Skip to main content

How To Become A GP Specialist in Australia


I have been asked to give info about the specializing in GP for IMGs. This is one topic which mostly people are well versed and is considered the easiest pathway. You need to secure a job in DWS area and then apply to AHPRA. You need to have 3 years GP experience to be considered for registration. RACGP Overseas GP assessment is recommended but not mandatory. GPS are funded federally so we have to comply certain Medicare rules. As an IMG you are restricted by generally two restrictions.
One is 19AB that you have to work in District of workforce shortage (DWS) and if you’re a permanent resident or citizen you need to get 19AA exemption which needs you need to be in a 3GA training program which is a bit more competitive and as an IMG it generally means going rurally.
There are three pathways to GP fellowship (GP is a specialist job in Australia). One is independent pathway and other is through a training program and third is ACRRM which is also another 3GA (very competitive)
Independent pathway require 4 year work as a GP as assessed by RACGP out of which one year needs to be in Australia. You don’t need to have general registration to sit the exams. IMGs who have PR and citizenship can’t go through this pathway. This pathway is least supported and mostly you’ve to work and study by yourself. RACGP is making some study modules for this pathway but it’s early stages for that.
3GA program pathway is where PR and citizens can apply. Most of IMGs end up in this pathway as most aussies don’t want to work in rural area. This training program is of 3 years and you work as a registrar in general practice. You get weekly teaching and regular visits by RTO to check your performance.
The exam for both the pathways is similar. First is AKT exam which is like MCQs and then is the dreaded KFP which has Pass Rate of 50-55% and IMGs have even lower pass rate. Once you pass that then is OSCE and if you pass all of them then you apply for fellowship and then to Medicare. One you become a fellow, 19AA restriction don’t impose on you. You can work in any region.
Third is through ACRRM pathway which is highly competitive as they’ve limited seats expect a lot of skills beforehand to consider you. The exams are generally similar but it definitely helps you in becoming a excellent clinician in rural areas where you’ve got very limited support.
In the end, just my two cent about another issues,I have many IMGs saying they can’t go to rural area due to family commitments even if your spouse/partner is working a white collar job and has to leave it to go with you, still you should consider it because GPS positions are very financially secure and will be able to bear the financial burden till you complete your fellowship. Moreover , it’s truly amazing working in the world's 2nd best health system and even if it requires going to rural area to start your career here, you should seriously consider it..
Just An Update: I'm working on a PDF file containing Interview Tips and a Collection of 120-130 Clinical Examination Recalls from the past 10 years or so. I'll upload it later today when it's ready. I don't own all the recalls they are from other respected doctors who passed the exam. Good Luck.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MY Step 2 CK Experience 284 Medhat Farwati

Dear (future) Doctors, I am Medhat Farwati, a Syrian graduate from Aleppo University, Faculty of Medicine. Hereby I share with you my experience with Step 2 CK. 1. Score: 284 2. Self-assessments: UWSA 1: 273 (2 months out) UWSA 2: 276 ( 1 week out) NBME 7: 277 (1 week out) NBME 8: 280 (3 days out) 3. Preparation time: After I was done with Step 1, I moved to the US as a postdoctoral research fellow. As such, I realized it is going to be challenging to navigate my research du ties, US rotations, Step 2 CS exam, and Step 2 CK preparation. Collectively, the actual preparation time for CK was 12 months with an average studying time ranging from 4 hours a day for the first 10 months to 8 hours a day for the last 2 months prior to my exam. 4. Materials used: UW Step 2 CK (x3) UW Step 3 (x2) Kaplan Q bank (x1) Internal Medicine Essentials Q bank De Virgilio (surgery textbook) Up to date and Medscape Google, YouTube, and Siri 😊 UW Step 2: Your baseline. Most people preparing for CK rega...
1 comment
Read more

Step 1: 250

Alhamdulillah!! Got my result today  😊 I wasn’t very active in groups but I would always read everyone’s experiences as they motivated me and pushed me further. I hope my experience helps someone too. I would also go through the questions posted by the wonderful people in this group to clear concepts. I didn’t give myself any score target, I wanted to give my best in the preparation and just give the exam in the month I had planned When I started my preparation, my concepts of the basic science subjects were very weak and Step 1 felt like an insurmountable, daunting task! But let me assure you that it’s doable. There are thousands of people who do it every year, you can do it too! Preparation: Total duration 9 months Dedicated period 4 months Study sources: UFAP (It’s GOLD!) Started with Pathoma videos and book. Watched Kaplan videos for Biochemistry, Immunology, Neuroanatomy. While going through these sources I would read the corresponding parts from FA to familiar...
1 comment
Read more

Step 1: 253

How I moved from getting 230s on my NBMEs to scoring 250+ on the real deal in 1.5 month LONG POST I have read a lot of experiences during my preparation of this exam, it’s only fair to give back to the people going through this grueling journey, take whatever helps you and leave the rest, remember everyone is different and what might worked for me may not work for you I will talk pre-dedication period briefly and just mention the resources I used and and assessments, I will mainly focus on my mistakes and what I did to change my results during the dedication period >Pre-dedication period study material (March - August with alot of on/off periods) -Sketchy Micro x1 -BnB x1 (highly recommend it —> Dr Jason Ryan hands down is one of the best) -FA x2 (first time with BnB and Pathoma videos, second read with first round of UW) -UW x2 (first round - Offline, second round - Online) -Pathoma x1 -Sketchy Pharm - some videos not all -Other resources: Kaplan videos (...
Post a Comment
Read more