Overview
Clinical immunology covers primary immunodeficiency, autoimmune disease and transplant immunology; allergy covers the food-allergy epidemic, drug allergy, anaphylaxis and immunotherapy. It is one of the smallest adult specialties against one of the fastest-growing demand curves in medicine.
Selection and points
How selection works
| Component | What it involves |
|---|---|
| AT job application | A handful of accredited units nationally; joint lab pathways via RCPA. |
The unofficial view
- The community is tiny; one good term at an immunology unit plus an allergy project makes you known to essentially the whole selection pool.
Competition & demographics
Competitiveness
- Small numbers both sides of the ratio; geographic flexibility nearly guarantees a path.
Who's in the program
- Majority-female; strong paediatric-interest overlap.
How to improve your chances at each stage
StageResident (PGY2–3)
- Immunology/allergy terms where they exist; anaphylaxis or drug-allergy audits are easy publishable wins.
StageRegistrar years & applications
- Consider the joint immunopathology pathway for lab employability.
StageIf you don't get on (or change your mind)
- Adjacent: respiratory, dermatology-interest GP allergy practice, paediatric allergy via paeds training, immunopathology.
See also the general strategy guide: universal CV, referee and interview advice that applies across specialties.
Job market & workforce outlook
Outlook: Allergy demand far outstrips the tiny workforce (year-long waits standard); immunodeficiency/biologics work growing
- Private allergy practice fills instantly anywhere in the country; public immunology remains tertiary and small.
Income
- $300,000–550,000 indicative with private allergy volume.
Pre-tax, indicative, and highly variable with hours, setting and billing model. ATO figures are averages of taxable income by reported occupation.
Subspecialties & special interests
| Area | Notes |
|---|---|
| Food/drug allergy | Epidemic demand |
| Immunodeficiency | Ig replacement programs |
| Immunopathology (dual) | RCPA lab arm |
Official links
Community: questions and perspectives
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❓ Questions & answers
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🩺 Experiences, corrections & perspectives
If you've trained in clinical immunology & allergy, or tried to, share what the page can't capture: what it's really like, what's changed, what you wish you'd known.
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