Rural v General pathway

When applying for the AGPT program, one of the first decisions you’ll have to make is to follow the rural or general training pathway. Here are the differences so you can make an informed decision.
The AGPT program has different training pathways: Rural Pathway and General Pathway.
Applicants for the AGPT Program must nominate either the general or rural pathway for each training region preference.

To view an interactive map and search for MM locations use the Department of Health’s Health Workforce Locator.

Rural Pathway

Note: Both ACRRM and RACGP provide training on the Rural Pathway, learn more about the differences in the Rural Pathway structure between the Colleges.

The Rural Pathway encompasses a large percentage of Australia reaching from towns on the fringe of capital cities, to regional coastal areas and remote outback locations.

This pathway offers a range of benefits and opportunities commensurate with the work of rural general practice, for example:

  • access to specialist training such as mental health, addiction medicine, paediatrics, anaesthetics, surgery and obstetrics;
  • opportunity to develop and consolidate an extended scope of practice working more closely with local communities;
  • hospital and community-based primary care;
  • contributing to addressing the health needs of communities with decreased access to health care;
  • working alongside retrieval medicine teams;
  • access to mentors and professional relationships which may not be possible in metropolitan areas;
  • increased earning capacity—possible access to financial incentives not available in metropolitan locations; and
  • being immersed in local communities and the lifestyle benefits of country living.

If you are applying for the Rural Pathway, there is an expectation that you will live and work in the community.

Overseas-trained doctors (OTDs) and foreign graduates of an accredited medical school (FGAMS) who are subject to Section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973 must train on the Rural Pathway.

The Rural Generalist (RG) pathway began in 2021. Read more about RACGP’s delivery of the RG program or ACRRM’s delivery of the RG pathway, and the ACRRM Rural Generalist Training Scheme.

General Pathway

Note: Only RACGP provides training on the General Pathway, learn more about the structure of the General Pathway.

The General Pathway is for doctors who choose to train primarily in inner and outer metropolitan locations.

There are a range of benefits and opportunities commensurate with training on the General Pathway, for example:

  • access to specialist training such as mental health, addiction medicine, paediatrics, anaesthetics, surgery and obstetrics.

AGPT registrars on the General Pathway must undertake twelve months of their training in a prescribed location.

Some RTOs may have restrictions on where some General Pathway registrars are able to train. Please clarify with your RTO if you are wishing to train outside of an MM1 location.

For more information, refer to the college websites
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Learn more about GP training in Australia