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) or the Fellowship Support Program (FSP). The simplest way to tell them apart: PEP is an assessed pathway to Fellowship for IMGs already in community general practice, while FSP is an educational support and remediation wrapper that gives extra teaching, mentoring, and supervision to doctors who need more help reaching Fellowship. Both end in the same FRACGP.
PEP vs FSP at a glance
| Practice Experience Program (PEP) | Fellowship Support Program (FSP) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A self-directed, assessed pathway to FRACGP | An educational support / remediation program toward Fellowship |
| Who it's for | IMGs in a recognised community GP post, outside AGPT | Doctors needing extra teaching, mentoring, or remediation |
| Core purpose | Recognise and assess existing GP experience | Build capability and address gaps before Fellowship |
| Structure | Self-directed practice + education + assessment | Structured teaching, supervision, and support |
| 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 is for IMGs who are already working in a recognised community general practice and want a route to Fellowship without entering the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) registrar program. It recognises the experience you are accumulating on the job, pairs it with structured education, and assesses you against the RACGP Fellowship standard. It is best understood as the assessed pathway itself — the mechanism by which a practising IMG GP reaches FRACGP.
PEP broadly runs two streams:
- A Specialist stream for doctors who hold a recognised overseas GP or family-medicine specialist qualification (for example MRCGP or MICGP).
- A Standard stream for non-specialist IMGs building toward Fellowship.
Fellowship Support Program (FSP)
FSP is an educational support and remediation program. Rather than being a separate destination, it wraps additional teaching, mentoring, and supervision around a doctor's journey to Fellowship — for example for a candidate who has struggled with a Fellowship exam attempt or needs to strengthen specific competencies. Its purpose is capability-building, not a different qualification.
Which one applies to you?
- If you are already in a recognised community GP role and want a structured, assessed route to FRACGP outside AGPT, you are generally in PEP territory.
- If you need additional educational support or remediation — extra teaching, closer supervision, help after an unsuccessful exam attempt — that is what FSP provides.
The two are not mutually exclusive in spirit: FSP-style support exists to help candidates succeed, while PEP is the assessed pathway they are progressing through. Confirm the current eligibility and how the programs interact directly with the RACGP, as program rules 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 Medicare provider number 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