The RNZCUC curriculum details the new learning outcomes and assessment requirements of the 2025 vocational training programme and is a reference document for College members, supervisors, and non-FRNZCUC supervisors. The RNZCUC curriculum 2025 is currently shared on OneDrive, and will shortly be available within TalentLMS and through the website.

A revised and updated Pre-2025 Curriculum is also being released for trainees who started the training programme prior to 2025. The RNZCUC pre-2025 curriculum is currently shared on OneDrive, and will shortly be available within TalentLMS and through the website.

Background

The release of the new curriculum is the culmination of several years of work by executive and education committee members.

The most notable addition is the new requirement for workplace-based assessments, in keeping with current educational theory and practice.

The College has also undertaken a broad review and update of all the components of the training programme to ensure that they are cohesive, educationally sound, and aligned with the curriculum and assessment requirements. 

This review included:

  • The programme outcomes were better defined, and changes were made to the curriculum structure including alignment of the domains of practice, graduate and learning outcomes with the CanMEDS physician competency framework. All graduate and learning outcomes have been mapped to learning opportunities and assessment methods. These alterations were subject to member and external consultation and later endorsement by the College’s standing committees and the Executive Committee.
  • A new training programme structure was developed to include 3 stages of training (Basic, Advanced and Provisional Fellowship). Each stage has specific completion requirements, under the scrutiny and review of a Progression Committee, and will allow for better assessment of a trainee’s progress or failure to progress. 
  • Staggered Introduction of workplace-based assessments across all three stages of training.
  • Removal of the case reviews (for the 2025 trainees).
  • Review of the Core Skills List to align with the skill requirements in the curriculum and new workplace-based assessment methods (Directly Observed Procedural Skills).
  • Development and implementation of a Leadership Module to be completed by trainees in the Provisional Fellowship year.
  • Replacement of the Medical Literature Project (MLP) requirement with a research methods university course or original research.