The General Practice Experience (GPE) Pathway recognises the skills and knowledge acquired via work experience in Australian and/or Overseas general practice and is a way that international medical graduates (IMGs) can gain Fellowship without having to do specialist general practice training (vocational training) in Australia. Candidates on the GPE Pathway are required to undertake the RACGP Fellowship Exams. If you have been working for a significant period of time in general practice you may be eligible to enrol in the GPE Pathway.

Access your Experience Application

Introducing the new General Practice Experience pathway for 2016

The RACGP will introduce a new GPE Pathway from 30 May 2016. The existing GPE Pathway will continue to be available until mid 2018.

The new GPE Pathway has been developed in response to a comprehensive review by the RACGP of available support structures to non-registrar candidates. In particular, it will ensure international medical graduates (IMGs) receive the best possible support within current resource availability as they work towards RACGP Fellowship. 

The new GPE Pathway is designed to allow candidates to demonstrate their skills and knowledge based on an individual learning needs assessment. The key components of the new GPE Pathway include:

• Core learning activities including orientation to Australian general practice;
• Agreed targeted learning activities based on identified learning gaps;
• Learning needs assessment to determine individual participants’ learning gaps;
• Access to RACGP gplearning activities;
• Three hours of targeted medical educator support for each candidate;
• Structured exam preparation.

More detailed information, including the difference between the pathways can be found in our FAQ document.

Applicants for both the existing and new GPE Pathway are required to have their general practice experience assessed. The Assessment of General Practice Experience policy outlines what the RACGP Assessors take into account when reviewing applications. Doctors who wish to have their experience assessed must apply online, please refer to the Assessment of General Practice Experience guidance document for further details.

For further information regarding the online GPE application platform, call 1800 626 901 or email racgpeducation@racgp.org.au.

Further information

To view the policies, guidance documents and forms related to both the existing and new General Practice Experience Pathways please see the Fellowship Pathways Policy Framework.

If you do not meet the eligibility requirements of either the existing or new General Practice Experience Pathway, you may continue working towards meeting the requirements, or you may wish to consider specialist general practice training (vocational training). Successful applicants for the training program are called Registrars. For further information please seeMedical Students and Registrars.

General practice assessment fees – From 1 July 2017

Guaranteed GPE Outcome for 2017.2 Enrolment 

GPs on the existing General Practice Experience Pathway who wish to enrol in the 2017.2 Fellowship examinations are required to submit a completed application for assessment of General Practice Experience by Friday 24 March 2017. Applications submitted after this date will not be guaranteed an outcome in time to enrol. 

If further information or documentation is required we will endeavour to assess your application before the close of enrolments on Friday 19 May 2017 at 8pm AEDT however, these applications will not be covered by the above guarantee. 

Rural Doctors

As an International Medical Graduate, it is likely that you will practice in rural or remote Australia. Contact RACGP Rural to find out what support and information is available to you.

Ask about the rural fellowship – the Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP).