Recognition of prior learning and experience

Recognition of prior learning and experience (RPLE) is the recognition of any relevant experience and training you have that may meet some of the education and training requirements of the Rural Generalist Fellowship and reduce your total program time.

You may apply for RPLE for any or all of the training components of the Rural Generalist Fellowship outlined in the table below. For more information about training requirements, refer to the Guidelines for the RACGP Rural Generalist Fellowship.

Rural Generalist Fellowship training terms and time requirements

Training term

Full-time equivalent (FTE)

Hospital training
(completed after PGY1/intern year)

52 weeks

Rural general practice experience (MMM 3–7 location)*

52 weeks

Additional rural skills training (ARST)

52 weeks

Core emergency medicine training (core EMT)

26 weeks

Extended skills training (optional)

26 weeks

Community project (optional for all except those completing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health ARST)

26 weeks

*Applying for RPLE of your rural general practice experience does not reduce your overall program time if you are on the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program or Fellowship Support Program (FSP).

What do I need to include in my application?

You’ll need to submit sufficient evidence to demonstrate that you meet all the requirements and/or learning outcomes of the term for which you’re applying for RPLE.

The table below outlines the criteria that will be assessed for each training term, as well as examples of evidence you may submit to support your application. Please note that other types of evidence may also be applicable. The evidence you provide should show that:

  • you have satisfactorily participated in educational activities
  • you have satisfactorily participated in formative assessment
  • your assessment results have been satisfactory.

For more information on applying for RPLE as a Registrar, refer to the AGPT Registrar Training Handbook.

RPLE assessment criteria and evidence requirement examples

Training term

RPLE Assessment criteria

Examples of evidence

Hospital training (12 months FTE)
  • In the past 10 years, completion of either:
    • a minimum of 12 months of hospital rotations since the date of general registration, OR
    • a minimum of two years in total in Australian or New Zealand accredited hospitals.
  • Exposure to disciplines relevant to general practice.
  • Show variety and breadth across components of the RACGP Curriculum and syllabus.

 
  • Current CV (we recommend using the RACGP CV template to ensure all relevant information is included)
  • Statements of service
  • Term assessments
  • Details of how supervision was provided
  • Supervision reports
  • Admittance to FRACGP (for existing Fellows)

Rural general practice experience in an MMM 3–7 location (12 months FTE)
  • Completion of 12 months of general practice experience in an RACGP-accredited general practice training site in an MMM 3–7 location under the guidance of an RACGP-accredited supervisor within the last five years (in either one continuous block or two six-month terms).
  • Exposure to a diverse range of patient populations and presentations (age, gender, socioeconomic status, cultural and linguistic background).
  • Exposure to at least two different general practice supervisors and two different general practice management systems.
  • Rural-specific general practice experience, including the opportunity to work with GPs providing one of the following:
    • emergency/trauma services at the local hospital or similar healthcare facility
    • other procedural and/or non-procedural services at the local hospital or similar healthcare facility
    • after-hours services according to community needs
    • primary healthcare service with limited local access to specialists, including hospitals with salaried medical specialists and inpatient–outpatient allied health services
  • Current CV (we recommend using the RACGP CV template to ensure all relevant information is included)
  • Statements of service
  • Letters of employment
  • Letters of support or references from supervisors and/or colleagues

Additional rural skills training (12 months FTE)
  • The outcomes of the particular ARST curriculum have been met.
  • A minimum of 12 months (FTE) training in an accredited post to develop additional skills. (Refer to the ARST curriculum for details of specific training requirements.)
  • All training requirements, learning outcomes and logbook requirements of  the chosen ARST curriculum have been met.

 

 
  • Current CV (we recommend using the RACGP CV template to ensure all relevant information is included):
  • Statement of service
  • Letters of employment
  • Support letters or references from supervisors and/or colleagues
  • Letter outlining how you meet the outcomes of each of the domains of the relevant curriculum
  • Logbooks
  • Assessments (eg direct observation of procedural skills [DOPs], case-based discussion reports, mini–CEXs, supervisor reports)
  • Case studies
  • Reflective journal
  • Written reflections
  • Completion of relevant external qualifications for specific ARSTs (eg Diploma of Rural Generalist Anaesthesia, DRANZCOG Advanced, ACEM EMAD)

Core emergency medicine training (6 months FTE)

 

 
  • Current CV (we recommend using the RACGP CV template to ensure all relevant information is included)
  • Statement of service
  • Letter of employment
  • Letters of support or references from supervisors and/or colleagues
  • Credentialling to work unsupervised in a rural emergency department
  • Evidence of participation in an on-call emergency roster
  • Logbooks
  • Assessments (eg DOPs, mini–CEXs, supervisor reports)
  • Written reflections
  • Evidence of current CPD in emergency medicine
  • ACEM emergency certificate or diploma

 

Frequently asked questions


We encourage you to read the detailed information about the Rural Generalist Fellowship training requirements and take the time to map each component of the curricula to your own skills, experiences, and the evidence that you will be able to provide, to help you determine which training terms you intend on seeking RPLE for.

The process of applying for RPLE varies slightly between Registrars and Fellowed GPs wanting to complete the Rural Generalist Fellowship.

For Registrars
If you’re on the AGPT program, your program team will be able to help with your RPLE application.

Otherwise, you can find out what evidence you need to give us to support your RPLE application by reading the above information as well as What do I need to include in my application? Once you have all the evidence, submit your application by completing the application form and uploading your evidence. We’ll assess your application and ask for extra documentation if needed. Depending on how well your experience and evidence covers the requirements of the Rural Generalist Fellowship, you may receive RPLE in full or in part. If you receive partial RPLE or your application is not successful, the RACGP Rural Censor will give you advice about how you can best meet the requirements of the training program.

For Fellowed GPs
After enrolment and payment of invoice, you will be granted access to the RG portal. You will need to gather all of your evidence to support your RPLE application and upload it to this portal. We’ll assess your application and ask for extra documentation if needed. Depending on how well your experience and evidence covers the requirements of the Rural Generalist Fellowship, you may receive RPLE in full or in part. If you receive partial RPLE or your application is not successful, the RACGP Rural Censor will give you advice about how you can best meet the requirements of the training program.  If at this point you decide that you no longer wish to continue with the RG fellowship, you will receive a refund of $455.
 


We recognise the skills and experiences you’ve gained through obtaining your FARGP qualification. The critical difference between FARGP and the Rural Generalist Fellowship is the requirement for six months of core emergency medicine training (core EMT). As a FARGP graduate, you can apply for Rural Generalist Fellowship by submitting evidence of prior emergency medicine learning and experience, such as:

  • current rural hospital credentialling to provide emergency services
  • previous rural hospital credentialling to provide emergency services (within ten years)
  • admittance to Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM)
  • completion of an emergency qualification such as the ACEM Emergency Medicine certificate combined with experience providing emergency services in a rural area.

GPs who have never been credentialled to provide emergency services in a rural hospital will need to show evidence of having completed training or gained experience equivalent to core EMT.
You have until 30 June 2023 to apply to obtain the Rural Generalist Fellowship via RPLE.

What fees are involved?
The fee for FARGP graduates is $675 (GST free)

How can I apply?
Please submit an enrolment application.


We recognise the skills and experiences you’ve gained through your rural practice. To apply for RPLE, you’ll need to provide evidence that you’ve met the training requirements of the Rural Generalist Fellowship. As a Fellow, you’ve already demonstrated completion of 12 months full-time equivalent (FTE) hospital terms and 18 months (FTE) community-based general practice terms. However, you’ll need to provide evidence that you’ve met the following requirements:

  • A minimum of 12 months (FTE) general practice experience in a rural location (Modified Monash Model [MMM] 3–7) within the last four years, including rural-specific general practice experience of one or more of the following:
    • providing emergency/trauma services at the local hospital or similar healthcare facility
    • providing other procedural and/or non-procedural services at the local hospital or similar healthcare facility
    • limited local access to specialists, including hospitals with salaried medical specialists and inpatient–outpatient allied health services
    • providing after-hours services based on community needs.
  • Completion of training equivalent to the curriculum of your chosen additional rural skills training (ARST).
  • Completion of training or experience equivalent to the Core emergency medicine training curriculum.

What fees are involved?
A $950 (GST free) registration fee applies to all practising GPs (who don’t hold FARGP) who enrol in the Rural Generalist Fellowship. If you apply for RPLE as credit for the ARST training term, the ARST assessment fee won’t apply to you. However, if you’ll be undertaking the training component of ARST, there is a fee of $2,800 (GST free) to cover the cost of assessments. The ARST assessment fee only applies to the six ARST curricula managed by the RACGP. The fees for anaesthetics, obstetrics and emergency medicine are administered by the relevant medical colleges (ANZCA, RANZCOG or ACEM).

How can I apply?
Please submit an enrolment application.


We recognise that GPs in training may have relevant experience that may meet some of the requirements of the Rural Generalist Fellowship and you may apply for RPLE for any components of the Rural Generalist Fellowship that your prior learning and experience fulfils. Refer to What do I need to include in my application? to find out the criteria that will be assessed for each component and the types of evidence you’ll need to submit as part of your RPLE application.

What fees are involved?
New AGPT applicants and current AGPT registrars: there is no registration fee. If you apply for RPLE for the ARST component, the ARST assessment fee will not apply. However, if you’ll be undertaking the training component of ARST, there is a fee of $2,800 (GST free) to cover the cost of assessments. The ARST assessment fee only applies to the six ARST curricula managed by the RACGP. The fees for anaesthetics, obstetrics and emergency medicine are administered by the relevant medical colleges (ANZCA, RANZCOG or ACEM).

RVTS and FSP registrars: a $950 (GST free) registration fee applies. If you apply for RPLE for the ARST component, the ARST assessment fee won’t apply. However, if you’ll be undertaking the training component of ARST, there is a fee of $2,800 (GST free) to cover the cost of assessments. The ARST assessment fee only applies to the six ARST curricula managed by the RACGP. The fees for anaesthetics, obstetrics and emergency medicine are administered by the relevant medical colleges (ANZCA, RANZCOG or ACEM).

How can I apply?
Please submit an enrolment application here.

 

 

Enquiries

For further details please contact the Rural team on:
1800 636 764
rg@racgp.org.au

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