About AST Equivalence

ACRRM’s Certification of AST Equivalence is a formal certification that recognises a Fellow's additional qualifications, skills or achievements within the College framework.

While it is not required for registration as a specialist Rural Generalist with Ahpra, having formal certification provides independent recognition of your Advanced Skills and may support employment, credentialing, workforce incentive programs, professional recognition and access to targeted educational opportunities.

It can also be used as evidence of recognised training or qualifications for employers, credentialing bodies, government agencies and incentive programs.

Depending on the context, certification can be used to confirm:

  • Advanced Specialised Training (AST) equivalence
  • Recognition of prior training or qualifications
  • Eligibility for certain workforce or incentive programs, such as WIP (Workforce Incentive Program)
  • Other College-recognised credentials

Eligibility

To apply, you must:

  • hold a current Fellowship of ACRRM (FACRRM),
  • hold a current appointment, position or scope-of-practice demonstrating ongoing application of the relevant Advanced Skill.

Please note:  The Small Town Rural General Practice AST is an RACGP AST and is not recognised as an ACRRM AST.

What you’ll need to apply

To apply for a Certification of AST Equivalence, you must provide either of the following documentation:

  • Existing credentialed appointment at a rural health service (hospital) in one of the 12 Advanced Skills identified including salaried medical officer appointments as well as visiting medical officer, or
  • Existing salaried position with a state or territory health department delivering clinical services in one or more of the Advanced Skills.

You will also need to demonstrate your relevant experience and skills in the identified Advanced Skills by providing:

  • Two letters of support from rural medical practitioners who are aware of your clinical competence and scope of practice.
  • Evidence of completing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities related to the relevant Advanced Skills within the preceding three years.

Optional documentation:

  • Evidence of training in the relevant Advanced Skills that has been undertaken other than as part of the ACRRM Fellowship training program.
  • Any other evidence to support the application (for example, demonstration from the community regarding skills and competence in the relevant Advanced Skills).

Examples of supporting documentation

An acceptance of an offer of employment is not sufficient. ACRRM needs to see a Letter of Employment that details your scope of practice and clinical responsibilities.

If you work privately or outside state funded services, a letter from your practice covering your AST duties and the skills required, along with data on the number of cases over the past three years and the extent of care provided. Also include relevant training or CPD completed related to the AST.

If you are applying for equivalence of Academic Practice, please provide:

  • Masters/Graduate Certificate in Professions Education or Clinical Education or Clinical Simulation
  • Contracts of employment from a university

If you are applying for equivalence of Palliative Care, please provide:

  • Published research
  • Letters of support from colleagues detailing scope of practice

If you are applying for equivalence of Remote Medicine, you must be practising in an MMM 6 or 7 location, or in an ACRRM-accredited AST Remote Work post.