The Recertification in Colonoscopy program is administered by the Recertification in Colonoscopy Conjoint Committee (RCCC) which is a national body comprising representatives from the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA), the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).

The program aims to encourage practitioners to maintain and develop their expertise in colonoscopy and to increase safety standards and the quality of care being delivered to patients.

The program is consistent with overseas trends in maintaining standards and support for practising colonoscopists.

The program is independent of the Conjoint Committee for the Recognition of Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (CCRTGE).

Application requirements

To apply to be recertified practitioners must:-

• be CCRTGE-recognised in colonoscopy;
• perform a minimum number of procedures;
• achieve minimum intubation rates and,
• for eligible patients, achieve a specified minimum adenoma detection rate and minimum SSA/P detection rate.

To see a full description of the criteria click here or on the "Criteria" menu item above.

There are separate criteria for paediatric colonoscopists.

Procedures will be logged online using an electronic logbook. To register for an account and logbook please click here or on the "Register" menu item above.

A proportion of applications for recertification will be reviewed and/or audited and additional supporting information, primarily on intubation and adenoma detection rates, may be requested at the time of review of an application.

At the successful completion of the application process a certificate will be supplied to the participant. Initially practitioners can apply for recertification as soon as they satisfy the criteria and afterwards may re-apply every three years.

The model incorporates three key elements:-

• a Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard for the delivery of high-quality services;
• certification and periodic re-certification of a colonoscopist’s performance and
• collation and review of indicators and performance targets in accordance with a standard national data set.

Establishment of the Recertification in Colonoscopy program

Recertification in Colonoscopy was developed by GESA initially as a voluntary program to support colonoscopists and to maintain standards. It was consistent with international trends to ensure quality in colonoscopy. It was particularly relevant in Australia given the expanded population screening of the Australian Government National Bowel Cancer Screening Program and was supported by the Australian Government Department of Health. Subsequently the Department asked the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality of Health Care (ACSQHC) to develop a safety and quality model for colonoscopy in Australia.

As a result of endorsement of the model by all governments from 2019 all hospitals and day services providing colonoscopy in Australia are required to be accredited to the Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard as indicated in the ACSQHC advisory. Facilities will be required to demonstrate that all colonoscopists working in their facility have evidence of certification (CCRTGE) and re-certification and meet the performance indicators in the standard.