Practice Experience Program Specialist – Entry Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to define the principles and requirements for entry into the Practice Experience Program Specialist (PEP SP).

2. Scope

2.1 This policy applies to:

1. 1. Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) intending to pursue Fellowship of the RACGP via the PEP SP, and who have been assessed as Substantially Comparable or Partially Comparable under the PEP SP Comparability Assessment Policy.

   2. RACGP Staff.

2.2 This policy is to be read in conjunction with the PEP SP Comparability Assessment Policy, the PEP SP Comparability Assessment Guide, and the PEP SP Application Handbook.

2.3 This policy will come into effect as of 01 July 2024.

3. General principles

3.1 The RACGP is committed to ensuring entry into the PEP SP is:

1. 1. transparent, rigorous, and fair for all Applicants,

   2. robust, valid, consistent, and free of discrimination, and

   3. based on merit.

4. Entry requirements

4.1 To be eligible for entry into the PEP SP, Applicants must:

1. 1. have completed a Basic Life Support (BLS) course that is valid at the Date of Entry into the PEP SP, and

   2. meet the requirements listed in clauses 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4 of this policy.

4.2 Part A - Comparability assessment

1. 1. Applicants must apply for a Comparability Assessment and be assessed as Substantially Comparable or Partially Comparable under the PEP SP Comparability Assessment Policy. 

      1. Applicants assessed as Substantially Comparable may be eligible for entry into the PEP SP Substantially Comparable stream.

      2. Applicants assessed as Partially Comparable may be eligible for entry into the PEP SP Partially Comparable stream.

4.3 Part B - Job offer

1. 1. Applicants must have an offer of employment in Comprehensive Australian General Practice in an RACGP-Approved Practice. The offer of employment must:

      1. meet the Part-Time requirements, as per the Assessment of General Practice Experience Policy, and

      2. include an agreement with a suitable Supervisor, as per the PEP SP Supervision Policy.

4.4 Part C - Right to work in Australia

1. 1. Applicants must provide evidence of their right to practise in Australia; this includes:

      1. a valid visa, and

      2. AHPRA Medical Registration.

   2. Evidence of registration must include details of any:

      1. Addenda on the Applicant’s medical registration, whether in Australia or overseas, and/or

      2. regulatory authority activity, whether in Australia or overseas, that:

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

         2. has led to an adverse finding for the Applicant or forms part of an ongoing investigation; and/or

      3. other Notifiable Conduct.

   3. Applicants with medical registration Addenda or any other regulatory activity may not be granted entry into the PEP SP.

4.5 Applicants must submit their application through the RACGP website, and provide information and documentary evidence as listed in the PEP SP Application Handbook.

4.6 Applications must contain information that is current, complete and verifiable.

1. 1. Applications containing plagiarised, false or misleading information, or failing to disclose information listed in 4.4.ii will be handled as per the Academic Misconduct Policy.

4.7 The RACGP will only assess Complete Applications for which the application fee has been paid.

4.8 To formally accept a position on the PEP SP, Applicants must:

1. 1. accept the offer in writing, including signing the relevant PEP SP agreement,

   2. declare any changes, including additions of Addenda, or investigations related to the Applicant’s registration, whether in Australia or overseas, and

   3. pay the PEP SP fees as applicable.

4.9 Within six calendar months of signing the PEP SP agreement, Participants must commence work in the RACGP-Approved Practice.

1. 1. Participants are considered to have started the PEP SP on the day they commence work in Australia in their RACGP-approved Practice using their RACGP-issued Medicare Provider Number.

   2. Within two calendar weeks of commencing work in the RACGP-Approved Practice, Participants must confirm their start date to the RACGP in writing.

4.10 Participants who have been withdrawn from the PEP SP may not apply for re-entry into the program, as per the PEP SP Withdrawal Policy.

5. 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.

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.

6. Responsibilities

6.1 Applicant	Providing the RACGP with a Complete Application Accepting an offer for a position on the PEP-SP, if offered Confirming the start date at RACGP-Approved Practice
6.2 Censor-in-Chief	Approving Minor Amendments Approving Moderate Amendments ​Approving Consequential Amendments
6.3 RACGP	Offering successful Applicants a position on the PEP SP
6.4 RACGP Board	Approving Major Amendments

7. Glossary

7.1 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’s website for more information.
7.2 AHPRA Medical Registration	Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), which allows the registrant to practise medicine. Refer to AHPRA’s website for more information.
7.3 Applicant	The Specialist International Medical Graduate applying for entry into the PEP SP.
7.4 Basic Life Support (BLS) Course	As per the requirements listed in the Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support Guide.
7.5 Comparability Assessment	The process of determining the extent to which a Specialist International Medical Graduate is comparable to an Australian-trained general practitioner at the point of admission to Fellowship.
7.6 Complete Application	An application is deemed complete when all requested information and documentary evidence have been received and verified.
7.7 Comprehensive Australian General Practice	As defined in the Comprehensive Australian general practice guide.
7.8 Consequential Amendment	An amendment that requires urgent implementation as a necessary result of an amendment to another policy or process.
7.9 Date of Entry	Date the Participant signs the program agreement.
7.10 Fellowship	Admittance to either: Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP), or FRACGP and Rural Generalist Fellowship (FRACGP-RG).
7.11 Major Amendment	An amendment that materially changes the operation of the policy but is not otherwise a Minor or Moderate Amendment (ie a change to one major clause or policy review).
7.12 Minor Amendment	An amendment to style, to correct grammatical mistakes, change overall formatting, make updates that do not materially change meaning, or any other amendment, which in the opinion of the Censor-in-Chief, does not materially alter the operation of the policy.
7.13 Moderate Amendment	An amendment that materially changes the operation of a policy by a limited amount (ie a change to one minor clause, or changes that have a limited impact on the outcome of the policy).
7.14 Notifiable Conduct	Notifiable conduct holds the same definition as the Medical Board of Australia’s Guidelines for mandatory notifications about registered health practitioners.
7.15 Partially Comparable Paticipant	A Specialist International Medical Graduate who has been assessed as Partially Comparable to an Australian trained specialist general practitioner at the point of Fellowship, as per the PEP SP Comparability Assessment Guide.
7.16 Participant	A Specialist International Medical Graduate who has been accepted into the PEP SP.
7.17 Part-Time General Practice Experience	Calculated pro-rata against the definition of full-time general practice experience. Part-time general practice must comprise a minimum of 14.5-hour working week, over a minimum of two days per week. A minimum of 10.5 hours must be in 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.
7.18 Practice Experience Program Specialist (PEP SP)	The route to Fellowship available to Specialist International Medical Graduates who have been assessed as Substantially Comparable or Partially Comparable to an Australian-trained specialist general practitioner at the point of admission to Fellowship.
7.19 Provider Number	A Medicare provider number is given to eligible health professionals who are recognised for Medicare services, and allows them to claim, bill, refer or request Medicare services. A registrar must apply for a unique provider number prior to starting in a general practice placement.
7.20 RACGP-Approved Practice	A practice approved by the RACGP for the placement of PEP SP Participants. The practice must:   be accredited against the RACGP Standards for general practices, meet the requirements of Comprehensive Australian general practice, and meet the location requirements as per the Department of Health and Aged Care's General Practice Fellowship Program Placement Guidelines
7.21 RACGP Staff	Anyone who is an employee or contractor of the RACGP.
7.22 Specialist International Medical Graduate (SIMG)	An overseas-trained medical practitioner who: holds a primary qualification in medicine and surgery awarded by a training institution recognised by both the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS), has satisfied all the training and examination requirements to practise as a specialist general practitioner and has been awarded a specialist general practice qualification in their country of origin, and had their specialist general practice qualification’s curriculum assessed by the RACGP as comparable or partially comparable to the RACGP curriculum and syllabus for Australian general practice.
7.23 Substantially Comparable Participant	A Specialist International Medical Graduate who has been assessed as Substantially Comparable to an Australian trained specialist general practitioner at the point of Fellowship, as per the PEP SP Comparability Assessment Guide
7.24 Supervisor	A general practitioner who is both a clinician and a role model, who takes responsibility for the educational and training needs of the PEP SP Participant while in the practice, in adherence with the Medical Board of Australia's Supervised practice for international medical graduates guidelines.

8. Related Documents, Legislation and Policies

• Academic Misconduct Policy
• Assessment of General Practice Experience Policy
• Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support Guide
• Comprehensive Australian general practice Guide
• Dispute, Reconsideration and Appeals Policy
• PEP SP Comparability Assessment Guide
• PEP SP Comparability Assessment Policy
• PEP SP Application Handbook
• PEP SP Supervision Policy
• PEP SP Withdrawal Policy

9. 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.