Postgraduate
Postgraduate programmes in the Department:
Registrars Information_R.doc (click on the link)
- SPECIALIST/REGISTRAR TRAINING
Registrar training is a 4-year undertaking. In keeping with the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) requirements for specialist training, the programme involves theoretical and practical aspects spanning across the four years. For the formal training programme, the first year involves teaching in neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurochemistry and psychology. The first two courses are run by the WITS Departments of Anatomy and Physiology respectively, with the latter two run by the Department of Psychiatry, the department of Psychiatry will no longer be offering the MMED (Part 1 examination). All registrars will have to write the FCPsych (SA) Part 1 and Part 2 examinations in order to qualify as psychiatrists.
Dr Ralf Brummerhoff (MMED, subspecialist training and honours programmes) Dr Craig Bracken (psychotherapy training) and Dr Belinda Marais (research) oversee the teaching and training. We have a very structured MMED programme, teaching both part 1 and part II in Psychiatry.
All registrars are jointly appointed by Gauteng Department of Health (specific pay point) and the University (Faculty of Health Sciences/School of Clinical Medicine/Department of Psychiatry). Training comprises both clinical (on-site) and department-based teaching, with service and academic components.
Training consists of a range of activities, including:
- Consultant supervision at respective units. This is related to clinical service: ward rounds, case, and journal presentations
- Departmental meetings/seminars, lectures, and electronic teaching
- Workshops and updates as organised by the Department
The following are specific requirements in fulfilment of training:
- Duration: 48 months (44 months of training + 4 months’ vacation leave over a 4-year period)
- Research
- Psychotherapy
It is expected that all requirements are fulfilled prior to writing the Part II examinations within the 48-month period of appointment as a registrar.
I Specialist qualification / FCPsych
While the FCPsych is the only qualification recognised for specialist registration with the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA), all registrars will be required to register for and complete the MMed degree through Wits University. Such registration needs to be undertaken annually through the faculty.
All registrars must successfully complete the FCPsych I and the FCPsych II examinations through the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA). Requirements for entrance to the FCPsych part I and part II examinations can be obtained from the CMSA website www.collegemedsa.ac.za. Successful completion of the part I examination, completion of psychotherapy, ECT training and a research report submitted for examination, as well as satisfactory quarterly reviews through the various rotations (some of which are compulsory) permits entry to the FCPsych part II examination.
A complete list of components/topics (and weighting) to cover during rotations is available from the FCPsych(SA) blue print schedule (https://www.cmsa.co.za/view_college.aspx?collegeid=20)