1. Vocational Training Pathway – Examination Eligibility Policy
   1. Policy number: CO-E-006.0
   2. Category: Education
   3. Approval date: November 2016
   4. Revision due date: November 2019
   5. Unit responsible: Education Services
2. Policy declaration

   Registrars on the Vocational Training Pathway must meet the requirements detailed in this policy to be eligible to undertake the examinations.

   This policy is approved by Council and authorised by the CEO.

3. Background
   1. Objectives

      The objectives of this policy are to describe the examination eligibility requirements for Registrars.

   2. Scope

      This policy applies to Registrars in the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program or the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS).

4. Definitions

   For the purposes of this policy:

   1. Active training time means any post completed by a Registrar while in the Vocational Training Pathway including hospital posts, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) with time credit, General Practice Term (GPT) 1, GPT2, GPT3, extended skills, and mandatory electives. It does not include RPL without time credit, other electives, or Advanced Rural Skills Training.
   2. Registrar means a medical practitioner who is enrolled in the Vocational Training Pathway.
   3. Examinations refers to the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT), Key Feature Problems (KFP) and Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE).
   4. Mandatory electives are the training terms undertaken by registrars who have been granted RPL without time credit.
5. Eligibility requirements for AGPT and RVTS Registrars

   The following examination eligibility requirements apply to both AGPT and RVTS Registrars.

   1. Registrars must hold current Australian medical registration at all times while on the Vocational Training Pathway and to be eligible for the examinations. Candidates must disclose any restrictions on their practise or changes to their medical registration to the RACGP. Failure to do this will be handled as per the Educational Misconduct Policy available at www.racgp.org.au/education/fellowship/fellowship-of-the-racgp/policies/.
   2. Registrars must be a financial RACGP member from the time of joining the Vocational Training Pathway and throughout their candidature.
   3. Registrars must have approval to undertake the examination from their vocational training provider. The vocational training provider must provide confirmation to the RACGP that:
      1. the Registrar has, or will have, completed the required training time as detailed in either clause 6 or 7 of this policy
      2. the Registrar has been assessed as ready to undertake the examination. For further information, see RACGP’s Readiness to Undertake an Examination Guidance Document.
6. Eligibility requirements for RVTS Registrars only

   To be eligible to undertake the AKT, KFP and OSCE examinations, RVTS Registrars must have been assessed as having completed 12 months in the RVTS by the date of the AKT.

7. Eligibility requirements for AGPT Registrars only

   To be eligible to undertake the AKT, KFP and OSCE examinations, AGPT Registrars must have been assessed as having completed 2 years full time equivalent active training time, including all of GPT1 and GPT2, by the date of the AKT.
   
   Where the vocational end of term date falls up to 28 calendar days beyond the date of the AKT, an RTO exemption will be granted to allow registrars to sit the examination. 
   
   This requirement will apply to all AGPT Registrars from 1 January 2017.

8. Change in eligibility status

   If at any time a Registrar becomes ineligible for an examination after enrolment in that examination (no longer eligible under clause 5, 6 or 7) then they must inform the RACGP and withdraw. Failure to do this will be handled as per the Educational Misconduct Policy available at www.racgp.org.au/education/fellowship/fellowship-of-the-racgp/policies/.

9. Related policies, documents and legislation

   All policies and guidance documents related to the Vocational Training Pathway are available at www.racgp.org.au/education/fellowship/fellowship-of-the-racgp/policies/.

10. Administrative procedures
    1. Access to published policy

       This policy will be available via the RACGP website at www.racgp.org.au/education/fellowship/fellowship-of-the-racgp/policies/.

    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

• Readiness to Undertake an Examination Guidance Document