1. Practice Based Assessment Pathway – Entry Policy
   1. Policy number: CO-E-0017.0
   2. Category: Education
   3. Approval date: July 2016
   4. Revision due date: July 2019
   5. Unit responsible: Education Services
2. Policy declaration

   Applicants must meet the requirements detailed in this policy to be granted entry into the Practice Based Assessment Pathway.
   
   This policy is authorised by the CEO.

3. Background
   1. Objective

      This policy aims to describe the entry requirements for the Practice Based Assessment Pathway.

   2. Scope

      This policy applies to all Practice Based Assessment Pathway Applicants

4. Definitions

   For the purposes of this policy:

   1. Applicant means a medical practitioner applying for entry into the Practice Based Assessment Pathway.
   2. Candidate means a medical practitioner enrolled in the Practice Based Assessment Pathway.
   3. Full time general practice experience is calculated at a minimum of 27 hours face to face, rostered, patient consultation time in general practice activities and undertaken over a minimum of four days per week within a minimum 38 hour working week. Work periods of less than three consecutive hours, or of less than one month in any one practice, will not be considered. Hours worked beyond this definition of full time will not be considered.
   4. Part time general practice experience is calculated pro-rata with a minimum of 10.5 hours face to face, rostered, patient consultation time in general practice activities and undertaken over a minimum of two days per week within a minimum 14.5 hour working week. Work periods of less than three consecutive hours, or of less than one month in any one practice, will not be considered.
   5. Comprehensive Australian general practice means:
   1. continuity of care that is person centred, comprehensive and coordinated, focusing on the whole person, and all presenting symptoms
   2. health promotion and illness prevention services that are based on patient need and the best available evidence
   3. the diagnosis, treatment and management of the full range of undifferentiated conditions in a diverse range of individuals, families and communities not limited by practice intention or business focus, and
   4. community-based general practice undertaken in Australia.

   This is an abridged definition distilled from the Competency profile of the Australian general practitioner at the point of Fellowship available at www.racgp.org.au/education/competency/.

5. Entry requirements

   Applicants must:

   1. Have had their complete application for entry into the Practice Based Assessment Pathway accepted. For further details see RACGP’s Applying for Entry into the Practice Based Assessment Pathway Guidance Document.
   2. Complete the Pre-Entry General Practice Competency Assessment as amended from time to time.
   3. Have a minimum of four years full time equivalent general practice experience over the last 10 years which must include:
   1. one year full time equivalent in comprehensive Australian general practice; and
   2. one year full time equivalent completed in the last four years as assessed under the Assessment of General Practice Experience Policy.
   4. Hold current Australian medical registration and have disclosed any restrictions on, or changes to, their medical registration to the RACGP. Disclosure of any changes to their medical registration is an ongoing requirement for Applicants and Candidates. Failure to do this will be handled as per the Educational Misconduct Policy. Applicants with medical registration restricting them from seeing patients across all genders and all ages cannot enrol in the Practice Based Assessment Pathway.
   5. Have completed a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course within the 12 months prior to applying for entry into the Practice Based Assessment Pathway that meets the requirements in RACGP’s Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Advanced Life Support Courses Guidance Document.
   6. Have employment in comprehensive Australian General Practice meeting at least the minimum part time requirements.
   7. Satisfy the Fit and Proper Fellow Policy available at: www.racgp.org.au/support/policies/organisational/.
6. Granting entry

   The decision to grant entry into the Practice Based Assessment Pathway is at RACGP’s absolute discretion.

7. Related policies, documents and legislation

   All policies and procedures related to the Practice Based Assessment Pathway are available at www.racgp.org.au/education/fellowship-of-the-racgp/policies/.

8. Administrative procedures
   1. Access to published policy

      This policy will be available via the RACGP website as detailed in clause 7.

   2. Promulgation of published policy

      Relevant staff members will be provided communications explaining the function and role of this policy.

   3. Review of this policy

      This policy will have a review cycle of three years.

Related documents

Guidance documents

• Applying for Entry into the Practice Based Assessment Pathway Guidance Document
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Advanced Life Support Courses Guidance Document