FRANZCP stands for Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).
A Fellow is a doctor who:
- has successfully completed the RANZCP psychiatry training program or
- has trained overseas and meets the standards required by the RANZCP.
All Fellows are members of the College and must participate in ongoing professional development.
The RANZCP is the only organisation in Australia and New Zealand that is accredited to deliver psychiatry training and professional development programs.
You can expect the highest level of care and expertise from doctors who hold FRANZCP.
How do I know if my psychiatrist is a FRANZCP?
Fellows use the letters FRANZCP after their name.
They may also use the FRANZCP insignia (logo) on their professional websites, letterheads, signage, email signatures and business cards.
All psychiatrists listed on Find a psychiatrist are Fellows of the RANZCP.
You can also contact us to check if your doctor is a Fellow.
What training and experience do psychiatrists have?
Psychiatrists are specialist medical doctors with at least 11 years of training - usually more.
Training involves:
- 4-6 years studying medicine and graduating with a medical degree
- 1-2 years as a newly qualified doctor completing general medical training in a hospital
- a minimum of 5 years of supervised psychiatry training administered by the RANZCP.
Doctors who have trained overseas must meet the equivalent standard of locally trained psychiatrists before they can attain FRANZCP. This is a formal process administered by the College.
Some psychiatrists specialise further in a particular area of psychiatry. For example, child and adolescent, addiction or psychotherapy.
More about psychiatry training
Ongoing professional development
Fellows of the RANZCP are required to complete continuing professional development to keep their knowledge and skills up to date.
More about the CPD program
Ethical standards
The RANZCP Code of Ethics contains 11 principles to guide ethical conduct and behaviour in psychiatric practice in Australia and New Zealand.
All RANZCP Members are expected to uphold these values in all aspects of their work.
- Psychiatrists shall respect the humanity, dignity and autonomy of all patients.
- Psychiatrists shall not exploit patients.
- Psychiatrists shall provide the best attainable care for their patients.
- Psychiatrists shall maintain the privacy and confidentiality of patients and their families.
- Psychiatrists shall seek valid consent from their patients before undertaking any procedure, treatment or provision of a report for legal or other purposes.
- Psychiatrists shall not misuse their professional knowledge and skills.
- Psychiatrists involved in clinical research shall adhere to ethical principles embodied in recognised national and international guidelines.
- Psychiatrists shall develop, maintain and share their professional knowledge and skills with colleagues, trainees and students, and with patients and their families/whānau.
- Psychiatrists have a duty to attend to their own health and wellbeing and that of their colleagues, including trainees and students.
- Psychiatrists shall uphold the integrity of the medical profession.
- Psychiatrists shall strive to improve mental health services, to promote community awareness of mental illness and its treatment and prevention, and to eliminate discrimination against people with mental illness.