ACRRM / RACGP
Rural generalists are general practitioners who care for rural and remote communities in general practice, in the local hospital and in its emergency department. Each also trains in one more discipline the community needs, such as anaesthetics, obstetrics, mental health or surgery.
Applications
Main intake applications open, early March
Assessment
National entry assessment sittings, late MarchBook in mid-March, in the booking window
You can also join during training through your rural training team, or after Fellowship with the Rural Generalist Fellowship application.
Apply in postgraduate year 1 at the earliest, to start the program in postgraduate year 2.
Moderate
Total training
5 years
From internship at the earliest: postgraduate year 1, then the 4-year program
Training program
4 years
Full time: a hospital year, three general practice terms, core emergency medicine and rural skills training
Fellowship
Year 5
Of postgraduate work at the earliest, FRACGP with the Rural Generalist Fellowship
Throughout training
In each general practice term
Stage by stage
Stage 1 of 4
One year, full time
The first year, in accredited hospital rotations.
Hospital rotations
12 months in accredited hospitals in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand, which you arrange yourself
Stage 2 of 4
18 months full-time equivalent
Three community general practice terms, the rural months among them.
General practice terms
Three of six months in RACGP-accredited practices, with an accredited supervisor
Fellowship exams
The two written exams open once the first two terms are complete, then the clinical exam
Stage 3 of 4
6 months full-time equivalent, any time after hospital training
Emergency medicine for rural and remote practice, usually as the extended skills term.
Emergency post
6 months in an accredited emergency medicine facility with appropriate supervision
Stage 4 of 4
12 months full-time equivalent
Training in one discipline the community needs, in an accredited post.
Rural skills post
12 months in a post accredited for the discipline
One of eleven disciplines
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, academic post, adult internal medicine, anaesthesia, child health, emergency medicine, mental health, obstetrics, palliative care, surgery, or small town rural general practice
Community project
Required with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health discipline, over 6 to 12 months, a community needs assessment and a quality improvement activity in a general practice
Practise this interview with each station timed. Interview practice
Australian and New Zealand citizens, and Australian permanent residents
1. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, or Australian Defence Force, applicantsGuaranteed offer
With a rural or general pathway first preference.
2. Enrolled with a state or territory Rural Generalist Coordination Unit
With a rural or general pathway first preference.
3. Rural origin, with a rural pathway first preference
Living in a Modified Monash 2 to 7 area for at least 10 cumulative years, or 5 consecutive years in childhood including schooling.
4. Rural connection to your first preference region
At least 24 consecutive months there, living, at rural clinical school or on placements, or in clinical work.
5. First preference in a region of need
New England and North West NSW, the Northern Territory, Murrumbidgee, or Western NSW.
6. All other citizens and permanent residents
Temporary visa holders
7. Rural connection to your first preference region
8. First preference in a region of need
9. All other temporary visa holders
Only the first tier is guaranteed an offer, once the online assessment is passed.
Medical school
Postgraduate years 1 and 2
Application
Prior learning
From 2026 the 100 ACRRM Rural Generalist Training Scheme places are part of the main Australian General Practice Training program. A $30,000 salary incentive applies to trainees moving into community general practice from semester 1, 2026.
From 2025, applicants can no longer hold Commonwealth funding for a dual Fellowship with both ACRRM and the RACGP.
Australian Health Ministers approved rural generalist medicine as a new field of specialty practice within general practice on 21 and 22 September 2025. Specialist registration as a rural generalist opens once the Australian Medical Council accredits the ACRRM and RACGP rural generalist Fellowship programs.
General practice training places, 2027
More than 2,000
Australian General Practice Training, both colleges
Each college sets its own number of funded places. The RACGP figure covers general practice and rural generalist training together.
| College | Places, up to |
|---|---|
| ACRRM, rural generalist | 374 |
| RACGP, general practice and rural generalist together | 1,694 |
Source: newsGP, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, 15 April 2026. Funded training places for the 2027 training year.
None available.
None available.
Requirements, application windows and criteria change every year. Verify with ACRRM / RACGP before making career decisions. Report an error on this page.
