Practice Experience Program Specialist – Fellowship Exams Policy

Policy

Page last updated 1 September 2026

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to define the requirements for Partially Comparable Participants of the Practice Experience Program Specialist (PEP SP) to sit the Fellowship Exams.

2. Scope

2.1 This policy applies to:

1. PEP SP Participants on the Partially Comparable Stream

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

1. PEP SP Requirements for Fellowship Policy, and the
2. PEP SP Participant Handbook - Partially Comparable Stream.

3. General principles

3.1 The Fellowship Exams assess the Candidate's competency for unsupervised Comprehensive Australian General Practice.

3.2 The RACGP believes participation in an education or training program with appropriate supervision is the most suitable way to prepare for the Fellowship Exams.

3.3 The RACGP limits the number of Fellowship Exam attempts that the Candidate can sit in a determined period. This ensures the Candidate progresses towards admission to Fellowship in an appropriate timeframe and maintains the knowledge and skills developed during their RACGP-Approved Program.

3.4 The Candidate will have access to RACGP exam support resources.

4. Eligibility requirements

4.1 Prior to the Candidate enrolling in Fellowship Exams, the RACGP must determine the Candidate has or will satisfactorily complete the following by the date of the Fellowship Exam:

1. The Training Program has been completed as per the PEP SP Participant Handbook - Partially Comparable Stream, and
2. Supervisor reports have been submitted to the RACGP within six months of commencing work, as required by the Medical Board of Australia (MBA).

4.2 To be eligible to enrol in exams, the Candidate must hold current Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) Medical Registration at all times while on PEP SP.

1. The Candidate must promptly disclose to the RACGP all details of any:
  1. Addenda on the Candidate'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 Candidate or forms part of an ongoing investigation; and/or
  3. other Notifiable Conduct.
    1. Candidates with Ahpra Medical Registration Addenda or any other regulatory activity may not be eligible for Fellowship Exams.
    2. The RACGP will manage a failure to disclose the information listed in 4.2 as per the Academic Misconduct Policy.
    3. To remain enrolled in the Fellowship Exams, the Candidate must maintain Ahpra Medical Registration at all times.

4.3 Candidates must be Financial Members of the RACGP from the Date of Entry. They must remain Financial Members until they have either been admitted to Fellowship, exhausted their Fellowship Exam Candidacy, or withdrawn from PEP SP.

4.4 Participants on an approved period of leave as per the PEP SP Leave Policy are not eligible to sit the Fellowship Exams.

4.5 If at any time the Candidate becomes ineligible for a Fellowship Exam after enrolment in that exam, they must inform the RACGP and withdraw from the exam. Failure to do so will be handled as per the Academic Misconduct Policy.

5. Exam candidacy

5.1 Each Candidate has one Candidacy to sit the Fellowship Exams.

5.2 Candidates may enrol in Fellowship Exams in a maximum of six Exam Semesters.

1. Exam Semesters relate to the Candidate's Candidacy, not individual exam attempts.
2. Candidates must complete the assessment requirements including passing the Fellowship Exams within the MBA’s Maximum Timeframe per the PEP SP Requirements for Fellowship Policy. Once the Maximum Timeframe has been exhausted the Candidate:
  1. can no longer access their remaining Candidacy and
  2. cannot sit Fellowship Exams while on PEP SP.
    1. Any remaining Candidacy can only be used if the Candidate commences another RACGP-Approved Program.

5.3 Candidacy commences when the Candidate enrols and sits their first exam and will continue independent of any transfers to other RACGP-Approved Programs or withdrawals, unless otherwise advised by the RACGP.

1. If the Candidate enrols but then fails to sit the exam due to an Unsanctioned Withdrawal, the exam will still be deemed to be the beginning of their Candidacy.
2. Any Fellowship Exam passed during the Candidacy remains valid for the duration of the Candidate's Candidacy.
3. The RACGP will Suspend the Candidacy if the Candidate commences another RACGP-Approved Program.
  1. Candidacy is only suspended from the Commencement of Training in the subsequent RACGP-Approved Program.

5.4 If the Candidate does not pass all three Fellowship Exams by the end of their Candidacy, they will be ineligible for Fellowship.

5.5 The RACGP records the start and end dates of each Candidate's Candidacy and will make these dates available to the Candidate.

6. Suspension of Candidacy

6.1 Candidates may apply to the RACGP for a Standard Suspension of Candidacy for one semester. This suspension may be undertaken at any time during the Candidate’s Candidacy.

1. A Standard Suspension of Candidacy will not extend the Maximum Timeframe.
2. Candidates may request a Standard Suspension at any time during their Candidacy until they have sat an exam in their final Exam Semester. Exam passed during the Candidacy remains valid for the duration of the Candidate's Candidacy.

6.2 Approval of any additional Suspension period is at the RACGP’s discretion including

1. Candidates on approved category 1 leave from an RACGP Program at the time of the exam.

6.3 Candidates may not sit exams while their Candidacy is suspended.

7. Exam withdrawals and refunds

7.1 Candidates may apply to be withdrawn from an exam. The RACGP may request additional information from the Candidate to inform this decision. Candidates must comply with any requests for further information for this purpose.

1. If the application is approved, this is a Sanctioned Exam Withdrawal.
  1. The granting of a Sanctioned Exam Withdrawal for an exam does not guarantee a refund of the enrolment fee.
  2. If a Candidate withdraws from an exam at least 20 business days before the scheduled exam date, they are entitled to a refund of the enrolment fee minus the exam withdrawal fee.
2. Any withdrawal from an exam that isn’t approved by the RACGP in writing is considered an Unsanctioned Exam Withdrawal.

7.2 Exam enrolments, including the enrolment fee, cannot be transferred to future exams or to another applicant.

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 Approving suspensions of Candidacy beyond 26 calendar weeks
9.2 Candidates	Providing all relevant documentation and supporting evidence regarding their eligibility for Fellowship Exams Notifying the RACGP of any changes to their eligibility status
9.3 RACGP	Determining the Candidate's exam eligibility status Assessing the exam eligibility status of Candidates Recording the start and end date of the Candidate's Candidacy and making this available to the Candidate
9.4 RACGP Board	Approving Major Amendments

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's website for more information.
10.2 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.
10.3 Candidacy	The three-year period, separate to training program time, during which a Participant can attempt Fellowship exams. For PEP SP, Candidacy is additionally bound by the MBA’s maximum timeframe.
10.4 Candidate	The medical practitioner who has enrolled to sit RACGP Fellowship Exams.
10.5 Commencement of Training	The first day on which the registrar/participant begins their RACGP-approved program.
10.6 Comprehensive Australian General Practice	A practice that addresses the health needs of all people living in Australia equitably and is grounded in holistic, ethical and patient‑centred care. It spans the full breadth of patient demographics, clinical presentations and practice settings, including care for underserved populations. It is evidence‑based and not limited to a specific subset of general practice. Refer to the Comprehensive Australian general practice guide.
10.7 Date of Entry	Date the Participant signs the program agreement.
10.8 Exam Semester	A period during which all three Fellowship Exams are delivered.
10.9 Extenuating and Unforeseen Circumstances	Circumstances which are outside the Candidate's control and can reasonably be considered to have been unforeseen, and can be shown to have a direct and significant impact on the Participant. The RACGP considers Extenuating and Unforeseen Circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
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 Financial Member	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.
10.13 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)	A 38-hour working week, over a minimum of four days per week. A minimum of 27 hours must be in face-to-face, rostered, patient consultation time undertaking general practice activities. Work periods of less than three consecutive hours, or less than 4 calendar weeks in any one practice, will not be considered. Hours worked beyond this definition of full time will not be considered.
10.14 Maximum Timeframe	The maximum amount of time a Participant can remain on the PEP SP from the day they start their Training Program to the day they are admitted to Fellowship of the RACGP per the PEP SP Requirements for Fellowship Policy.
10.15 Medical Board of Australia (MBA)	The national board responsible for regulating medical practitioners in Australia. Refer to medicalboard.gov.au.
10.16 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.
10.17 Partially Comparable Participant	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.
10.18 Participant	A Specialist International Medical Graduate who has been accepted into PEP SP.
10.19 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.
10.20 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.
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 Program, Remote Vocational Training Scheme, Fellowship Support Program, 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.
10.22 RACGP Staff	Anyone who is an employee or contractor of the RACGP.
10.23 Supervision/Supervised Practice	Supervision by a general practitioner who is both a clinician and a role model, and who takes responsibility for the educational and training needs of the PEP SP Participant while in the practice, in adherence with Medical Board of Australia's guidelines: Supervised practice for international medical graduates.
10.24 Suspension of Candidacy	An Exam Semester during the Candidacy in which the Candidate is not required or permitted to attempt Fellowship Exams. The two types are: Standard suspension: A single suspension of an Exam Semester available to any Candidate, for any reason, once during their Candidacy. Non-standard suspension: A suspension of an Exam Semester granted by the RACGP to the Candidate on the provision of evidence of Extenuating and Unforeseen Circumstances.
10.25 Training Program	The six-calendar-month period that starts from the day the Participant commences work in Australia in an RACGP-approved Practice. Participants must complete the program's mandated educational activities and workplace-based assessments within this six-calendar-month timeframe.
10.26 Unsanctioned Exam Withdrawal	Withdrawal from an RACGP assessment that is not approved in writing by the RACGP.

11. Related documents, legislation and policies

10. 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.

Version history

Version	Date of effect	Amended by
2.1	01/09/2026	Education and Training Policy Coordinator
Amendment details	Section on ‘Exam withdrawals and refunds’ added for consistency with other Fellowship exam policies Clause on ‘Approval of any additional Suspension periods…’ updated with more detail for consistency with other Fellowship exam policies Scope updated (removal of ‘staff’ for accuracy and for consistency with other policies) Reference to seeking ‘an exemption from clause 4.4’ removed from the document for consistency with other policies Wording in the section on ‘Exam candidacy’ revised for clarity in relation to the Maximum Timeframe
2	30/06/2026	Education Policy Coordinator
Amendment details	Section on 'Suspension of Candidacy' wording updated for clarity and accuracy.
1	01/07/2024	Education Policy and Guidance Lead
Amendment details	Development of policy based on previous Practice Experience Program Specialist Stream Policies.
Policy owner:	RACGP Board
Approved by:	RACGP Board	Approved on:	15/09/2023
Next Review Due:	09/2027

Enquiries

1800 626 901

racgpeducation@racgp.org.au

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