the training duration is three years.
- The indicated training duration is a minimum period and additional training may be required.
6. Will part-time AST training be considered?
- Part-time training is possible, provided the position is equivalent to at least half of a full-time position.
- Duration of training will be increased to provide the same overall training time as for full-time Advanced trainees.
- All part-time training must meet the same standards as for full-time training.
- Maximum period of part-time training is one year full-time equivalent.
7. What happens if my training program needs to be interrupted?
- If a training program is interrupted for more than 1 year, the JCST Secretariat may require the Advanced Trainee to undergo a further period of training, in addition to the minimum requirements of the program.
8. What are the requirements for completion of AST?
- Advanced Trainees must keep proper and updated records in their log books to reflect the following main activities:
- a) Case Management Data: A record of patients managed, operative procedures, etc
- b) Research - Advanced Trainees should learn basic research methods and be involved in at least one research project which should be published in a peer-reviewed local or overseas journal. Credit of up to 6 months may be obtained for relevant full-time research.
- c) Courses and Lectures: Advanced Trainees are expected to attend courses, seminars, lectures and other continuing medical education activities in the specialty throughout the training period. All such activities should be duly recorded in the log-book.
- Teaching: Advanced Trainees should be involved in teaching of junior doctors, medical students and paramedical staff.
9. Can training overseas be accredited on a retrospective basis?
- Yes, on a case by-case basis provided the training is consistent with the local programs.
- Applications can only be approved where the requirements of basic training have also been fulfilled.
- Training obtained in overseas centers may be given credit on the merit of each case depending on the type of work performed.
- Advanced Trainees should seek recognition of training done overseas prior to leaving Singapore. Information on their host hospitals/programs should be submitted.
10. What is the procedure for exit certification?
- On satisfactory completion of the training program, an oral assessment or clinical/oral examination by the Board of Assessors will follow.
- Trainees can then proceed to apply for Specialist Registration with the Specialist Accreditation Board and for Fellowship of the Academy.
- Trainees must submit a 'Summary of AST', their log-book and other supporting documents prior to the exit assessment.
11. What fees are payable?
- Effective 1 November 2000, the fees* for AST are as follows:
- Application fee (non-refundable): $ 50
- Admission/Log book Fee: $100
- Annual Registration Fee: $690
- Exit Assessment Fee: $800
- Exit Re-Assessment Fee: $800
(*subject to changes from Academy of Medicine and Division of Graduate Medical Studies, NUS)
- The Application and Admission/Log book fees are borne by the trainee personally.
- Cheques must be made to 'Academy of Medicine, Singapore - Specialist Training'.
12. Does SingHealth bear the cost of annual registration and exit assessment fees and how do we go about claiming for reimbursements?
- The Registrar will be billed directly by the Academy of Medicine for the annual registration and exit assessment (only for first attempt) fees.
- - Upon obtaining an official receipt for this payment, it should be forwarded to Medical Manpower Department for reimbursement into payroll.
13. Where can I obtain the relevant information and forms?
- A Handbook on the Accreditation of Medical Specialists is available at MOH.
- Various Specialty Training Guides are available at the JCST Secretariat.
- To refer to the most updated information, please go to www.med.nus.edu.sg/dgms/ast.shtml
- For further details, please contact the JCST Secretariat at gsmbox1@nus.edu.sg
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