PEP vs FSP: Which RACGP Program Leads to FRACGP?
International medical graduates working toward Australian GP Fellowship outside the AGPT registrar program usually do so through one of two RACGP routes: the Practice Experience Program (PEP) Specialist stream or the Fellowship Support Program (FSP). The simplest way to tell them apart: PEP Specialist is for IMGs who already hold a recognised overseas GP or family-medicine specialist qualification, while FSP is the structured, self-funded pathway to Fellowship for non-vocationally-registered doctors without one — it replaced the former PEP Standard stream, which closed to new entrants when its funding ended on 30 June 2023. Both end in the same FRACGP.
PEP vs FSP at a glance
| PEP Specialist stream | Fellowship Support Program (FSP) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A self-directed, assessed pathway to FRACGP | A structured, self-funded pathway to FRACGP |
| Who it's for | IMGs holding a recognised overseas GP / family-medicine specialist qualification (e.g. MRCGP, MICGP) | Non-VR doctors in community general practice without a recognised specialist qualification |
| Core purpose | Recognise comparable overseas specialist training and assess it against the FRACGP standard | Provide the structured education and supervision non-specialist IMGs need to reach Fellowship |
| Structure | Self-directed practice + education + assessment | ~24 months of structured education (four 6-month terms) plus a consolidation phase for exams |
| End point | FRACGP | FRACGP |
For the detail of each, see the RACGP Practice Experience Program guide and the Fellowship Support Program guide.
What the two programs actually do
Practice Experience Program (PEP)
PEP today means the PEP Specialist stream: it is for IMGs who hold a recognised overseas GP or family-medicine specialist qualification (for example MRCGP or MICGP) and are working in a recognised community general practice. It recognises your comparable overseas specialist training, pairs it with self-directed education, and assesses you against the RACGP Fellowship standard.
The former PEP Standard stream — the old route for non-specialist IMGs — closed to new entrants when its government funding ended on 30 June 2023. Doctors who would previously have used PEP Standard now apply to the FSP instead.
Fellowship Support Program (FSP)
FSP is the RACGP's current pathway to FRACGP for non-vocationally-registered doctors who are working in community general practice but do not hold a recognised overseas specialist qualification. It is self-funded and structured: around 24 months of education delivered in four 6-month terms, followed by a consolidation phase (up to 36 months) in which candidates complete the Fellowship exams (AKT, KFP, CCE). It is the successor to PEP Standard, not a remediation add-on.
Which one applies to you?
- If you hold a recognised overseas GP / family-medicine specialist qualification (MRCGP, MICGP, or equivalent) — you are generally in PEP Specialist territory.
- If you are a non-VR doctor in community general practice without such a qualification — the FSP is the current RACGP route to Fellowship outside AGPT.
Confirm the current eligibility rules directly with the RACGP, as program structures are updated over time.
What both have in common
- They lead to the same FRACGP. There is no junior, associate, or "non-vocational" grade of Fellowship — an FRACGP earned via PEP or FSP is the same Fellowship awarded through the AGPT registrar program.
- They sit after registration. Both assume you already hold AHPRA registration; they are about reaching Fellowship, not initial registration. For the registration step, see Competent Authority vs Standard AMC.
- Location rules still apply. In-practice experience is normally completed at RACGP-recognised training practices, with location subject to the Modified Monash distribution settings (commonly MM2–MM7). See DWS, DPA and the Modified Monash Model.
Why Fellowship matters: the billing link
Reaching FRACGP is not just a title. Under section 19AA, access to the higher (vocationally registered) Medicare rebates is tied to Fellowship or an approved training/placement program — so Fellowship directly affects what you can bill. See Section 19AA explained.
Note a common misunderstanding: completing PEP or FSP does not end the separate section 19AB 10-year location restriction. That clock runs from your first medical registration in Australia and is independent of when Fellowship is awarded — see Section 19AB explained.
The Rural Generalist alternative (ACRRM)
PEP and FSP are RACGP programs. Doctors aiming for rural generalist practice may instead pursue Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM), which runs its own IMG pathways. If rural and remote practice is your goal, compare both colleges at ACRRM.
Where to confirm the current rules
Program structures, streams, and eligibility are set by the RACGP and change periodically. Confirm your specific situation against the official sources:
- RACGP — Practice Experience Program
- RACGP — pathways for international medical graduates
- ACRRM — pathways for international medical graduates
See also: RACGP PEP guide · RACGP FSP guide · Section 19AA explained · Map your route in the explorer