Fellowship Recognition Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to define the principles and requirements for Fellows of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) to be admitted to Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP).

2. Scope

2.1 This policy applies to:

1. 1. Doctors who hold FACRRM by ACRRM summative assessment applying for Fellowship recognition with the RACGP.

3. General principles

3.1 The principles by which the RACGP admits Applicants to Fellowship are:

1. 1. ensuring Fellows are competent for unsupervised Comprehensive Australian General Practice,

   2. upholding public health and safety, and

   3. maintaining the good reputation of the general practice profession.

3.2 This pathway is an alternative pathway for admission to Fellowship with the RACGP for assessed Specialist General Practitioners recognised under the National Registration Accreditation Scheme with appropriate general practice experience.

3.3 This pathway leads to Fellowship of the RACGP accredited under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme.

4. Eligibility and application

4.1 All Applicants must:

1. 1. have attained Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM) by training and summative assessment.

      1. Fellowship attained by the following pathways are ineligible:

         1. grandfathered vocationally recognised general practitioners,

         2. Specialist Pathway without examination, or

         3. Rural Experienced Entry to Fellowship (REEF) without summative assessment.

   2. be listed as a Specialist general practitioner as per the Register of Practitioners,

   3. hold current unrestricted Australian Medical Registration and promptly disclose in writing any

      1. Addenda on their 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,

         2. has led to an adverse finding for the Applicant which directly or indirectly affects their ability to practice, including enforceable undertakings, tribunal or other body outcomes or other activity which does not appear on their registration,

         3. or forms part of an ongoing investigation.

      3. other Notifiable Conduct.

      4. Failure to disclose this information is handled per the  Academic Misconduct Policy.

   4. have completed five years of general practice experience in the ten years prior to application, of which 18 months must be in Comprehensive Australian General Practice.

   5. be compliant with a Medical Board of Australia approved continuing professional development program.

   6. complete basic life support (BLS) in the 12 months prior to applying for admission to Fellowship per the Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support Guide.

   7. complete advanced life support (ALS) training within four years prior to applying for admission to Fellowship per the Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support Guide.

4.2 Application requirements

1. 1. Applicants must submit a complete application online through the RACGP website.

   2. Applicants must provide current, complete and verifiable information in their application.

      1. Submission of plagiarised, false or misleading information will be handled per the Academic Misconduct Policy.

   3. The RACGP will only assess complete applications that have been submitted with all required documentation and for which the application fee has been paid (where applicable).

      1. The required documentation is listed in the Fellowship Recognition Pathway webpage. 

      2. The RACGP may, at its discretion, request information or documentation in addition to the required documentation.

      3. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Incomplete applications include but are not limited to those that:

         1. provide incorrect, uncertified, or unverifiable documentation or information,

         2. fail to pay any relevant fee, or

         3. fail to provide additional information or documentation requested.

   4. All Addenda will be reviewed during the application and the RACGP may decline applications where Addenda is or has been applied to medical registration.

4.3 Admission to Fellowship

1. 1. The decision to admit the GP to Fellowship is held by the Censor-in-Chief (CiC) under delegation from the RACGP Board in accordance with the Fellowship Policy.

   2. At the point of admission to Fellowship, the Applicant must be an RACGP Financial Member.

      1. Where an Applicant has not met the requirements of an RACGP Financial Member, admission to Fellowship may be withheld, or the application cancelled.

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. 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.

5.1 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.
5.2 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.
5.3 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.
5.4 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.
5.5 Editorial amendment	An amendment made solely to correct typographical, grammatical, or formatting errors, without altering the policy's scope, intent, or application.

6. Responsibilities

6.1 Applicant	Ensuring they meet the requirements of this policy to apply for Fellowship Promptly disclosing any addenda on their medical registration
6.2 Censor-in-Chief	Approving minor amendments Approving moderate amendments Approving consequential amendments Admitting applicants to Fellowship
6.3 RACGP Board	Approving major amendments
6.4 RACGP	Assessing complete applications

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 an applicant's medical registration. Refer to Ahpra.gov.au for more information.
7.2 Australian Medical Registration	Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), which allows the registrant to practise medicine. Refer to Ahpra.gov.au.
7.3 Applicant	The ACRRM Fellow applying to attain FRACGP per this policy.
7.4 Comprehensive Australian General Practice	As defined in the Comprehensive Australian general practice guide.
7.5 Fellowship	Admittance to either: Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP), or FRACGP and Rural Generalist Fellowship (FRACGP-RG).
7.6 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.
7.7 RACGP 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.

8. Related Documents, Legislation and Policies

• Academic Misconduct Policy

• Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support Guide

• Comprehensive Australian General Practice Guide

• Fellowship 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.