Practice Experience Program - Standard Stream Post-Education Phase

1. Purpose

1.1 The purpose of this policy is to outline the requirements and key considerations during the Post-education Phase of PEP Standard. It sets out the rules and conditions relating to:

1. 1. administrative obligations

   2. leave

   3. withdrawal from the program

   4. provider number access

2. Scope

2.1 This policy applies to PEP Standard Participants.

2.2 This policy is to be read in conjunction with the:

1. 1. Fellowship Exam Attempts Policy

   2. General Practice Experience Pathway – Exam Eligibility Policy

   3. General Practice Experience Pathway – Requirements for Fellowship Policy

   4. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GP in Training Fellowship Exam Support Policy

3. General principles

3.1 Participants are responsible for ensuring that they continue to work towards exam eligibility and the requirements for Fellowship.

3.2 Current Ahpra Medical Registration is required at all times while on PEP Standard.

3.3 The RACGP provides specific support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Participants to improve workforce and training equity, per the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GP in Training Fellowship Exam Support Policy.

4. Administrative obligations

4.1 At all times while on PEP Standard Participants must:

1. 1. have current Ahpra Medical Registration, until they have either been admitted to Fellowship or have exhausted their Fellowship Exam Candidacy.

      1. Participants must promptly disclose to the RACGP in writing any

         1. Addenda on their Ahpra Medical Registration, whether in Australia or overseas, and/or

            1. regulatory authority activity, whether in Australia or otherwise, that:

               1. has led or may lead to a change in registration status, or

               2. has led to an adverse finding for the Participant, or

               3. forms part of an ongoing investigation, and/or

            2. other Notifiable Conduct

            3. loss of Ahpra Medical Registration.

      2. Failure to disclose this information will be handled per the Academic Misconduct Policy and may be grounds for withdrawal from PEP Standard.

   2. have a Current General Practice Experience Outcome.

      1. Participants who do not have a Valid General Practice Experience Outcome are not eligible to enrol in Fellowship Exams.

         1. If a Participant does not receive a Valid General Practice Experience Outcome on their first application, they must obtain another outcome within one of the following timeframes, whichever is sooner:

            1. within two years,

            2. as soon as they meet the experience requirements for exam eligibility, or

            3. before their outcome expires.

   3. maintain current RACGP Financial Membership from Commencement of Training until they have either been admitted to Fellowship or have exhausted their Fellowship Exam Candidacy.

4.2 Participants must commence their Exam Candidacy in the next enrolment period after they are considered exam eligible.

4.3 Participants must meet exam eligibility requirements per the General Practice Experience – Exam Eligibility Policy.

4.4 Participants must comply with post-education fee payments and change in circumstance fees for practice changes or removal.

1. 1. Refunds

      1. Refunds for the yearly PEP Standard post-education fee will not be granted, including where a Participant has:

         1. withdrawn or been withdrawn from PEP Standard

         2. achieved Fellowship.

5. Leave

5.1 Applications for all leave are considered on a case-by-case basis and approval is at the RACGP's discretion.

5.2 All leave granted is full-time, including for Participants working Part-time, calculated in calendar days.

5.3 Participants may apply for leave at any time during the PEP Standard Post-education Phase. Applications must be submitted before the start of the leave or, where this is not practicable, no later than ten Business Days after the leave start date.

5.4 If the Participant's Cumulative Leave is more than five weeks in a calendar year, they must apply for leave by submitting a change in circumstances form through the PEP portal.

5.5 If the Participant's Cumulative Leave is five weeks or fewer in a calendar year, they are not required to inform the RACGP.

5.6 Participants who cannot work the minimum Part-time requirements when they return to PEP Standard at the end of their leave must inform the RACGP in writing as soon as possible and no later than ten Business Days before the expected leave end date.

5.7 Taking leave may have implications on the Participant's Exam Candidacy. Participants are responsible for managing these consequences per the General Practice Experience Pathway – Fellowship Exam Attempts Policy.

5.8 Membership fees may be waived during periods of approved leave of three calendar months or more, effective from the date the leave is approved. Any membership fees already paid for the period of approved leave will be refunded after the leave or applied to the Participant's next membership period.

5.9 Leave types:

1. 1. Legislative Leave:

      1. Participants may apply for leave to the maximum allowed per the National Employment Standards for each Legislative Leave type per calendar year.

   2. Personal Leave:

      1. Participants may apply for Personal Leave up to a maximum of three months per calendar year, including but not limited to:

         1. any leave covered by the National Employment Standards where the Participant's leave extends beyond the maximum entitlement for that leave type

         2. any leave not covered by Legislative Leave entitlements under the National Employment Standards, including but not limited to:

            1. Leave for Cultural Considerations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Participants

            2. leave for other cultural and religious reasons

6. Withdrawal

6.1 Participants who are withdrawn (voluntarily or involuntarily) from PEP Standard are not eligible for re-entry.

1. 1. Participants who have commenced an alternative RACGP-Approved Program following successful completion of the PEP Standard Educational Phase cannot re-enter the General Practice Experience Pathway or PEP Standard.

   2. Participants who have withdrawn (voluntarily or involuntarily) from PEP Standard and wish to enter or re-enter an alternative RACGP-Approved Program must meet the requirements set by the relevant program's entry policy.

6.2 Voluntary withdrawal

1. 1. Participants must inform the RACGP in writing of their intention to withdraw from PEP Standard.

   2. Participants who voluntarily withdraw from the PEP Standard receive a Cooling Off Period of 20 Business Days to enable them to reconsider their decision.

      1. After the Cooling Off Period has ended, the Participant will be formally withdrawn and notified in writing.

         1. If a Participant chooses to reverse their decision to withdraw within the Cooling Off Period, they must inform the RACGP in writing.

      2. Participants who have voluntarily withdrawn from PEP Standard may choose to waive their Cooling Off Period and must confirm this in writing. If the Cooling Off Period is waived, the decision to withdraw cannot be reversed.

   3. The RACGP will send a notification to Services Australia to withdraw the Participant's PEP provider number either:

      1. after the Cooling Off Period has ended (within 20 Business Days), or

      2. immediately, if the Participant has waived the Cooling Off Period.

   4. Participants who voluntarily withdraw from PEP Standard cannot apply for reconsideration or appeal of their withdrawal decision.

6.3 Involuntary withdrawal

1. 1. The RACGP will consider cases of involuntary withdrawal on a case-by-case basis. The decision to withdraw a Participant is at the RACGP's discretion.

   2. The RACGP may withdraw a Participant on the following grounds, including but not limited to:

      1. Capacity – the Participant is unable to continue on PEP Standard, in the opinion of the RACGP, including but not limited to, instances where the Participant:

         1. failed to maintain their Ahpra Medical Registration

         2. has Addenda imposed on their Ahpra Medical Registration, which renders them unable to progress towards Fellowship

         3. has any other restrictions that impact their ability to practice or progress in PEP Standard

         4. has exhausted their Fellowship Exam Candidacy

      2. Compliance – the Participant fails to comply with RACGP policy or their Education and Training Requirements including but not limited to:

         1. providing misleading, incomplete or false information to the RACGP

         2. failing on more than one occasion to respond to correspondence from the RACGP relating to the Participant's enrolment in PEP Standard

            1. Before withdrawing the Participant, the RACGP must attempt to contact the Participant a minimum of three times, over a minimum of eight calendar weeks.

         3. failing to maintain continuous progression per the General Practice Experience Pathway – Exam Eligibility Policy and General Practice Experience Pathway – Fellowship Exam Attempts Policy

         4. cases where the RACGP assesses the Participant as not meeting the required standards to enable them to successfully be admitted to Fellowship

         5. failing to obtain or be eligible to apply for Ahpra Medical Registration as a specialist general practitioner (GP)

         6. cases where the Participant's leave extends beyond the timeframes outlined in this policy

         7. failing to maintain RACGP Financial Membership throughout the Post-education Phase

         8. failing to pay the post education fee

      3. Professional Conduct – the Participant is determined to have failed to demonstrate a high level of professional behaviour including but not limited to:

         1. a finding of Serious Academic Misconduct per the Academic Misconduct Policy

         2. a finding of Professional Misconduct

         3. any conduct which, in the opinion of the RACGP would constitute a breach of the Membership Code of Conduct

            1. it is not necessary for a committee to be set up under the Membership Code of Conduct or the Board to have made a finding.

6.4 The RACGP must notify the Participant in writing before involuntarily withdrawing them.

1. 1. Before sending the notification of withdrawal, the RACGP:

      1. may request more information from the Participant and

      2. must provide the Participant with an opportunity to explain in writing, in a show cause notice, why the Participant should not be involuntarily withdrawn.

6.5 The RACGP will formally withdraw the Participant from PEP Standard after 20 Business Days when no application has been received per the Dispute, Reconsideration and Appeals Policy. All withdrawal decisions are final.

7. Provider number access

7.1 The RACGP authorises the issuing of provider number access while enrolled in PEP Standard to assist Participants to achieve Fellowship.

7.2 Participants must maintain minimum Part-time working hours for the duration of the Post-education Phase to maintain access to a provider number.

7.3 Access to a provider number is not an exam eligibility requirement.

7.4 Provider numbers and leave

1. 1. Participants must not undertake paid work using their PEP provider number while on leave. The RACGP monitors compliance, and any breach of this clause will be handled per the Academic Misconduct Policy and may be reported to Services Australia (Medicare) and/or the Medical Board of Australia (MBA).

   2. Leave that was not communicated to the RACGP is considered in provider number extension applications and can affect the outcome of the application.

   3. If a Participant's employment circumstances change during any period of leave, the Participant must submit new employment details to the RACGP for assessment using the change in circumstances form via the PEP portal. The RACGP aims to process all change in circumstances forms within four weeks of submission or from the date all required information is received, whichever is later.

   4. The status of a Participant's provider number during periods of leave depends on the duration of the leave.

      1. Leave of less than six months: the Participant's PEP provider number remains active, but they must not use their PEP provider number for paid work.

      2. Leave of six months or more: the RACGP will send a notification to Services Australia to withdraw the Participant's provider number. The Participant must reapply for a PEP provider number at least three months before returning to PEP Standard.

7.5 Provider number extensions

1. 1. The authorisation of an extension is at the RACGP's discretion, per the Practice Experience Program – Provider number continuation requirements.

   2. The RACGP will not authorise the extension of a provider number where a Participant has:

      1. failed to meet the requirements for Fellowship

7.6 Provider number withdrawals

1. 1. The RACGP may withdraw a Participant's PEP provider number at any time during the Post-education Phase. Refer to the Practice Experience Program – Provider number continuation requirements guide for additional conditions that may result in withdrawal.

   2. The Participant's PEP provider number will be withdrawn 20 Business Days after the date of the formal withdrawal from PEP Standard.

8. Amendment of this policy

The Censor-in-Chief (CiC) may, without the consent of the RACGP Board, make minor, moderate and consequential amendments to this policy at any time. The Education & Training Policy Lead can make editorial amendments (no approval required by the Censor-in-Chief).

If the CiC makes amendments, they must advise the RACGP Board of those amendments as soon as practicable.

The RACGP Board may make amendments to this policy at any time.

8.1 Major amendment	An amendment that materially changes the policy's scope, intent, or application, including overhauling key sections, redefining the policy's purpose, or fundamentally reallocating responsibilities.
8.2 Moderate amendment	An amendment that makes a targeted change to one or more policy clauses, modifying applicable requirements or assigned responsibilities, with a limited and contained effect on the policy's overall scope, intent, or application.
8.3 Minor amendment	An amendment that makes deliberate improvements to policy content, such as clarifying ambiguous language, updating outdated references, terminology or contact details, or restructuring content, without altering the policy's scope, intent, or application.
8.4 Consequential amendment	An amendment made to ensure alignment with a change introduced in another policy. It is not initiated independently but is a direct consequence of an approved change in another policy.
8.5 Editorial amendment	An amendment made solely to correct typographical, grammatical, or formatting errors, without altering the policy's scope, intent, or application.

9. Responsibilities

9.1 Censor-in-Chief	Approving minor amendments Approving moderate amendments Approving consequential amendments
9.2 RACGP Board	Approving major amendments
9.3 RACGP	Provider number access, managing leave, extension and withdrawal requests or requirements, monitoring progression through the post-education progression phase and enforcing the clauses outlined in this policy.
9.4 Participants	Complying with all clauses outlined in this policy.

10. Glossary

10.1 Addenda	Includes, but is not limited to, restrictions, conditions, limitations, reprimands, supervision requirements, tribunal outcomes, suspensions, undertakings and/or any other remarks or changes on a participant's medical registration. Refer to ahpra.gov.au for more information.
10.2 Ahpra Medical Registration	Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), which allows the participant to practise medicine. Refer to ahpra.gov.au for more information.
10.3 Business Days	A day when the RACGP national office is operating.
10.4 Commencement of Training	The first day on which the participant begins their RACGP-approved program.
10.5 Candidacy	The three-year period, separate to training program time, during which a participant can attempt Fellowship exams.
10.6 Cooling Off Period	A period of time during which a participant may retract their decision to voluntarily withdraw from a training program.
10.7 Cumulative Leave	The total combined duration of all leave taken by a participant across all leave types within a calendar year. Leave is calculated cumulatively regardless of whether it is taken consecutively or intermittently.
10.8 Current General Practice Experience Outcome	An outcome of a general practice experience assessment which: has an expiry date in the future, has not been superseded by a more recent general practice experience assessment outcome, and has not been rendered void for other reasons such as academic misconduct.
10.9 Educational Phase	The program time during which participants complete learning units and workplace-based assessment requirements per the Satisfactory Completion Framework.
10.10 Fellowship	Admittance to either: Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP), or FRACGP and Rural Generalist Fellowship (FRACGP-RG).
10.11 Fellowship Exams	The exams run by the RACGP to assess the candidate's competency for unsupervised general practice anywhere in Australia, including: Applied Knowledge Test (AKT), Key Feature Problem (KFP), and Clinical Competency Exam (CCE).
10.12 General Practice Experience Pathway	A pathway to Fellowship for medical practitioners who have: completed the educational phase of PEP Standard, or GP recognition with Services Australia.
10.13 Leave for Cultural Considerations	Leave for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants for cultural, ceremonial, community, and family obligations, etc, in keeping with traditional customs and laws, as well as the significant and multifactorial burden of grief and cultural load experienced and impacting on health, wellbeing and ability to work and study effectively.
10.14 Legislative Leave	This leave includes both: leave granted pursuant to the participant's workplace entitlements under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), and any other form of leave as permitted under the National Employment Standards (NES); and leave taken which meets the definition above where the participant is a contractor or otherwise not covered by the NES.
10.15 Notifiable Conduct	Per the Medical Board of Australia's Guidelines for mandatory notifications about registered health practitioners, practising while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs, engaging in sexual misconduct in connection with the practice, or placing the public at risk of substantial harm in the practice because of an impairment or by practising in a way that constitutes a significant departure from accepted professional standards.
10.16 Participant	A medical practitioner who: has completed the educational phase of PEP Standard by 30 June 2023, is currently progressing towards Fellowship on the General Practice Experience Pathway, has not withdrawn from PEP Standard, and has not started an alternative RACGP-approved program.
10.17 Part-time	At least 14.5 hours over a minimum of two days per week in one practice, of which at least 10.5 hours is face-to-face, rostered, patient consultation time, undertaking general practice activities. Work periods of less than three consecutive hours, or of less than four calendar weeks in any one practice will not be considered.
10.18 Personal Leave	Leave including but not limited to: any leave covered by the National Employment Standards where the participant's leave extends beyond the maximum entitlement for that leave type any leave not covered by legislative leave entitlements under the National Employment Standards, including but not limited to: leave for cultural reasons for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants leave for other cultural and religious reasons.
10.19 Post-education Phase	The period following the PEP Standard educational phase where participants must complete all Fellowship requirements including: obtaining and maintaining a valid general practice experience outcome assessed per the Assessment of General Practice Experience Policy passing all Fellowship exams.
10.20 Professional Misconduct	As defined in the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009.
10.21 RACGP-Approved Program	An education or training program approved by the RACGP as a suitable pathway to Fellowship, including: Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program, Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS), Fellowship Support Program (FSP), Practice Experience Program – Standard Stream, Practice Experience Program Specialist – Partially Comparable Stream, and Practice Experience Program Specialist – Substantially Comparable Stream. These training programs are approved specified programs listed in Division 6 of the Health Insurance Regulations 2018 (Cwlth).
10.22 RACGP Financial Membership	An RACGP member who has: met the membership category requirements, had their complete membership application form accepted, and paid their current membership fee in full.
10.23 Serious Academic Misconduct	Cases of substantiated academic misconduct, for which the sanctions imposed fall under clauses 7.4. f, k, m, n, o of the Academic Misconduct Policy.
10.24 Valid General Practice Experience Outcome	An outcome of a general practice experience assessment which: meets the definition of a current general practice experience outcome, and meets the experience requirements for exam eligibility as per the General Practice Experience – Exam Eligibility Policy.

11. Related documents, legislation and policies

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GP in Training Fellowship Exam Support Policy

• Academic Misconduct Policy

• Dispute, Reconsideration and Appeals Policy

• Fair Work Ombudsman National Employment Standards

• General Practice Experience Pathway – Fellowship Exam Attempts Policy

• General Practice Experience Pathway – Exam Eligibility Policy

• General Practice Experience Pathway – Requirements for Fellowship Policy

• Membership Code of Conduct

• Practice Experience Program – Extenuating and Unforeseen Circumstances Guidance Document

• Practice Experience Program – Provider number continuation requirements guide

12. Policy review and currency

This policy will be reviewed every three calendar years from the last approval date, or when there is a significant change in the intent of the policy. This policy remains valid and applicable notwithstanding if it is overdue for review.