Does Part-Time Work Extend the Time to Achieve General Registration or Fellowship?

If you're working part-time and aiming for general registration or fellowship in Australia, the short answer is yes—it will take longer to meet the required general practice experience (GPE).

This is because the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) guidelines specify minimum full-time experience, and part-time work must be adjusted proportionally.

RACGP Guidelines for Fellowship

According to the RACGP guidelines, eligibility for Fellowship is based on "Full-Time" general practice experience, defined as a minimum of 38 hours per week, covering the following:

• A minimum of four days per week
• At least 27 hours of face-to-face, rostered patient consultation time
• Work periods of fewer than three consecutive hours or less than one month in any practice won’t count toward experience
• Hours beyond 38 per week do not accelerate the process

For Part-Time experience, RACGP defines it as working at least 14.5 hours per week, which includes:

• At least two days per week
• A minimum of 10.5 hours of face-to-face patient consultations

If you work part-time, you'll need to extend the length of time you work to meet the RACGP's experience requirements before sitting the FRACGP exams.

ACRRM Guidelines for Fellowship

For those on ACRRM's Fellowship Training Programs, Full-Time is also defined as 38 hours per week, inclusive of clinical, educational, and administrative tasks. However, even if you work more than 38 hours per week, the training time remains the same.

Part-Time training with ACRRM requires:

• An average of no less than 16 hours per week over 12 months
• It must include comparable exposure to full-time training and be approved by the employer
• Registrars working part-time must progress through the educational program at the same pace as full-time registrars

Like the RACGP, if you're working part-time while aiming for Fellowship through ACRRM, the time required to meet fellowship qualifications will be longer.

Fellowship Support Program and Time Assessments

For many doctors pursuing Fellowship through programs such as the Fellowship Support Program, it’s important to meet specific time and experience criteria. This includes completing two years of education and at least one year of full-time equivalent general practice experience in the last four years.

Additionally, it can take a minimum of six months to complete the exams. Therefore, to sit for fellowship, you'll need a time assessment that covers four years of experience, including at least 12 months in Australian general practice.

Conclusion

If you're working part-time, it's crucial to plan your career path with the extended timeframes in mind. Whether you're following the RACGP or ACRRM pathway, understanding the guidelines will help ensure you're on track to meet the requirements for general registration or fellowship in the most efficient way possible.