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Extensions of Program Time Policy

Policy

Page last updated 5 March 2026

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline the extensions of Program Time available to Registrars.

2. Scope

2.1 This policy applies to:

1. Registrars enrolled in the:
  1. Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program
  2. Fellowship Support Program (FSP)

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

1. Registrar Support and Educational Interventions Policy
2. Training Program Requirements Policy
3. relevant registrar handbooks
  1. If there is any inconsistency between this policy and the relevant handbook, the terms of this policy take precedence.

3. General principles

3.1 Registrars are expected to complete their Training Program within their Program Time per the Training Program Requirements Policy.

3.2 Registrars are expected to attain Fellowship within the 12-week extension awaiting Fellowship.

3.3 The RACGP recognises there are circumstances when Registrars may require additional Program Time to fulfil their requirements for Fellowship.

3.4 The RACGP is dedicated to ensuring Registrars receive the support they need, including extensions of Program Time where appropriate, to respect and honour cultural needs, considerations and commitments, with a strong focus on supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Registrars.

3.5 Requests for extensions to Program Time are considered on a case-by-case basis.

3.6 Approval of all extensions to Program Time is at the discretion of the RACGP.

4. Requests for all extensions of program time

4.1 Registrars must submit a request for an extension of Program Time a minimum of 20 Business Days prior to the requested start date of the extension.

4.2 The RACGP will notify the Registrar of the outcome within 20 Business Days following receipt of a request for an extension, unless the RACGP advises otherwise.

1. If a request is declined, the RACGP will provide reasons for the decision.

4.3 The RACGP may request additional information from the Registrar to inform decisions about extensions of Program Time. Registrars must comply with any requests for further information for this purpose.

4.4 Extensions may be granted for up to 26 calendar weeks at a time.

4.5 Registrars who believe the RACGP has made an incorrect decision in relation to the outcome of their request for an extension of Program Time can apply for reconsideration as per the Dispute, Reconsideration and Appeals Policy.

5. Extension awaiting Fellowship

5.1 The RACGP will automatically apply an extension of 12 calendar weeks when Registrars have met their Fellowship requirements per the Requirements for Fellowship Policy

1. For ADF Registrars who completed their Fellowship requirements while on deployment, this extension will start from the date they return from deployment.

5.2 Registrars may apply for an additional 12 calendar weeks if there are circumstances delaying their Fellowship application.

5.3 AGPT Registrars on an extension awaiting Fellowship can:

1. continue to work in supervised general practice
2. work in general practice less than the minimum part-time training requirement
3. choose to not work in a general practice post
  1. To retain access to an AGPT Medicare provider number, Registrars must continue to practise in an accredited training site within their current training region.

6. Extensions for training or assessment purposes

6.1 Registrars may apply for an extension of 26 calendar weeks:

1. to satisfactorily meet outstanding Education and Training Requirements,
2. as part of a graduated return to work program, or
3. to sit or re-sit Fellowship Exams and while waiting for the results.

7. Extension to undertake an academic post (AGPT Program only)

7.1 Registrars accepted onto an Academic Post may apply for an extension of up to 26 calendar weeks to undertake the Academic Post if they start the post when they are in Core Vocational Training.

8. Emergency extensions

8.1 The RACGP has the discretion to activate emergency extensions in Emergency Situations.

1. The RACGP will determine the terms of emergency extensions and will contact Registrars who are eligible.

9. 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.

10. Responsibilities

10.1 Censor-in-Chief	Approving minor amendments Approving moderate amendments Approving consequential amendments
10.2 RACGP Board	Approving major amendments
10.3 RACGP	Assessing and approving requests for extensions of program time Enacting emergency extensions of program time Notifying the registrar of the outcome within 20 business days of the completed request being received
10.4 Registrars	Submitting requests for an extension 20 business days before the start of the requested period of extension.

11. Glossary

11.1 Academic Post	An approved 0.5 FTE research and medical education term undertaken as part of the AGPT Program over 52 calendar weeks.
11.2 Business Day	A day when both the RACGP national and relevant regional offices are operating.
11.3 Consequential Amendment	An amendment that requires urgent implementation as a necessary result of an amendment to another policy or process.
11.4 Core Vocational Training	General practice term (GPT)1, GPT2, GPT3 and Extended Skills Training term of the AGPT Program.
11.5 Education and Training Requirements	The mandatory components of the registrar’s RACGP-approved program as defined in the relevant registrar handbook and applicable RACGP policies
11.6 Emergency Situations	A situation the RACGP determines impacts a certain cohort of registrar that requires additional allowances beyond the usual scope of policy. Examples include but are not limited to pandemics and extreme weather events.
11.7 Fellowship	Admission to either: Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP), or FRACGP and Rural Generalist Fellowship (FRACGP-RG).
11.8 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).
11.9 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).
11.10 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.
11.11 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).
11.12 Program Time	The length of time required to complete an RACGP-approved program per the Training Program Requirements Policy.
11.13 RACGP-Approved Program	An education or Training Program approved by the RACGP as a suitable avenue to Fellowship, including the: Australian General Practice Training Program, Remote Vocational Training Scheme, Fellowship Support Program, Practice Experience Program – Standard Stream Practice Experience Program – Specialist Stream Partially Comparable Practice Experience Program – Specialist Stream Substantially Comparable. These training programs are approved specified programs listed in Division 6 of the Health Insurance Regulations 2018 (Cwlth).
11.14 Registrar	A medical practitioner enrolled in the: Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program, or Fellowship Support Program (FSP).
11.15 Training Program	Either the: Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program, or Fellowship Support Program (FSP).

12. 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
4	05/03/2026	Education Policy Coordinator
Amendment details	Content reorganised for clarity and to remove redundant text Reference to ‘staff’ removed from the ‘Scope’ Reference to extenuating and unforeseen circumstances (‘Registrars can only access extensions of Program Time beyond an initial 26 calendar weeks in extenuating and unforeseen circumstances.’) removed from the ‘General principles’ section. Added ‘Extensions may be granted for up to 26 calendar weeks at a time’ for clarity (clause 4.4) Reference to the Dispute, Reconsideration and Appeals Policy added (clause 4.5) More detail added to the section on ‘Extensions awaiting Fellowship’ (clause 5.2) Extensions to undertake an approved Academic Post (clause 7.1) changed from ‘…if a registrar has 26 weeks (FTE) of Core Vocational Training Time remaining’) to ‘if they start the post when they are in Core Vocational Training.’ Clause deleted on ‘Registrar training towards RACGP Rural Generalist Fellowship have access to an additional 52 calendar weeks…’ (information to be included in the Training Program Requirements Policy) Deleted reference to ‘as part of an Approved Remediation Term…’ (information on remediation is in the Registrar Support and Education Interventions Policy) Deleted section on ‘Extension to transition’ Deleted reference to ‘Extenuating and Unforeseen Circumstances experienced by the Registrar or their Significant Family Relations’ (this is an exemption to policy)
3	02 May 2023	Education Policy and Guidance Coordinator
Amendment details	Minor updates to titles of policies: Requirements for Fellowship Policy Dispute, Reconsideration and Appeals Policy
2	The start date of the first term of the Training Program in 2023	Education Policy and Guidance Lead
Amendment details	Addition of clause 5.3.iii relating to Academic Post extension of program time.
1	The start date of the first term of the Training Program in 2023	Education Policy and Guidance Lead
Amendment details	Generally, extensions will be granted in up to 26 calendar week periods Updated reference of ‘training time’ to program time to be more inclusive of all stages of the Training Programs Removed numbering of categories and instead refer to ‘types’ The extension allowance accommodated in the AGPT Program COVID-19 Support Policy has been transferred to ‘Special emergency extensions of program time’ to allow for situations where the RACGP may need to provide additional extensions to Registrars affected by emergency situations.
Policy owner:	RACGP Board
Approved by:	RACGP Board	Approved on:	31/01/2023
Next review due:	06/2029

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