Fellowship and Associateship
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What is a Fellow?
Fellowship of the College certifies professional competence in Aesthetic Medicine according to the College’s prescribed educational, ethical and professional standards. It is a significant professional achievement and is awarded by the College to those individuals who have demonstrated to their peers that they have the knowledge, attitudes, conceptual, clinical, communication and professional skills to be recognised as a fellow of the College. This is the highest membership category awarded in the College.
Become a Fellow
In 2021 the Australasian College of Aesthetic Medicine (ACAM) introduced two new fellowship pathways, with the third program introduced in early 2022. ACAM recognises that in place of an accredited and AMC recognised training program, qualifications, (quality, quantity and type) are not sanctioned. Given the unregulated nature of the aesthetic medicine profession, with no minimum educational requirements, ACAM would encourage practitioners to join and take part in one of the three fellowship pathways administered by ACAM.
Recognising medical practitioners as adult learners, ACAM has designed three fellowship pathways; two are designed for medical practitioners who have experience within the aesthetic medicine profession, and one for those with recognised minimal experience in aesthetic medicine.
• ACAM Fellowship Pathway One: New Members
• ACAM Fellowship Pathway One: An option for members of 3 years or more, or they may choose Pathway One
• ACAM Fellowship Pathway Three: This fellowship option is reserved for those individuals who have been long term members (>5 years of ACAM) and have practiced aesthetic medicine for >5 years.
Each fellowship pathway is unique; there are, however, some commonalities between them. These skills highlight the minimum expected skill base ACAM identifies as required to provide aesthetic services and educational standards expected of fellows.
Where possible the pathways are recognised for CPD points by ACAM, RACGP, AMA and ACRRM, ensuring that your education is widely and independently accredited.
Register to become a member, and pay for membership.
You will need a copy of your current registration to complete your application.
Once your membership is approved, you can then apply to complete a fellowship educational pathway. All ACAM fees must be started before you can access the ACAM education and examinations. University fees are a separate concern and not paid for via ACAM.
On successful completion of the requirements of your chosen pathway, whilst maintaining financial membership, you will be invited to be recognised as a Fellow by ACAM.
ACAM Equivalence Fellowship Pathway
The Equivalences Fellowship Pathway is open to those registered medical practitioners who have demonstrated current fellowship in a like aesthetic medicine college.
Requirements include:
- Working in aesthetic medicine
- AHPRA registration without conditions, and must be maintained for the duration of membership
- Appropriate certificate of currency for MDO insurance for the procedures and treatments undertaken
- Demonstrable current fellowship with a like aesthetic medicine college*
- A minimum of three years aesthetic medicine experience
*Note RACGP, ACRRM fellowships are not recognised as equivalent fellowships for this purpose.
ACAM Fellow Benefits
Fellows of ACAM enjoy all the benefits of membership and in addition, the following benefits:
- Use of the acronym FACAM
- Use of the trademark of ACAM whilst a financial fellow of ACAM
- Photographic Profile on the ACAM website
- Fellowship certificate, suitable for framing
Pathway I
ACAM Fellowship by ACAM Educational Pathway
ACAM Educational Pathway (Pathway I) is designed for doctors who would like to enter the field of aesthetic medicine and have minimal or no experience in aesthetic medicine. This pathway offers the continuous enrolment option. It has been designed to allow maximum educational flexibility, and to make the most of online learning platforms to allow studying at your convenience. Candidates that enter the ACAM Fellowship program by ACAM Educational Pathway will be required to complete the ACAM Introduction to Cosmetic Medicine Workshop. You will be automatically enrolled in the workshop by the course administrator; your enrolment in the clinical workshop is timed to ensure that all criteria for the pathway are completed by your two year completion date (from your enrolment). In addition, be required to complete a log book (click here to view) with 100 cases per guidelines.
Pathway II
ACAM Fellowship by Academic Pathway
Fellowship pathways II and III are designed for practitioners who can demonstrate practical experience:
- Have a minimum of three years cosmetic/aesthetic medicine experience, (or its part-time equivalent pro rata);
- At least one year of which aesthetic medicine experience gained within Australia;
- Be active in aesthetic medicine within Australia (i.e. in current practice).
ACAM Fellowship by Academic Pathway (Pathway II) were launched in 2022.
ACAM Fellowship by Academic Pathway (AP) (Pathway II) also requires 2 years as an ACAM member, and offers continuous enrolment for those practitioners who wish to complete this pathway.
Pathway III
ACAM Fellowship by Practice Based Assessment
Fellowship pathways II and III are designed for practitioners who can demonstrate practical experience:
- Have a minimum of five years cosmetic/aesthetic medicine experience, (or its part-time equivalent pro rata);
- Be active in aesthetic medicine within Australia (i.e. in current practice).
ACAM Fellowship by Practice Based Assessment (PBA) (Pathway III) also requires 3 years as an ACAM member, and offers continuous enrolment for those practitioners who wish to complete this pathway.
ACAM Fellowship Equivalence Recognition Program
ACAM awards equivalence fellowship to current Fellows of another medical or surgical College recognized by the Australian Medical Council or the New Zealand Medical Council or international equivalent in the area of cosmetic/aesthetic medicine; or are doctors with significant experience in the field of Aesthetic Medicine who the ACAM Board has invited to apply for Fellowship*;[1]
- Be a past or present holder of high office in their College or Academy
- Have made a contribution of international significance to cosmetic medicine
- Made a significant contribution to the Australasian College of Aesthetic Medicine
- And ACAM reserves the right to offer Fellowship of the College in exceptional circumstances to doctors who have made a highly significant contribution to Aesthetic Medicine but may not have fulfilled all three of the criteria listed above; furthermore
- ACAM reserves the right to evaluate an equivalence fellowship candidate and refuse direct Fellowship on the basics of unclear education or practice or practice that is not relevant to cosmetic/aesthetic medicine. For example, most practice work is skin cancer, surgery or general practice, but minimal experience/practice in cosmetic/aesthetic medicine. However, the candidate may be invited to complete an ACAM fellowship pathway (I or II) to gain the necessary skills and academic merit in cosmetic/aesthetic medicine
- Individuals who have not completed a fellowship will not be considered for the equivalence fellowship pathway and may be invited to complete an ACAM fellowship pathway (I or II) to gain the necessary skills and academic merit in cosmetic/aesthetic medicine
[1] Fellows of another college must be able to demonstrate knowledge and training, and actively practicing cosmetic/aesthetic medicine. Candidates who cannot demonstrate active cosmetic/aesthetic practice and are without a fellowship in a like organisation, may be offered the opportunity to complete ACAM Fellowship Pathway I or II.
ACAM Fellowship Equivalence Recognition Program
An equivalence Fellowship for ACAM is offered to fellows of CPCA, ACCSM, NZCAM, or an international equivalent. Education outside the nominated ACAM Fellowship Pathways I, II and III include:
- AAAM (USA)
- BMC (British) and
- Diploma di Esperto e Consulente in Medicina ad Indirizzo Estetico” (Diploma of Expert and Consultant in Aesthetic Medicine), also recognised by EFAMS, European Federation of Aesthetic Medicine Schools (Europe)
ACAM will also assess doctors with significant experience in the field of Aesthetic Medicine whom the ACAM Board has invited to apply for Fellowship*;[1]
- Be a past or present holder of high office in their College or Academy
- Have contributed international significance to cosmetic medicine.
- Made a significant contribution to the Australasian College of Aesthetic Medicine
- ACAM reserves the right to offer Fellowship of the College in exceptional circumstances to doctors who have made a significant contribution to Aesthetic Medicine but may not have fulfilled all three of the criteria listed above.
- ACAM reserves the right to evaluate an equivalence fellowship candidate and refuse direct Fellowship based on unclear education, practice, or practice irrelevant to cosmetic/aesthetic medicine. For example, most practice work is skin cancer, surgery, or general practice, but minimal experience/practice in cosmetic/aesthetic medicine. However, the candidate may be invited to complete an ACAM fellowship pathway (I or II) to gain the necessary skills and academic merit in cosmetic/aesthetic medicine.
- Individuals who have not completed a fellowship will not be considered for the equivalence fellowship pathway and may be invited to complete an ACAM fellowship pathway (I or II) to gain the necessary skills and academic merit in cosmetic/aesthetic medicine.
