Rural generalist training on the Australian General Practice Training Program

The RACGP > Faculties > RACGP Rural > Become a Rural Generalist with the RACGP > Rural generalist training on the Australian General Practice Training Program

Last updated 9 January 2025

During your Rural Generalist training, you’ll be supported by a dedicated team committed to understanding which skills you want to pursue and locations you’re passionate about supporting.

Becoming a Rural Generalist on the Australian General Practice Training Program

Training is four years full-time equivalent, during which you’ll train towards acquiring Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP) and the Rural Generalist Fellowship (FRACGP-RG).

You’ll undertake your training in a combination of hospital and community general practice settings.

Training requirements

To become a fellow of the RACGP (FRACGP), you’ll need to complete:

12 months of hospital training
18 months of community general practice training
6 months of extended skills training

To achieve Rural Generalist fellowship (FRACGP-RG), you’ll also need to undertake:

12 months additional rural skills training (ARST)
6 months of core emergency medicine training (CORE EMT), generally completed as your extended skills term
A minimum 12 months of your 18 months community general practice training in a rural MMM3-7 location.

Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience (RPLE) may be available for hospital-based training (up to a maximum 24 months).

With the RACGP, you can:

✔ pursue the Rural Generalist Fellowship on either the rural or general pathway
✔ train part-time
✔ design your training to suit you
✔ have choice around training locations
✔ apply for region and pathway priority preferencing on entry into the program
✔ opt out of Rural Generalist training anytime if your training plans change.

Supports and subsidies

During training, you’ll be supported by a dedicated training coordinator, medical educator, rural programs team and supervisors.

You can also access a range of financial subsidies such as:

RACGP registrar payments ranging from $1,800 to $9,250 every 6 months you’re training in community general practice in a rural MMM2-7 location
RACGP registrar reimbursements for expenses from $5000 to $45,000 for every six months spent in community general practice training in an RACGP identified priority area of workforce need
reimbursements of up to $6,000 to assist with the cost of education and training to meet additional rural skills training requirements
HELP debt reduction for doctors who work in an MMM3-5 location for the full length of their degree, or work in an MMM6-7 location for half of the length of their degree
Workforce Incentive Program payments for registrars who provide a minimum amount of eligible primary care services in MMM3 to 7 locations.

Find out more

How can you apply?

You can enrol in the Rural Generalist fellowship anytime during your GP journey:

on entry in your application onto the Australian General Practice Training Program
during your training as a GP registrar
after you have become a GP Fellow.

Fees:

There are no additional application fees for Australian General Practice Training Program applicants or GP registrars to apply for the Rural Generalist Fellowship.

There will however be a fee associated with the Additional Rural Skills Training (ARST) prior to the term commencement. This fee will vary according to your chosen discipline.

Apply now

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