Training Programs
Australia offers a wide range of training programmes for medical professionals, from internships and general practice pathways to specialist and advanced skills training. Read below about specific training programs available to national and international medical graduates.
ACRRM Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP)
Helps IMGs and non-vocationally recognised doctors gain valuable general practice experience and access Medicare. ACRRM’s PFP is tailored to rural and remote practice, to support doctors in their preparation to apply for ACRRM Fellowship program.
Details
Requirements:
ACRRM membership
Successfully complete the Rural Generalist Foundation courses (self-funded)
Complete courses and download and store certificate of completion
Submit certificates to Rural Workforce Agency
OR
Successfully complete the RG Foundation Skills and Cultural Safety online courses (self-funded)
Complete courses and download and store certificate of completion
Submit certificates to Rural Workforce Agency
ACRRM Rural Generalist Training Scheme (RGTS)
ACRRM RGTS is a structured vocational training pathway scheme to support doctors to achieve Fellowship of ACRRM (FACRRM)-RG while developing broad clinical capabilities required to meet the healthcare needs of rural communities. A key distinguishing feature of the program is the inclusion of Advanced Skills Training (AST) in a discipline relevant to community need.
Details
RGTS provides training in comprehensive general practice, rural and remote medicine, emergency medicine, hospital-based care, population and community health and one or more advanced specialist skills. Training occurs primarily in regional, rural and remote locations, allowing registrars to gain experience managing a wide range of clinical presentations that are often not seen in metropolitan training setting
Requirements:
Eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Citizenship or residency status
Australian Medical Council (AMC) recognised medical qualification
At least PGY2+ clinical experience (including hospital rotations)
Acceptance into an approved Rural Generalist or ACRRM training pathway
Commit to undertaking training in rural and remote communities
Demonstrate an intention to work in rural or remote Australia
ACRRM Specialist Pathway
The ACRRM Specialist Pathway is an assessment pathway with a focus on rural and remote practice. It provides IMGs, with a recognised overseas general practice qualification, the opportunity to gain Fellowship with ACRRM and recognition and registration in the specialty of general practice while living and working in Australia.
Details
Requirements:
Qualifications eligible to be assessed by ACRRM under the College’s Specialist Pathway
Criteria for eligible qualifications
Min. 3 years providing clinical care away from ready access to specialist medical, diagnostic and allied health services, since achieving specialist qualification
Comparability assessment against the competencies in the eight domains of rural and remote practice as described in the Rural Generalist Curriculumervised specialist pathway
Australian General Practice Training (AGPT)
Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) is a Commonwealth Government funding program which support RACGP Fellowship and ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship training and educational requirements. Applicants not eligible for Commonwealth funding have the option to self-fund through the ACRRM Independent Pathway (IP) and RACGP Fellowship Support Program (FSP).
Details
ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship Program is an AGPT pathway to becoming a rural generalist with specific expertise in providing medical care for rural and remote or isolated communities. Rural Generalists understand and respond to the diverse needs of rural communities including applying a population health approach, providing safe primary, secondary and emergency care, culturally safe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s health care and providing specialist medical care in one or more of the Advanced Specialised Training (AST) disciplines offered by ACRRM.
Requirements:
Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen or Australian Permanent resident
Hold current Australian or New Zealand medical registration
General registration with AHPRA
Modified Monash Model (MMM) 2-7 location accredited training site
Postgraduate year (PGY) 2 + experience
RACGP AGPT is the most common training pathway for doctors seeking to specialize as general practitioner (GP) in Australia and is an Australian Government-funded program, with an optional additional Rural Generalist training year.
Requirements:
Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident or hold 309, 482, 485, 491, 494 or 820 visa
Have current Australian or New Zealand medical registration
Hold general registration (AHPRA)
Postgraduate year (PGY) 2 + experience
Advanced Skills Training (AST) for Rural Generalist (RG) and Advanced Rural Skills Training (ARST) for General Practitioners (GPs)
Advanced Skills Training is an additional period, typically 12 months equivalent full-time of specialist-focused training undertaken by Rural Generalist and GP Registrars to develop advanced clinical expertise and specialist-level skills that are needed by rural, regional and remote communities. It is a core requirement of Rural Generalist training pathways and is known by different names depending on the college:
- ACRRM: Advanced Skills Training (AST)
- RACGP: Advanced Rural Skills Training (ARST)
Details
Eligibility:
Enrolled on a recognised Rural Generalist or GP training pathway
AGPT, ACRRM Rural Generalist Training Scheme, ACRRM IP, RACGP Rural Generalist pathway, RVTS
Actively progressing towards Fellowship with ACRRM or RACGP
AST can be undertaken in numerous disciplines including:
Procedural Skills – Anaesthetics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Surgery and Emergency Medicine
Non-Procedural Skills – Mental Health, Paediatrics/Child Health, Palliative Care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Adult Internal Medicine
Available In:
RACGP Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP)
The RACGP Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP) is a structured RACGP pathway supporting non-VR doctors to gain valuable general practice experience in a Distribution Priority Area (DPA) – area of workforce shortage – prior to joining a College-led general practitioner (GP) training pathway. Doctors must remain eligible for the program to gain access to Medicare billings.
Details
Requirements:
General, provisional or limited registration (AHPRA)
Hold current registration with the Medical Board of Australia
Have an offer of employment within a Distribution Priority Area, Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) or Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Service (ACCO)
Compliance with Medicare provider number legislation (Section 19AB/19AA where applicable)
Appropriate visa/work rights and ability to remain in a DPA location
Have the necessary skills and experience to perform the role
Be in Postgraduate Year (PGY) 3 or above
Provide evidence of appropriate support in place to meet supervision requirements, if applicable
Undertake GP professional development activities, including compulsory modules
Review readiness for fellowship training, in conjunction with their medical advisor every 3 months
Take active steps to join a college-led GP training pathway within a defined period
A doctor is not eligible to join PFP if they:
Have previously been on a 3GA program
are in PGY 1-2
are vocationally registered
Enrolled in a college-led GP training program
RACGP Practice Experience Program Specialist (PEP SP)
The PEP SP is for Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) who hold a recognised overseas general practice specialist qualification and wish to apply for specialist recognition in Australia and be awarded Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP) via the Medical Board of Australia’s (MBA) Specialist Pathway – specialist recognition.
Details
Requirements:
RACGP will assess comparability to an Australian trained specialist GP at the point of admission to Fellowship. The outcome of the comparability assessment determines eligibility for entry into PEP SP, and if so, which stream: the Substantially Comparable (SC) stream or the Partially Comparable (PC) stream. Each stream has specific requirements that need to be fulfilled before applying for FRACGP and registration as a specialist GP in Australia. The program is general a minimum of six month in comprehensive Australian general practice, working under supervision and completing targeted education activities for successful transition to the Australian general practice system.
Comparability Assessment with RACGP including CV assessment, EPIC and PEP SP application
Outcome as Substantially or Partially Comparable by RACGP
Job Offer assessment
Right to work assessment
Pay program fees, provide evidence of Basic Life Support certification, RACGP membermervised specialist pathway
RACGP Rural Generalist Pathway
RACGP Rural Generalist Pathway is a vocational training program that enables doctors to become General Practitioners with additional skills to provide comprehensive healthcare in rural and remote communities. The pathway combines traditional general practice training with hospital-based practice, emergency medicine, and Advanced Rural Skills Training (ARST) in a discipline that meets community needs.
Details
The pathway leads to FRACGP (Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and recognition as a Rural Generalist (RG) through completion of the Rural Generalist Fellowship requirements. This equips participants to work across multiple healthcare settings including general practice clinics, hospitals, emergency departments and specialist services relevant to their advanced skills.
Requirements:
General registration with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Citizenship or residency status
Australian Medical Council (AMC) recognised medical qualification
At least PGY2+ clinical experience (including hospital rotations)
Enrolment in an Approved Training Program (AGPT, RACGP Rural Generalist Pathway, other approved RACGP training arrangement)
Commit to undertaking training in regional, rural or remote settings
Demonstrate an intention to work in rural or remote Australia
Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS)
The Remote Vocational Training Scheme is a vocational training program for medical practitioners in remote and isolated communities throughout rural and regional Australia. The purpose of the program is to train doctors in remote communities for remote communities. The training provided meets the requirements for Fellowship of both ACRRM and RACGP.
Details
The four-year Targeted Recruitment Stream delivers structured education and supervision to doctors while they continue to provide general medical services in rural, remote and First Nations communities with high medical workforce need. Funded by the Department of Health, RVTS partners with communities to incorporate the RVTS Training Program, delivered via distance education and remote supervision, into a Rural Generalist (RG) or General Practice (GP) recruitment package. The program ensures communities benefit from greater continuity of primary care in isolated areas, doctors are retained in one location while training towards RACGP, RACGP-RG and ACRRM Fellowship and health services have access to stable medical workforce.
Requirements:
General Registration with AHPRA (obtained prior to commencement)
Australian citizen, permanent resident or temporary resident
Candidates whose eligibility for exam candidacy with RACGP/ACRRM has expired, are ineligible to apply
Applicants enrolled in another vocational training program (AGPT, RACGP FSP or ACRRM IP) must upload a statutory declaration of their intent to resign, upon a successful RVTS training position
Specialist International Medical Graduates
Specialist International Medical Graduates are internationally trained specialist doctors (SIMGs) who have not yet obtained fully Australian specialist recognition with the relevant specialist college and are being formally supervised by Australian specialist peers and assessed through a “peer review” process against Australian standards on clinical performance, professionalism, communication and systems knowledge. The consultant must progress through peer review reports, workplace assessments, performance reviews and sometimes additional exams or additional training before eventually gaining Fellowship or Specialist
Details
Requirements:
Eligible International Specialist Qualifications
Assessed by relevant specialist college as substantially comparable or partially comparable
Hospital employment in an approved supervised position
5+ years post-specialist clinical experience
Consultant-level practice with broad generalist work, on-call responsibilities & independent clinical decision-making
General registration, Specialist registration with conditions/restrictions or Limited registration for Area of Need (AoN) (AHPRA)/supervised specialist pathway
* Some pathways will differ depending on your situation or country of origin. Learn more in our IMG Resources
Skills Consolidation for Rural Generalist (RG) and General Practitioners (GPs)
Skills Consolidation Programs provide supervised clinical placements following Advanced Skills Training (AST) to enable the consolidation of newly acquired advanced skills in real-world rural practice, transition safely to independent practice, maintain and strengthen procedural competencies, address workforce shortages and community health needs in rural areas and support succession planning and retention of rural doctors.
Details
Eligibility:
Rural Generalist registrar
GP registrar on recognised training pathway
- AGPT, RVTS, ACRRM IP or Rural Generalist Training Scheme, RACGP Rural Generalist Pathway
Have completed or near completion of Advanced Skills Training
- ACRRM Advanced Specialist Training (AST)
- RACGP Advanced Rural Skills Training (ARST)
- Other recognised Rural Generalist procedural training program
Be training or working in Modified Monash Model (MMM) 2-7 location
Have appropriate supervision
Advanced Skills Areas include:
Procedural Skills – Anaesthetics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Surgery and Emergency Medicine
Non-Procedural Skills – Mental Health, Paediatrics/Child Health, Palliative Care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Adult Internal Medicine
* Some pathways will differ depending on your situation or country of origin. Learn more in our IMG Resources
Victorian Rural Generalist Program (VRGP)
Victorian Rural Generalist Program (VRGP) is a structured training program that develops doctors to provide broad, skilled medical care across rural hospital and community settings. It combines general practice training with advanced rural skills (e.g. emergency, obstetrics, anesthetics) to support sustainable rural healthcare.
Year 1
Victorian Rural Generalist Program (VRGP) Intern Year 1 is a structured internship that provides foundational hospital training while introducing exposure to rural and regional healthcare practice. It includes core clinical rotations with a rural focus, building the skills and experience needed to progress into the rural generalist training pathway.
Requirements:
Must show commitment to rural practice to progress into the rural generalist training pathway
Must show commitment to rural practice to progress into the rural generalist training pathway
Internship position in Victoria, ideally through a rural or regional health service linked to VRGP
Year 2
Victorian Rural Generalist Program (VRGP) Year 2 builds on internship with broad HMO2-level training across rural hospital settings, developing greater clinical responsibility and autonomy. It begins integrating advanced rural skills exposure and continuity of rural placements, preparing doctors for entry into formal rural generalist and GP training pathways.
Requirements:
Completion of internship (PGY1)
General registration with AHPRA
Employment in a HMO2/PGY2 role within a participating rural or regional Victorian health service
Australian clinical experience
Demonstrated commitment to the rural generalist pathway, including intention to continue to GP/rural training
Completion of rotations aligned to rural generalist skills, often including emergency, medicine and other broad-based experience
Participation in VRGP-supported training, mentoring, and career development activities
Available In:
Year 3
Victoria Rural Generalist Program (VRGP) Year 3 focuses on consolidation of broad clinical skills while aligning training more closely with general practice and advanced rural skills development. Doctors typically transition towards GP training entry and advanced skills posts, preparing for formal rural generalist registrar training.
Requirements:
Completion of PGY2/VRGP Year 2
General registration with AHPRA
Employment in a HMO2/PGY2 role within a participating rural or regional Victorian health service
Australian experience
Demonstrated commitment to rural generalist practice, including continuity in rural/general placements
Participation in advanced skills planning or initial training (e.g. emergency, obstetrics, anaesthetics)
Ongoing engagement in VRGP education, mentoring and career development activities
Available In:
Year 4
Victorian Rural Generalist Program (VRGP) Year 4 is the transition into formal GP registrar training with advanced rural skills development where doctors work across community and hospital settings. It focuses on consolidating independent practice, completing advanced skills training and progressing towards rural generalist fellowship. Training beyond Year 4 continues within GP registrar training and advanced skills (AST). Any additional time reflects completion of fellowship and advanced skills requirements, rather than a distinct program year.
Requirements:
General registration with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Active participation in General Practitioner training (RACGP or ACRRM registrar program)
Placement in approved rural general practice and hospital training post, including advanced rural skills training
Demonstrated progression in advanced skills (AST) training (e.g. Emergency, medicine, obstetrics, anaesthetics)
Ongoing commitment to rural practice, including meeting DPA/MM location requirements, where applicable
Engagement in VRGP education, supervision and mentoring frameworks
Compliance with Medicare provide number rules
Compliance with fellowship pathway requirements
Available In:
Work-Based Assessment (WBA)
Details
Work-Based Assessment (WBA) Program is a structured pathway for IMGS to demonstrate clinical competence through supervised, real-world workplace assessments instead of traditional AMC clinical exams. It involves ongoing direct observation, feedback and evaluation in a hospital setting, leading towards eligibility for general registration with AHPRA.
Requirements:
AMC 1 (CAT MQE)
Limited registration (AHPRA)
Securing a position in a participating hospital that offers a WBA program
Recent relevant clinical experience and readiness to work safely under supervision
* Some pathways will differ depending on your situation or country of origin. Learn more in our IMG Resources