Requirements for Fellowship Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline the principles and requirements for admission to Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) or the RACGP Rural Generalist Fellowship (FRACGP-RG).

2. Scope

2.1 This policy applies to:

1. 1. Registrars enrolled in the:

      1. Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program

      2. Fellowship Support Program (FSP)

      3. Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS)

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

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

1. 1. Training Program Requirements Policy

   2. Registrar Support and Educational Interventions Policy

   3. Rural Generalist Fellowship Training Handbook

   4. relevant training program registrar handbook

      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 The principles for admission to FRACGP or FRACGP-RG 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.

4. Requirements for Fellowship

4.1 Training Program Requirements:

1. 1. AGPT and FSP Registrars must meet all the Training Program Requirements of their Training Program per the Training Program Requirements Policy and the relevant registrar handbook current at the time of accepting the offer of a training position.

   2. RVTS Registrars must meet all the Training Program Requirements of their Training Program per the RVTS Program Handbook and relevant RVTS policies.

   3. GPs training towards the Rural Generalist Fellowship must meet the requirements in the Rural Generalist Fellowship Training Handbook, in the Core Emergency Medicine Training curriculum and the relevant ARST curriculum.

4.2 Assessment requirements

1. 1. Registrars and GPs must pass the Fellowship Exams per the Fellowship Exams Policy.

4.3 Professional and ethical requirements

1. 1. The RACGP reserves the right to withhold admission to Fellowship if the RACGP reasonably considers the Registrar or GP:

      1. engaged in conduct that may attract sanctions per clause 27 of the RACGP Constitution,

      2. is unsuitable to be admitted to Fellowship of the RACGP in accordance with the Fellowship Policy,

      3. is under investigation by Ahpra, or

      4. has Addenda on their current Australian Medical Registration that prevent them from undertaking unsupervised Comprehensive Australian General Practice or limit their scope of practice per the Implications of restrictions, conditions and other addenda on medical registration guide.

4.4 Administrative requirements

1. 1. Registrars and GPs must hold current Australian Medical Registration at all times while on the Training Program 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 Registrar/GP 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, or

         3. forms part of an ongoing investigation

      3. other Notifiable Conduct.

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

   2. Registrars and GPs must be RACGP Financial Members from the Commencement of Training and until they have either:

      1. attained Fellowship

      2. exhausted their Fellowship Exam Candidacy, or

      3. exhausted their 12-year Maximum Program Time Cap.

   3. Registrars and GPs must apply for Fellowship

      1. within one year of completing all Training Program Requirements, and

         1. this must be within three years of successfully completing all Fellowship Exams.

   4. AGPT Registrars on temporary visas must have Australian permanent residency or citizenship before applying for Fellowship.

      1. This requirement does not apply to New Zealand citizens.

5. Admission to Fellowship

5.1 The decision to admit the Registrar or GP to Fellowship is held by the Censor-in-Chief (CiC) under delegation from the RACGP Board.

6. Disputes, reconsiderations and appeals

6.1 Registrars and GPs who believe the RACGP has made an incorrect decision in relation to Fellowship requirements can apply for reconsideration per the Dispute, Reconsideration and Appeals Policy.

7. 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.

7.1 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.
7.2 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.
7.3 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.
7.4 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.
7.5 Editorial amendment	An amendment made solely to correct typographical, grammatical, or formatting errors, without altering the policy’s scope, intent, or application.

8. Responsibilities

8.1 Censor-in-Chief	Ratifying the admission to Fellowship under delegation from the RACGP Board Approving minor amendments Approving moderate amendments Approving consequential amendments
8.2 RACGP Board	Admitting registrars who have met all requirements for Fellowship Approving major amendments
8.3 Registrars and GPs	Ensuring they meet the requirements of this policy to apply for Fellowship Promptly disclosing any addenda to their medical registration

9. Glossary

9.1 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 registrar’s medical registration. Refer to Ahpra.gov.au for more information.
9.2 Australian Medical Registration	Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), which allows the registrant to practise medicine. Refer to Ahpra.gov.au.
9.3 Candidacy	The three-year period, separate to training program time, during which a registrar can attempt Fellowship exams. Refer to the Fellowship Exams Policy.
9.4 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.
9.5 Commencement of Training	The first day on which the registrar begins their RACGP-approved program.
9.6 Core Emergency Medicine Training (core EMT)	A mandatory component (minimum of 6 months) of the Rural Generalist Fellowship that is designed to strengthen rural general practice training by providing registrars with the skills and confidence to manage emergency situations in rural and remote environments.
9.7 Fellowship	Admittance to either: Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP), or FRACGP and Rural Generalist Fellowship (FRACGP-RG).
9.8 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).
9.9 Maximum Program Time Cap	The longest permitted timeframe (12 years) for a registrar to achieve Fellowship (FRACGP), starting from the commencement of training on the first approved program/pathway (AGPT, FSP, PEP SP, PEP ST, RVTS or ACRRM). Refer to the Registrar Support and Educational Interventions Policy.
9.10 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.
9.11 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.
9.12 Registrar	A medical practitioner enrolled in the: Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program, Fellowship Support Program (FSP), or Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS).
9.13 Training Program	Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program, Fellowship Support Program (FSP), or Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS).
9.14 Training Program Requirements	The education, training and/or experience requirements to complete the training program per the Training Program Requirements Policy and/or the relevant handbook.

10. Related documents, legislation and policies

• Academic Misconduct Policy

• AGPT Registrar Training Handbook

• Dispute, Reconsideration and Appeals Policy

• Fellowship Exams Policy

• Fellowship Policy

• FSP Registrar Handbook

• Implications of restrictions, conditions and other addenda on medical registration guide

• RACGP Constitution

• RACGP curriculum and syllabus for Australian general practice

• Registrar Support and Educational Interventions Policy

• Rural Generalist Fellowship Training Handbook

• RVTS Program Handbook

• Progressive capability profile of the general practitioner

• Training Program Requirements Policy

11. 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.