The Specialist Pathway Program (SPP) is now closed. Any person whose application to the SPP was completed before 14 September 2018 may continue on the SPP under this policy. If you wish to have your international specialist qualification recognised by the RACGP after 14 September 2018, please refer to the Specialist Recognition Program Comparability Assessment Policy.
1. Specialist Pathway Category Two - Entry Policy
1.1 Policy number: CO-E-0021.0
1.2 Category: Education
1.3 Approval date: November 2016
1.4 Revision due date: November 2017
1.5 Unit responsible: Education Services
2. Policy declaration
Applicants must meet the requirements detailed in this policy to be granted entry into category two of the Specialist Pathway.
This policy is authorised by the CEO.
3. Background
3.1 Objective & Scope
This policy aims to describe the entry requirements for category two of the Specialist Pathway.
4. Definitions
For the purposes of this policy:
- Applicant means a medical practitioner who is applying for entry into category two of the Specialist Pathway.
- Candidate means a medical practitioner enrolled in category two of the Specialist Pathway.
5. Entry requirements
Applicants must:
- Have had their complete application for entry into the Specialist Pathway accepted. For further details see RACGP’s Applying for Entry into the Specialist Pathway Guidance Document.
- Hold an RACGP recognised category two general practice qualification; qualifications gained through ‘grandfathering’ or reciprocal arrangements will not be accepted. The accepted list of qualifications is available in the tables 1 and 2 below.
- Have recent general practice experience in at least predominantly comparable general practice as prescribed in the Assessment of General Practice Experience Policy, which meets the requirements of the Medical Board of Australia’s Recency of Practice Standard.
Table 1. UK Doctors
Candidates who achieved MRCGP via iMAP, or candidates who have iMAP but not one of the other qualifications, will be categorised as category 2.
|
Qualification Held
|
Category
|
|
Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners holding the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice (JCPTGP) certificate via equivalent experience
|
1 or 2, assessed on a case by case basis
|
|
Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners holding the Certificate of Eligibility for GP registration (CEGPR)
|
1 or 2, assessed on a case by case basis
|
|
Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners via iMAP holding the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice (JCPTGP) certificate via prescribed OR equivalent experience
|
2
|
|
Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners via iMAP holding the CCT issued by the PMETB or the GMC
|
2
|
|
Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners
|
2
|
|
JCPTGP certificate via prescribed experience
|
2
|
|
JCPTGP certificate via equivalent experience
|
2
|
|
CCT issued by the PMETB or the GMC
|
2
|
|
CCT issued by the PMETB
|
2
|
|
CEGPR
|
2
|
Table 2. Other Category 2 qualifications
|
Country
|
Qualification Held
|
Category
|
|
Belgium
|
Specialist Certificate in General Practice / Family Medicine
|
2
|
|
Canada
|
Certificate in Family Medicine from the College of Family Physicians of Canada
|
2
|
|
Denmark
|
Specialist Certificate in Family Medicine
|
2
|
|
Netherlands
|
Certificate of Specific Training for General Practice
|
2
|
|
New Zealand
|
Fellowship of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (FRNZCGP) via Experiential Interim Pathway (EIP)
|
2
|
|
Norway
|
Certificate of Specific Training for General Medical Practice
|
2
|
|
Singapore
|
Master of Medicine in Family Medicine
|
2
|
|
South Africa
|
Fellowship of the College of Family Physicians of South Africa
|
2
|
|
South Africa
|
Registration as a Family Physician with the Health Professions Council of South Africa
|
2
|
|
South Africa
|
Master of Family Medicine
|
2
|
|
South Africa
|
Master of Prax Medicine
|
2
|
|
Sweden
|
Certificate of Specific Training for General Practice
|
2
|
|
USA
|
Certificate of the American Board of Family Medicine
|
2
|
- Hold current medical registration in their current jurisdiction of practice and must promptly disclose all details of any:
- restrictions on or changes to their medical registration
- regulatory authority activity, whether in Australia or otherwise, that:
- has led or may lead to a restriction on practice
- has led to an adverse finding for the medical practitioner, or forms part of an ongoing investigation.
- Due to restrictions on their medical registration or any other regulatory activity, Candidates may not be granted entry into the Specialist Pathway. Failure to disclose 5di or 5dii will be handled as per the Educational Misconduct Policy.
- Have completed a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course within the twelve months prior to applying for entry into the Specialist Pathway. The requirements are detailed in RACGP’s Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Advanced Life Support Courses Guidance Document.
- Undertake a Fitness for Intended Clinical Practice Interview (FICPI) within three months of receiving their categorisation outcome, and be assessed as fit to practice in an identified general practice position. For further details see RACGP’s Fitness for Intended Clinical Practice Interview (FICPI) Guidance Document.
- Satisfy the Fit and Proper Fellow Policy.
6. Granting entry
The decision to grant entry into the Specialist Pathway is at RACGP’s absolute discretion.
7. Related policies, documents and legislation
All policies and procedures related to the Specialist Pathway are available on our policy page.
8. Administrative procedures
8.1 Access to published policy
This policy will be available via the RACGP website as detailed in clause 7.
8.2 Promulgation of published policy
Relevant staff members will be provided communications explaining the function and role of this policy.
8.3 Review of this policy
This policy will have a review cycle of three years.