Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP)

Joannah 05/04/2024

This is a FAQ BLOG and you can refer to our Pathways to GP Fellowship in Australia blog here.

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Date Updated: 2026-09-17

What is the Pre-Fellowship Program?

The Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP) is a 3GA program that enables IMGs and Non-VR doctors to practice in a Distribution Priority Area (DPA) and access Medicare. This prepares doctors for Fellowship by allowing them to acquire more GP experience.

Whilst it is a 3GA program, it is not a Pathway to Fellowship. This means you will need to join a College-led GP training program before you are eligible to sit for the Fellowship Exams.

Am I eligible?

Doctors

If you are a doctor that meets the following criteria, then you are eligible:

  • Be a non-vocationally registered doctor or an IMG
  • Be a temporary resident, a permanent resident, or an Australian citizen
  • Have a General, Provisional or Limited AHPRA Registration
  • Be in Postgraduate Year (PGY) 3 or above
  • Have an offer of employment
  • Have no restrictions on their registration that would prevent them from moving to a Fellowship pathway
  • *If applicable, provide evidence of support in place to meet supervision requirements

Please note that placements will be based on community need as determined by Health Workforce Needs Assessments. 

Also, if you are working in a MM1 outer metropolitan location, then you may need to move to another area when you join a GP College-led Fellowship program due to its eligibility criteria.

Please note that you are automatically NOT eligible if you are any of the following:

Practices

Your practice must:

  • Be in a Distribution Priority Area
  • Provide supervision support

Will I be supervised during the program?

Many Doctors joining the PFP, particularly IMGs, need supervision while they build experience. You may be required to have supervision, but it will depend on your general practice experience. If you don’t have prior general practice experience or have less than six months general practice experience, then you must work under level 1 supervision, as defined by AHPRA, for at least 1-month full time equivalent.

Please note that for Level 1 supervision, the supervisor must also be onsite 100% of the time while the IMG practices, as well as consult the IMG about the management of each patient before concluding the consultation and before the patient leaves the practice.

The level of supervision will also depend on your background, training, and the complexity of the role. The RWAs will conduct a pre-placement review and support the development of an assessment plan that includes the supervision and support requirements. Find out more about the different levels of supervision on our blog here.

Also, only supervisors of IMGs who are on Limited or Provisional Registration are eligible to receive payments under the PFP for supervision. An additional funding for the practice may be added in the supervision payments to pay for the administration and related costs of hosting a PFP doctor.

How many supervisees can my supervisor have?

For PFP, the supervisor to registrar ratio is 1:3. A supervisor can only oversee up to three registrars over time, regardless of training fraction and training program (e.g. AGPT, PFP, IP, FSP)

What should my supervisor do?

Aside from providing supervision, supervisors must write a supervision report within 2 weeks of the supervision period ending that:

  • Assesses the competency demonstrated by the Doctor
  • Recommends the appropriate level of supervision going forward

It’s then the Doctor’s job to send a copy of this report to their Rural Workforce Agency (RWA), within 4 weeks of the supervision period ending, and the RWA reviews it within 28 days of receiving it.

AHPRA also defined the supervisor responsibilities as the following:

  • Ensure the IMG is practicing safely and not risking public safety.
  • Regularly observe the IMG’s work, review cases, conduct performance reviews, and give feedback.
  • Address any problems found.
  • Notify the Board immediately if the IMG’s performance, conduct, or health risks public safety, and if the IMG is not complying with registration requirements or conditions imposed.
  • Make sure the IMG follows approved work arrangements and report any deviations to the Board.
  • Get Board approval for any changes to supervision, registration conditions, or requirements before implementing them.
  • Inform the Board if unable or unwilling to continue supervision.
  • Provide an orientation for the IMG and report to the Board three months after initial registration.
  • Submit work performance reports to the Board as required.
  • Agree to supervise at the level determined by the Board and comply with its requirements.
  • Be clear on how the IMG can contact you during and after working hours

Other supervisor responsibilities may also depend on the supervision level, so check out our blog here on AHPRA’s supervision requirements!

Note: For supervisors of IMGs who are on Limited or Provisional Registration, RWAs will determine if supervision payments are made to the practice or supervisor. Supervisors/practices need a formal agreement with the RWA, and must provide evidence showing they have undertaken the agreed supervision and met all requirements and responsibilities set out in that supervision agreement.

What should I do during the program?

You have a maximum of 2 years program duration before you move to a Fellowship program. During the program, you must:

  • Work with the RWA to develop an assessment plan (including supervision, and support) as well as a learning and development plan
  • Review readiness for fellowship training with your medical adviser every 3 months
  • Apply to a college-led GP training program with ACRRM, RACGP, or RVTS at least once a year. Following Fellowship programs include:
  • Complete foundation general practice training modules within 3 months of commencing the program (RACGP and ACRRM determine the training modules)
  • Meet AHPRA (Continuing Professional Development) CPD requirements

Why should I apply for PFP?

You should apply for PFP before you start your Fellowship program, so that you can get more GP experience. This is because most of the GP College-led Fellowship Programs require you to have level 2 supervision and above or have General Registration when you start the program. 

If you’re under Limited or Provisional Registration with Level 1 supervision, then you can apply for PFP and work to get General Registration or Level 2 supervision and above to be eligible for the approved Fellowship programs.

Please note that only IMGs with Limited and Provisional Registration will have access to the financial support for learning & development (L&D). The chart below shows the L&D financial support.

IMPORTANT: “Not all eligible doctors will receive financial support. The distribution of funding to support PFP participants will be prioritised by RWAs,” according to the guidelines.

For supervision, only supervisors of IMGs on Limited or Provisional supervision are eligible to receive payments under the PFP. An additional funding for the practice may be added in the supervision payments to pay for the administration and related costs of hosting a PFP doctor. The financial support will be based on the level of supervision and location of the practice as seen in the chart below.

How do I apply?

To apply for the program, you must contact your Rural Workforce Agency (RWA). Check their contact details here.

Once you’ve reached out to your RWA, you will also be asked to submit the necessary documents.

If you’re an IMG, you will need to provide the following, so that your RWA can assess your application:

  • Current registration with the Medical Board of Australia
  • Letter of offer from the practice
  • Evidence of supervision arrangements
  • *If applicable:
    • General practice experience assessment
    • Pre-Employment Structured Clinical Interview (PESCI) result
    • Confirmation that your Plan for Professional Development and Re-entry to Practice has been submitted to AHPRA

This will take around 28 days, then you will receive a letter response from your RWA about the outcome of your placement application. Then you will apply for a Medicare provider number with the granted approved placement.

We Can Help You

Here at People Medical Consulting, we have a passion for guiding medical practitioners through their career pathways to Australia. We have extensive experience in assisting medical facilities in recruiting doctors from local and overseas who will best suit their requirements.

We provide Document Assistance for those requiring support for their PESCI with IME, ACRRM or RACGP, registration and all other mandatory AHPRA requirements, fellowship program related forms and letters, application for Medicare provider and prescriber numbers, application for 19AB or 19AA exemptions and preparation of employment documents.

If you want to talk to someone about your pathway or practice management—book a consultation with us below, or if you need Recruitment or Document Assistance, contact us at help@peoplemedical.com.au or click the buttons below. We’d be glad to help you!

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Information from this blog has been taken directly from:

Related Blogs

How does PFP fit into the 3GA and Training Programs?
Can my Recruitment Agency manage my PFP application?

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