Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM) is recognised by the Australian Medical Council as a standard medical practitioners must attain to be recognised for the specialty of general practice.

The Fellowship program has been developed by rural doctors to equip Rural Generalists and specialist General Practitioners who work in a rural or remote context.

FACRRM demonstrates you can confidently and competently work independently in a broad range of locations and environments.

Fellowship provides access to the maximum benefits available under Medicare’s A1 items for you and your patients.

FACRRM is identified as a preferred qualification by recruiters.

ACRRM will advise applicants directly of their outcome from the selection process. For more information, please refer to the application process for each of the Pathways to Fellowship.

ACRRM Fellowship is focussed on providing doctors with the skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver healthcare in communities outside the urban footprint.

We highly recommend you complete the majority of your training in a rural or remote area.  A sound knowledge and broad experience of rural medicine, practised in a rural and remote context, is essential.

For Fellowship purposes, there is a minimum requirement of 12 months living and working in a rural or remote community.  For further information please refer to the Fellowship Training Handbook.

Core Generalist Training (CGT) covers three years of the four-year Fellowship program. You will develop broad knowledge, skills and attributes in primary, secondary and emergency care in a rural and remote context and gain essential Rural Generalist skills across a variety of domains.

Advanced Specialised Training (AST) covers a minimum of one year of the four-year Fellowship program. AST will deepen your knowledge and skills in a procedural or non-procedural discipline including Population Health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Anaesthetics, Emergency Medicine and more.

For further information visit our webpage on Training and Education or refer to the Fellowship Training Handbook. 

There are alternatives available so you can gain experience in paediatrics, anaesthetics and O&G where a 10-week term has not been undertaken during the Core Generalist Training (CGT) year. You must gain this equivalent experience prior to Fellowship, however, gaps in knowledge should be considered when preparing for assessments.

When remediating gaps in CGT, evidence of training must be supported by a specific logbook and supervisor report. This documentation is then presented to the College Censor for approval and endorsement.

For further information please refer to the Fellowship Training Handbook.

You can be awarded a maximum of two years RPL on the ACRRM Fellowship Program. Please submit your application for RPL through your Training Officer or training@acrrm.org.au

For more information you can view ACRRM's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

The standard for all Fellowship assessments is of a doctor practising safely, confidently and independently in a full and diverse range of healthcare settings across Australia, with particular focus on rural and remote settings.

While you may attempt an assessment once the minimum training time eligibility, or equivalent Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) has been met for that modality, it is important to be well prepared prior to enrolling. Your Training Officer and Medical Educator will provide personalised advice on when, and in what training post, an assessment attempt is recommended.

A programmatic approach to the assessment requirements is also strongly recommended. For further information please refer to the Fellowship Training Handbook.

There are several modality specific assessment support programs offered to registrars by the College including formal study groups, mock exams, face to face workshops and 1:1 preparation sessions with Medical Educators. Please contact your Regional Training Network for more information.

The College recommends completion of the assessment support program the semester prior to the planned attempt, to allow familiarisation with the context and format of the assessment. Assessment support programs allow participants to receive individualised feedback on their performance and guidance on their continued preparation.

The Registrar Committee also provides registrars with a guide for all ACRRM assessments.

Training on the AGPT pathway, you will be fully funded, with comprehensive education and training support. 

The education program is mapped to the proven ACRRM Rural Generalist Curriculum, blending learning elements delivered and supported by ACRRM's national and regional teams, including self-directed online learning and face-to-face workshops. Learn more about AGPT. 

Transition of the AGPT program to ACRRM-led training successfully occurred in February 2023.

Information on ACRRM’s responsibility to deliver the AGPT program, including the College-led discussion paper, executed third party transition plans and more can be found here.

The Rural Generalist Training Scheme (RGTS) is a government funded, dedicated stream of the ACRRM Fellowship Program. It is an integrated Rural Generalist pathway that provides a borderless training experience allowing registrars to move across localities and/or workplaces to meet their training requirements. RGTS selection, curriculum, education, training and assessment are all purpose-designed to lead doctors to the end qualification of FACRRM and certified Rural Generalist practice. 

ACRRM is the only college delivering the Rural Generalist Training Scheme. Learn more about RGTS.

The Independent Pathway (IP) is a self-funded stream of the ACRRM Fellowship program. Participants are not restricted by Commonwealth funding requirements and policy, and can craft a training plan to suit their career goals, negotiate training placements and manage their learning experience.  

The IP is mapped to the ACRRM Rural Generalist Curriculum and registrars participate in face-to-face learning alongside their peers, as well as online learning. Learn more about the Independent Pathway. 

Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) is a Commonwealth-funded program providing vocational training for medical practitioners in remote and isolated communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities throughout Australia.

RVTS training is provided by Remote Vocational Training Scheme Ltd. More information about RVTS is available here.