What qualifications do you need to work as a GP in Australia?
Find out what qualifications you need to enjoy an Australian adventure while working as a GP.
Start here to turn your dream of living and working in Australia as a GP into reality.
The specialist qualifications required to be vocationally recognised as a GP in Australia are:
- a Fellowship of the Royal Australian and College of General Practitioners (RACGP), or;
- a Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).
The RACGP Practice Experience Pathway (PEP) – Standard stream is the most common route taken by GPs seeking vocational recognition in Australia.
The ACRRM also offers a range of pathways for GPs to work in Australia with a focus on rural and remote practice.
Most International General Practice/Family medicine specialist qualifications are deemed eligible for RACGP comparability assessment; however, some may require an initial qualification eligibility assessment by the RACGP.
If your specialist qualification is deemed eligible, you can apply for a comparability assessment and will receive an outcome of Substantially/Partially or not comparable. Substantially comparable doctors are eligible for Fellowship ad eundem gradum. Partially comparable doctors are required to complete further education and examinations and will be expected to obtain fellowship within 24 months.
The following qualifications have been pre-assessed as eligible for comparability assessment:
- Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners, UK
- Membership of the Irish College of General Practitioners
- Fellowship of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
- Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada
- Certificate of Specific Training for General Practice Sweden
- Certificate of Specific Training for General Practice Netherlands
- Specialist in Family and Community Medicine, Spain
- Specialist in Family Medicine, Malta
Eligibility Steps for Overseas Medical Qualifications
If you hold a different qualification, you will need to apply for a portfolio assessment and be found eligible before you can apply for a comparability assessment.
Applying for a comparability assessment
Following your assessment for comparability, you will receive an outcome of either substantially, partially or not comparable. You will be required to meet all criteria to be found substantially or partially comparable, including an assessment of recency of practice and completion of CPD requirements.
Substantially comparable
If you are found to be substantially comparable, you are considered suitable to undertake the intended scope of practice and to take full responsibility for all patients with limited oversight by a supervisor.
You are required to achieve Fellowship within 12 months of full-time equivalent work in an approved job.
Partially comparable
If you are found to be partially comparable, you are considered suitable to undertake a defined scope of practice in a supervised capacity.
You will be required to reach comparability within 24 months of full-time equivalent work in an approved job. You are also required to achieve a Fellowship in this same period and complete the RACGP Fellowship exams.
Our expert in-house regulatory and migration team is here to guide you through each step of this process.