ASBP Training Program — Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The ASBP Training Program is a workplace-based program. You will need to work in a clinical setting with a primary breast medicine focus. This includes BreastScreen Australia services, public hospital breast clinics, private breast diagnostic services, and private breast clinics with multidisciplinary teams attached (i.e. breast surgeon, breast radiologist, oncologists). You need to complete 3 years FTE (full time equivalent) work in a breast medicine setting (less any RPL time approved). Prior to commencing the ASBP Training Program, we encourage you to spend some time working in breast medicine to confirm that this rewarding specialty aligns with your career goals and interests.

No. Provider numbers are issued by Service Australia on behalf of Medicare. FASBP is currently not a recognised specialty by AHPRA. To clarify the standing of the Fellowship, the Australasian Society of Breast Physicians (ASBP) is a professional membership organisation rather than a specialist medical college. Accordingly, the FASBP is designed as an adjunct qualification. It sits alongside, and is intended to complement, a practitioner’s primary specialist fellowship, such as FRACGP, FACRRM, FRACP or FRACS, by providing formal recognition of additional expertise and a demonstrated commitment to breast medicine.

In Queensland, Queensland Health recognised the ASBP Training Program for credentialling in the clinical practice of breast medicine. Accordingly, Queensland Health SMOs who are credentialled with the scope of clinical practice in Breast Medicine and hold a Fellowship with ASBP are eligible for appointment in the Medical Officer “Advance Credentialed Practice” salary classification of the Medical Officers’ (Queensland Health) Certified Agreement (No. 6) 2022 (MOCA6) and the Medical Officers (Queensland Health) Award – State 2015.

Please note that only financial members of the ASBP will maintain their Fellowship (see ASBP Constitution). Accordingly, should your membership lapse, this may have consequences for credentialling as above.

In other States, and in private practice, a Fellowship may be a tool used to negotiate your salary.

ASBP does not currently maintain a list of dedicated Breast Physician training positions. However, opportunities may exist within BreastScreen services, multidisciplinary breast clinics, breast surgery practices or hospital-based breast services. We would encourage you to explore these avenues locally and establish connections with clinicians working in the field.

Applications for the 2027 intake will open on 26 October 2026 and close on 14 December 2026.

ASBP does not currently maintain a list of ASBP Fellows who are able to volunteer their time as a supervisor. We recommend contacting Fellows to ascertain their availability. You can do so via our Find a Breast Physician page.

No. Many of our current trainees’ primary supervisor is a breast surgeon or breast radiologist while also having a remote FASBP supervisor. Therefore, the absence of a Fellow local to you would not be a barrier to training. In addition to your nominated supervisors, workplace-based assessments can also be completed and signed off by other appropriately qualified assessors involved in your training such as Sonographers, radiographers and nurses as well as other medical specialists such as pathologists.

We understand that some of the procedural competencies outlined in the curriculum are not routinely part of every practice. However, these competencies can be achieved in a variety of ways and do not necessarily need to be acquired within your regular workplace. Your supervisor may be willing and able to provide training in some of these areas. In addition, it is certainly possible to undertake periods of training, or targeted clinical placements at other services to gain specific competencies. Competencies do not need to be completed at a single location.

There is no strict minimum weekly commitment required for entry into the training program. However, the training requirement is equivalent to 3 years FTE but can be undertaken over more time if you are not working full time in breast medicine. Also take into account that a lot of the work a female GP undertakes is breast related eg examination, screening, risk assessment and survivorship, and that also counts as long as it is appropriately documented.

The registration fee for the 2027 intake of the ASBP Training Program is $2200. This is a one-off payment. To remain enrolled in the ASBP Training Program, you must also maintain your ASBP Associate Membership fee ($215 in 2026) and pay your annual Training Review fee by 1 February each year of your enrolment ($575 for 2027 intake).

Please refer to our ASBP Training Program Withdrawal Policy (PDF).

No. The Annual Training Review Fee contributes to the administrative costs of delivering the training program. These costs include coordinating the twice-yearly AM-P submission and review process, issuing reminders, managing incoming documentation, liaising with supervisors, and arranging meetings and reviews. This ensures the ASBP can continue to provide the Training Program at a reasonable cost to our AM-Ps. The Education Committee and your Supervisors are not paid for their contribution to your training.

Please refer to the ASBP Training Program Deferral Policy (PDF).

Registered trainees submit WBAs directly through the ASBP Training Portal, accessible via this website once enrolled. The following assessment types are available online:

• Case-based Discussion (CbD)
• Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS)
• DOPS: Hands-On Ultrasound
• Critical Incident Analysis (CIA)
• Imaging Interpretation Exercise (IIE)
• Medical Records Review (MRR)
• Observed Clinical Assessment (OCA)

A copy of each completed assessment will be emailed to your nominated email address. For assistance, contact info@breastphysicians.org.