Pathways to Fellowship for GPs in Australia

The AGPT Program is a vocational training initiative accredited by the RACGP and ACRRM, aimed at preparing medical graduates for a career in general practice. The program is open to medical graduates interested in becoming GPs, including recent graduates, IMGs, and doctors changing specialties.

The program:

• Medical graduates apply through a competitive process based on academic performance and commitment to general practice.
• Offers General and Rural Pathways, focusing on urban or rural settings, respectively.
• Includes supervised clinical placements, workshops, and assessments covering primary care topics.
• Trainees must pass clinical skills assessments and fellowship exams.
• Successful completion leads to Fellowship of the RACGP or ACRRM.

This pathway to fellowship is designed for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who are not eligible for the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program.

The program:

• Provides comprehensive support, education, and training to IMGs to prepare them for Fellowship examinations and practice in Australia.
• Includes supervised clinical placements and structured learning activities tailored to individual needs.

The Practice Experience Program is a vocational training program for IMGs who already have extensive general practice experience and a recognised qualification but require further training and assessment to achieve Fellowship.

The program:

• Consists of supervised clinical practice, education sessions, and assessments conducted over an extended period.
• Enables participants to prove their competence in meeting the standards required for Fellowship.

• IMGs interested in the PFP apply through the designated provider for their state or territory.
• Involves evaluation of qualifications, skills, and current AHPRA Registration.
• Offers a structured program with supervised placements and assessments, plus guidance from experienced GPs throughout training.
• Upon successful completion of the PFP which is for 2 years, participants are eligible to apply for the FSP towards Fellowship with the respective medical college (RACGP or ACRRM) and practice independently as GPs in Australia once Fellowship is gained.

RVTS is a national training program for doctors seeking General Practice and Rural Generalist Fellowship. The scheme is an independent, Commonwealth-funded program with its own application process and intake quota.

The program:

• The aim of the program is to train doctors in remote communities and improve the quality of services available to rural, remote and First Nation communities by enabling access to vocational training and ensuring continuity of medical services
• The four-year program delivers structured distance education and supervision to doctors while they continue to provide general medical services to a remote and/or isolated community.
• The RVTS program is delivered via a combination of remote and face-to-face training. Each participant receives personalised supervision and comprehensive support, with a dedicated Registrar Training Co-ordinator, Medical Educator Mentor, Supervisor. They also have access to the RVTS team of Cultural Educators and Cultural Mentors.
• RVTS is fully funded by the Australian Government and there’s no application fee.

This is an Australian Medical Council (AMC) accredited pathway for doctors with recognised overseas qualifications which leads to Fellowship of ACRRM, Specialist Pathway and Vocational Recognition.

The program:

• To be eligible to apply for specialist assessment you must have been awarded your specialist medical qualification from a training institution listed in the ACRRM’s codified list of recognised qualifications, and satisfied all the training and examination requirements to practise in your field of specialty in your country of training.
• The College evaluates your training and experience compared to an ACRRM Fellow.
• Eligibility assessed through a paper-based review initially then eligible candidates proceed to an interview.
• Interview outcomes are shared with applicants and the AMC.
• Successful applicants are identified as “substantially comparable” or “partially comparable”, and once they join the College are provided with a learning plan for the period of peer review.

The MDRAP allows doctors with placements working in rural areas to access Medicare items from group A7 of the Medicare Benefits Schedule. As a 3GA approved workforce program, doctors on this program satisfy section 19AA of the Health Insurance Act 1973.

In the 2023-24 Budget the Australian Government decided to replace the MDRAP with the Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP). The PFP will also support doctors working in areas of service access need who are looking to move into fellowship training. Rural Workforce Agencies began delivering this trial from 2 April 2024.

NOTE: As of April 2024, the MDRAP Program is closed to new applicants. However, if you’re currently working under MDRAP arrangements, you will not be affected by the introduction of the PFP.