Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to define the principles and requirements for the application and assessment of Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience (RPLE).

2. Scope

2.1 This policy applies to:

1. 1. Registrars enrolled in the:

      1. Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program,

      2. Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS),

      3. Fellowship Support Program (FSP),

   2. Registrars voluntarily withdrawn from an RACGP-Approved Program 

   3. Registrars transferring from the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine’s (ACCRM) AGPT Program

   4. Post-Fellowship general practitioners (GPs) training towards RACGP Rural Generalist Fellowship.

2.2 This policy is to be read in conjunction with the relevant application handbook and/or registrar training handbook. If there is any inconsistency between this policy and the relevant handbook, the terms of this policy take precedence.

3. General principles

3.1 The RACGP recognises that Registrars and GPs may have prior learning and/or experience that suitably meets some of the requirements of their Training Program, the RVTS or their Rural Generalist Fellowship training, therefore allowing them to safely reduce their Program Time.

3.2 The RACGP has a key objective to improve health outcomes for all Australians. Therefore, the RACGP will only approve an RPLE application if the Registrar or GP demonstrates that their experience meets the appropriate standard relevant to the application.

3.3 The assessment of prior learning and experience is to be transparent and fair.

3.4 All RPLE outcomes are determined at the discretion of the relevant Censor.

4. Applying for RPLE

4.1 The Registrar or GP must demonstrate that the training and experience in their RPLE application was in clinical practice.

4.2 The Registrar or GP must provide accurate, current, complete and verifiable information in their application.

1. 1. Where artificial intelligence (AI) tools are used to support the development of the application, this must be declared by the Registrar. Failure to do so will be handled as per the Academic Misconduct Policy.

   2. The RACGP will take reasonable steps to verify the information provided. Submission of plagiarised, false or misleading information will be handled as per the Academic Misconduct Policy.

4.3 RPLE outcomes will remain valid for the duration of the Registrar’s Training Program, the RVTS or the GP’s Rural Generalist Fellowship training, whichever is applicable.

4.4 Once RPLE is approved, it cannot be amended, augmented or revoked.

​5. RPLE for AGPT Registrars

5.1 An AGPT Registrar may apply for RPLE to reduce the duration of their hospital training terms.

1. 1. RPLE cannot be used to reduce the duration of the general practice terms or extended skill training term.

5.2 To be eligible to apply for RPLE, the Registrar must have satisfactorily completed at least 104 weeks Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) of clinical hospital rotations in an accredited Australian or New Zealand Hospital by the start date of their first general practice training term (GPT1).

1. 1. Where some of the Registrar’s hospital experience is not in a clinical setting, they may still be eligible to apply for RPLE at the Censor’s discretion.

5.3 When assessing RPLE applications, the RACGP will only recognise clinical hospital rotations that were:

1. 1. completed in an accredited Australian or New Zealand hospital, 

   2. undertaken in the 10 calendar years prior to the start date of GPT1, and

      1. Applications for hospital rotations undertaken more than five calendar years prior to the start of GPT1 must include additional evidence substantiating that the Registrar has maintained the knowledge and skills acquired during the rotations.

   3. gained after Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY2+) and after the Registrar was granted general registration.

      1. The relevant Censor has the discretion to consider clinical hospital experience gained before general registration was granted, if they deem the Registrar to have extensive and diverse clinical hospital experience.

5.4 The Registrar may apply for RPLE for a minimum of 12 calendar weeks FTE and a maximum of 52 calendar weeks FTE of clinical hospital rotations.

1. 1. The Registrar may only apply for a maximum of 26 calendar weeks FTE of RPLE in any one discipline of medicine.

      1. For emergency medicine, periods over 26 calendar weeks FTE may be approved provided they meet the requirements outlined in the AGPT Registrar Handbook.

5.5 When applying for RPLE, the Registrar must demonstrate that the hospital rotations they want to have recognised: 

1. 1. were in clinical practice,

   2. were relevant to Comprehensive Australian General Practice, 

   3. provided sufficient variety and breadth across components of the RACGP curriculum and syllabus,

   4. included relevant educational activities and formative assessment processes, and

   5. were completed successfully.

5.6 The Registrar must submit a complete RPLE application to the RACGP by the end of GPT1.

5.7 Where the Censor does not approve a full 52 calendar weeks FTE of RPLE, the Registrar can make up the remaining time of the hospital training at any stage during the program.

1. 1. Up to 52 or part thereof calendar weeks FTE can be undertaken in comprehensive general practice to meet the outstanding requirement, at the Censor’s discretion.

5.8 The RACGP will advise the Registrar of the outcome of the RPLE application within eight calendar weeks after the receipt of the complete application, unless the RACGP advises otherwise.

6. RPLE for RVTS Registrars

6.1 An RVTS Registrar may apply for recognition of a maximum of 52 weeks FTE, which may comprise of:

1. 1. a minimum of 12 weeks FTE and a maximum of 52 weeks FTE of Hospital Rotations completed in accredited Australian or New Zealand Hospitals after Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY2+), of which a maximum of 26 calendar weeks FTE can be in any one discipline.

   2. up to 26 weeks FTE of prior general practice experience, or

   3. up to a maximum of 52 weeks FTE of a combination of Hospital Rotations and general practice experience that adheres to the parameters of clauses 6.1.i and 6.1.ii of this policy.

6.2 To be eligible to apply for RPLE for hospital experience, the Registrar must have worked in an Accredited Australian or New Zealand Hospital after the date of their general registration by the Registrar’s Commencement of Training.

1. 1. The RACGP will consider experience gained after the date the Registrar was granted general registration.

   2. The relevant Censor has discretion to consider hospital clinical experience gained before general registration was granted, if the RACGP deems the Registrar to have extensive and diverse clinical experience.

6.3 To be eligible to apply for RPLE for general practice experience, the Registrar must have worked in a general practice accredited against the RACGP Standards for general practice (5th edition), with appropriate supervision.

6.4 In addition to clause 4.1 of this policy, the Registrar must demonstrate that the training and experience in their RPLE application:

1. 1. was relevant to Comprehensive Australian General Practice, and

   2. included relevant educational activities and formative assessment processes.

6.5 Only experience undertaken in the 10 calendar years prior to the Registrar’s Commencement of Training will be assessed.

1. 1. Registrars applying to have experience recognised that was undertaken more than five calendar years prior to the application for RPLE must provide additional evidence to demonstrate that they have maintained the knowledge and skills acquired during the period.

6.6 The Registrar must submit a complete RPLE application to the RACGP by the end of their first six months of the RVTS.

6.7 The RACGP will advise the Registrar of the outcome of the RPLE application within eight calendar weeks after the receipt of the complete application, unless the RACGP advises otherwise.

7. RPLE for FSP Registrars

7.1 An FSP Registrar may be apply for recognition of a maximum of 26 weeks (FTE) to reduce their Program Time.

1. 1. Only time approved as part of the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program, or the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) will be eligible to contribute towards RPLE.

7.2 Time undertaken during an Additional Rural Skills Training (ARST) or Extended Skills Training term is not eligible to contribute to RPLE.

7.3 To be eligible to apply for RPLE for general practice experience, the Registrar must:

1. 1. have worked in a general practice accredited against the RACGP Standards for general practice (5th edition) with accredited supervision.

   2. have previously been enrolled in:

      1. the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program, or

      2. the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS).

   3. have voluntarily withdrawn from the programs listed in 7.3.ii before completion of training.

7.4 The Registrar must demonstrate that previous training time was completed to a satisfactory standard. This must include:

1. 1. a satisfactory supervisor report,

   2. evidence of previous satisfactory completion of a supervised training term in Comprehensive Australian General Practice whilst on the AGPT Program or RVTS, and

   3. evidence of relevant educational activities and formative assessment processes.

7.5 Only experience undertaken in the five calendar years prior to the Registrar’s Commencement of Training will be assessed.

7.6 The Registrar must submit an RPLE application to the RACGP within 12 calendar weeks of the start date of the Registrar’s first term in the FSP.

7.7 The RACGP will advise the Registrar of the outcome of the RPLE application by the end of term, unless the RACGP advises otherwise.

8. RPLE for Rural Generalist Fellowship

8.1 The Registrar or GP training towards Rural Generalist Fellowship may apply for recognition of a maximum of 52 weeks FTE for the ARST component.

1. 1. The Registrar or GP must demonstrate that the training and experience in their RPLE application was relevant to the clinical discipline of the ARST,

   2. that recency of practice has been maintained, and

   3. the relevant training and experience was completed within the last five calendar years.

8.2 The Registrar or GP may also apply for RPLE to contribute towards the achievement of the following Rural Generalist Fellowship requirements with appropriate evidence, without a reduction of Program Time:

1. 1. 52 weeks FTE of rural general practice experience in a Modified Monash Model (MMM) 3–7 location within the last five calendar years,

   2. Core Emergency Medicine Training, including an advanced level emergency course.

      1. The Registrar or GP must have completed the course within the last five calendar years, and

      2. the Registrar or GP must demonstrate that recency of practice has been maintained.

   3. A community project (as a requirement of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health ARST post and, potentially, individualised ARST posts). 

8.3 Registrars or GP’s applying to have experience recognised that was undertaken more than five calendar years prior to the application for RPLE must provide additional evidence to demonstrate that they have maintained the knowledge and skills acquired during the period, including relevant CPD requirements.

8.4 The RACGP will advise the Registrar or GP of the outcome of the RPLE application within eight calendar weeks after the receipt of a complete application, unless the RACGP advises otherwise.

9. RPLE for registrars previously withdrawn from an RACGP program

9.1 Registrars who were voluntarily withdrawn from an RACGP-Approved Program and wish to re-enter an RACGP-Approved Program may apply to have their previous training experience recognised, provided they meet the criteria below:

1. 1. The Registrar satisfactorily completed the training requirements of the RACGP-Approved Program they were withdrawn from,

   2. the Registrar can demonstrate continuity of clinical practice sufficient to maintain recency requirements, and

   3. the first day of training in the RACGP-Approved Program occurs within three calendar years of withdrawal.

9.2 Credit may include previous RPLE approval and completion of the first general practice term as approved by the relevant Censor.

9.3 Approved RPLE will count towards the Registrar’s Program Time cap (as per the Training Programs Requirements Policy).

9.4 Registrars who were involuntarily withdrawn from an RACGP-Approved Program and wish to re-enter an RACGP-Approved Program and apply to have their previous training experience recognised will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

10. RPLE for registrars transferring between General Practice Colleges’ AGPT programs

10.1 Registrars transferring from ACRRM’s AGPT program to RACGP’s AGPT program may apply for RPLE for the training experience undertaken to date.

10.2 Approved RPLE will count towards the Registrar’s Program Time cap.

11. 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.

12. Responsibilities

12.1 Censor	Assessing RPLE applications
12.2 Censor-in-Chief	Approving Minor Amendments Approving Moderate Amendments Approving Consequential Amendments
12.3 RACGP Board	Approving Major Amendments
12.4 RACGP Staff	Assessing and submitting RPLE applications to the relevant Censor
12.5 Registrar or GP	Submitting a complete RPLE application to the RACGP in a timely manner, with correct documentation relevant to their Training Program

13. Glossary

13.1 Accredited Australian or New Zealand Hospital	An Australian hospital accredited by a postgraduate medical council against the Australian Medical Council requirements or A New Zealand hospital accredited by a postgraduate medical council against the Medical Council of New Zealand requirements.
13.2 Additional Rural Skills Training (ARST)	52 calendar weeks (FTE) in an accredited training post that provides the appropriate depth and breadth of experience necessary to meet the requirements of the particular ARST curriculum.
13.3 Commencement of Training	The first day on which the Registrar begins their RACGP-Approved Program.
13.4 Comprehensive Australian General Practice	As defined in the Comprehensive Australian general practice guide.
13.5 Consequential Amendment	An amendment that requires urgent implementation as a necessary result of an amendment to another policy or process.
13.6 Core Emergency Medical Training	A mandatory component (minimum of 6 months) of the Rural Generalist Fellowship that is designed to strengthen general practice training by providing Registrars with the skills and confidence to manage emergency situations in rural and remote environments.
13.7 Extended Skills Training	A 26-calendar week (FTE) term undertaken to extend the depth and breadth of the Registrar’s skill base in an area relevant to general practice.
13.8 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)	The RACGP determines FTE to mean 38 hours per week and includes all practice time, education, and Training Program activities – the composition of which will vary depending upon the Registrar’s stage of training.
13.9 General Practice Training (GPT)	A 26-week period of core vocational training, referred to as GPT1, GPT2, etc.
13.10 Hospital Rotations	The time medical practitioners spend working in different medical disciplines within the jurisdiction of an accredited Australian or New Zealand hospital.
13.11 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).
13.12 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.
13.13 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).
13.14 Modified Monash Model (MMM)	The Modified Monash Model is a classification system that categorises metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas according to both geographical remoteness and town size.  The MM classification for any given area can be found by using the locator tool on the Health Workforce Locator.
13.15 Program Time	The length of time required to complete an RACGP-Approved Program.
13.16 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), or 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).
13.17 Registrar	A medical practitioner enrolled in the: Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program, Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS), or Fellowship Support Program (FSP).
13.18 Rural Generalist Fellowship	Admittance to RACGP Rural Generalist Fellowship
13.19 Training Program	Either the: Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program, or Fellowship Support Program (FSP).

12. Related documents

• Academic Misconduct Policy
• AGPT Eligibility and Application Guide
• AGPT Program Guide
• AGPT Registrar Training Handbook
• Dispute, Reconsideration and Appeals Policy
• FSP Application Handbook
• FSP Registrar Handbook
• RACGP Standards for general practice (5th edition)
• Training Transfer Policy

13. 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.