General Practice

College

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) OR Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)

Length of training

RACGP (AGPT) - 3 years full-time (general practice training), 4 years full-time (general practice and rural generalist training)

ACRRM - minimum 4 years full-time (3 years core generalist training, minimum 1 year advanced specialised training)

Method of allocation

College-selected trainees may be allocated to a training post by:

• College

Program overview

General practice training is delivered via a number of different pathways leading to fellowship that is either awarded through the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).

General practice training leading to fellowship with RACGP (FRACGP) incorporates hospital training, general practice placements and extended skills training (either hospital or GP based). Trainees wishing to develop additional rural skills may undertake further training to gain Rural Generalist (RG) Fellowship.

Rural general practice training leading to fellowship with ACRRM (FACRRM) incorporates core generalist training in primary care, secondary care, emergency care, rural and remote practice, paediatrics, obstetrics and anaesthetics. Advanced specialised training in a range of disciplines, such as obstetrics and gynaecology, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, anaethesia and mental health, is available to ACRRM trainees as part of fellowship training.

Further information on a career in Rural Generalism can be found here.

The Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program is a college-led program facilitated through both RACGP and ACRRM. The AGPT provides two different pathways for prospective trainees to undertake their GP training program - either the General Pathway or Rural Pathway.

The General Pathway, provided by RACGP, provides education and experience in general practice in any region of Australia, including metropolitan locations.
The Rural Pathway provides training and experience in general practice medicine across regional, rural and remote locations enabling trainees to complete their fellowship through either or both RACGP and ACRRM.

Other pathways to a general practice qualification include:

Training and assessment summary

For detailed information in relation to training and assessment requirements, please contact RACGP or ACRRM.

Eligibility

AGPT (ACRRM & RACGP):
Applicants must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian permanent resident, possess a recognised primary medical qualification and hold current general registration.

ACRRM Independent Pathway:
Applicants may be an Australian citizen, permanent or temporary resident (skilled migration or business visa only); may hold general, provisional or limited registration (for area of need) with the Medical Board of Australia.

Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS):
Applicants may be an Australian citizen, permanent or temporary resident and may hold either general or limited registration with Medical Board of Australia. Further information on the RVTS can be found here.

Rural Generalist Training Scheme (RGTS):
Applicants may be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident or a temporary Australian resident who has gained their primary medical degree in Australia or New Zealand, possess a recognised primary medical qualification and hold general medical registration.

Flexibility

RACGP - Part-time training must comprise a 14.5-hour minimum working week, over a minimum of 2 days per week. Training is to be completed in 4 years for trainees seeking FRACGP, 5 years for trainees seeking FRACGP and FACRRM, and 6 years for trainees seeking RACGP Rural Generalist Fellowship or dual fellowship (RACGP Fellowship and ACRRM Fellowship with an advanced specialised trianing in surgery). An extension to a trainee's program time can be discussed with a training coordinator and more information can be found on the RACGP website.

ACRRM - Part-time training must average no less than 16 hours per week over 1 year, approval provided by training providers.

Interrupted training

Allowed up to a maximum of 2 years (ACRRM and RACGP). ACRRM can approve up to 12 months leave at a time. RACGP will approve leave in blocks of 26 weeks. Both colleges require a return-to-work plan to be developed for registrars returning from a break of clinical practice of 12 months or more.