Education and training component

Page last updated 23 September 2024

Program Length

 

The education component of the FSP is two years (four terms). The post-education component of the FSP is up to three years (36 months), during which you should commence sitting exams as soon as you have met all exam eligibility criteria.

 

Reduce:

Registrars from the cohort 2024.2 (commencing July 2024), and onwards, will generally not be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience (RPLE), which would reduce the program time, unless they have previously voluntarily withdrawn from Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) or the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS). If you have previously voluntarily withdrawn from these programs, you will need to discuss your individual circumstances with a member of the team.

If you commenced the FSP in July 2023 or January 2024 you may still be eligible for RPLE. Please refer to the FSP Registrar handbook for more information.

 

Extend:

There are extension options available, please refer to the FSP Registrar handbook for more information.

 

Assessments

 

Mandatory

  • Cultural awareness module
  • Early assessment of safety and learning (EASL)
  • Evidence-based medicine (EBM)
  • In-practice teaching
  • Multi-source feedback (MSF)
  • Practice diversity
  • Progress meetings with medical educator
  • Registrars Clinical Encounters in Training (ReCEnT)
  • Significant Event Analysis
  • Small group learning
  • Workplace-based assessments (WBA)

Optional

  • Self-assessment progress testing (SAPT)
You can refer to the FSP Registrar handbook for more information.


An early assessment for safety and learning (EASL) ensures that the supervision registrars receive is matched to their learning needs.

The EASL pack should be completed by the registrar and supervisor together. It contains key documentation and guidelines on orientation, call-for-help lists, a supervision plan and teaching plan, multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQs), clinical case analyses, and direct observations.


Workplace-based assessments (WBA) are evaluations conducted in your workplace by supervisors and medical educators, to assess actual performance in a general practice setting. The WBA forms a key part of your ongoing assessment, which offers insights on your progress throughout training.

During the FSP, you will be expected to complete the following: 

  • Mini clinical evaluation exercises (mini-CEX)/direct observations 
  • Clinical case analysis (CCA) 
  • Multi-source feedback (MSF) 
  • Clinical audit 
  • Reflective exercise

We’ll email you a personal booking link for each round of WBAs during your term, so please check your emails regularly.


Towards the end of general practice training term one (GPT1), you’ll be contacted to complete the Registrars’ Clinical Encounters in Training (ReCEnT) forms.

ReCEnT provides you the opportunity to reflect on the demographics of your patients, the problems they have, and the actions you take to help them. This process encourages you to consider your experiences and clarify your learning needs as you prepare for Fellowship assessments.

Read more about the ReCEnT and how to complete it here.


Multi-source feedback (MSF) provides you with feedback from both patients and colleagues. It asks you to self-evaluate your skills, particularly in the areas of communication and professionalism. 

Your MSF pack will be posted to your primary practice address in general practice training term two (GPT2) of your program. Further information will also be shared via email. 

You can read more about the MSF here.


Self-assessment progress testing (SAPT) is an optional activity for registrars to identify their learning needs and assess their progress in knowledge and clinical reasoning. It’s also designed to assist you in preparing for written examinations, and contains tips and resources to help prepare for the applied knowledge test (AKT) and key feature problem (KFP).

You can choose to do the SAPT under exam conditions (80 minutes for AKT and 80 minutes for KFP) or non-exam conditions (untimed, self-timed, open or closed book). There are four SAPTs released each year, two per training term. Each SAPT edition will contain brand new questions.

Please find further information about the SAPTs here, including instructions on how to access and complete the activity.

Note: your medical educator has access to these SAPTs, and they will be able to assist you further from an educational perspective. If you have further questions on the content, please feel free to raise this with them during your meetings. 

 

Other


Continuing professional development (CPD) during the educational component of the FSP is covered by the education program. This means that while you are in the educational component of the FSP and progressing adequately, your CPD requirement to comply with the Medical Board of Australia’s CPD requirements is covered.

When you are in the post-education phase of FSP you’ll need to comply with the CPD registration standards from the Medical Board of Australia. There are optional comprehensive learning modules available as part of the FSP.

If you work as a doctor outside the training program while on approved leave from training, you become personally responsible for meeting your annual MBA CPD requirements. Read more about this in the CPD Guide for GPs in Training.


While undertaking training on the FSP, you’ll meet regularly with your medical educator to discuss your progress. These reviews are informed by the WBA activities, education engagement and supervisor feedback.

Your supervisor will also submit progress reports at the end of each six-month term.


If you need additional support during the FSP, your medical educator will work with you and your supervisor to develop a focused learning intervention plan to address your learning needs. There may be additional costs outside of your program fees for this additional support, which you will be expected to cover. Fees for remediation will vary depending on the activity recommended and their duration.  

If you are still not meeting program expectations after a focused learning intervention, you can either enter a remediation term (extending your program time) or withdraw from the program.


In each six-month training term, you can take the following leave without advising your program team (but you will need to advise and/or negotiate with your training site): 
  • two weeks of annual leave
  • one week of sick or carers leave.

If you want to take more leave than this, or other types of leave, you should submit a change in circumstance form via the FSP portal for approval before taking leave.

Discuss your plans for leave with your program officer and medical educator as early as possible. There may be implications for your training plan, Fellowship exams, and completion of training.

If your leave extends beyond a reasonable timeframe (for the particular category of leave), the training programs team may consider withdrawing you from the training program as per the withdrawal policy.

We'd also like you to be aware that if you work as a doctor outside the training program while on approved leave from training, you become personally responsible for meeting your annual MBA CPD requirements. A CPD exemption or variation may be available, please complete the RACGP CPD declaration, exemption or variation application form. Read more about this in the CPD guide for GPs in Training.

You can find more information about leave in the FSP Registrar Handbook.


From application, until three months after commencement of training, there is a freeze period in which you cannot apply to change training sites. Requests will only be accepted when there is extenuating or unforeseen circumstances.

After this time, the RACGP will process requests for changes in all circumstances per the existing timelines. Your new training site will need to comply with supervision, accreditation, provider number, and comprehensive general practice guidelines.

You can apply to change or add an additional training site via the change in circumstance form on your FSP Portal homepage.


No, participants will not be able to sit the RACGP Fellowship exams while in the education component of the FSP.

However, as you’re approaching the end of your final general practice training term you may be eligible to enrol in an upcoming exam.

You will sit your exams during the post-educational phase of the FSP. 

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