GP Training Acronyms

GPET, AGTP, RTPs, AGPN, DoHA, GPRIP: so many acronyms! What do they all stand for? Acronyms and abbreviations abound in the language of GP training. Browse our jargon busting acronym and abbreviations guide to crack the code.

AAAPC – The Australian Association for Academic Primary Care. Formerly AAAGP.

AAPM – Australian Association of Practice Managers

ACIR – Australian Childhood Immunisation Register

ACRRM – Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
One of two General Practice colleges. Has a curriculum of educational objectives for rural GPs and a Fellowship process for vocational recognition.

AFP – Australian Family Physician
The official journal of the RACGP.

AGPAL – Australian General Practice Accreditation Ltd
This organisation completes accreditation of practices throughout Australia. Speak to your practice manager for further information.

AGPN – Australian General Practice Network
The national body that represents the Divisions. Previously Australian Divisions of General Practice.

AGPT – Australian General Practice Training
The training program for GP Registrars.

AIDA – Australian Indigenous Doctors Association

AKT – Applied Knowledge Test
A component of the RACGP Fellowship exam.

AMPCo – Australian Medical Publishing Company
Register with them to get a free subscription to Medicine Today, Australian Doctor and Medical Observer. To arrange this, visit www.ampco.com.au.

AMA – Australian Medical Association
An independent organisation that represents the professional interests of all doctors including political, legal and industrial.

AMH – Australian Medicines Handbook

AMSA – Australian Medical Students Association

ARSP – Advanced Rural Skills Post

CMO – Career Medical Officer

Divisions of General Practice
Federally funded to provide support and educational activities to GPs and local primary care services within their Division (local area); for example, diabetes nurse educators. Find out which Division your practice belongs to and join. (GP registrar membership is free in some regions.)

DHAS – Doctors Health Advisory Service

DoHA – Department of Health and Ageing
The Commonwealth Government Department responsible for health and ageing.

DVA – Department of Veterans Affairs

EBM – Evidence-based medicine

ECT – External Clinical Teacher

FACRRM – Fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine. Find out more about fellowships.

FARGP – Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice. Find out more about fellowships.

FRACGP – Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Find out more about fellowships.

GPET – General Practice Education and Training Limited
Government limited company which funds and contracts with RTPs.

GPR – General Practice Registrar; GP Registrar

GPRA – General Practice Registrars Australia Ltd
A Board of eight directors and an Advisory Council made up of RLOs from every RTP. Represents GP Registrar issues to AGPT, RACGP, DoHA and many other bodies involved in
training. Membership is currently free. Find out more about GPRA.

GPRIP – General Practice Rural Incentives Program
Find out more about financial incentives for GP registrars.

GPSA – General Practice Supervisors Association

HIC – Health Insurance Commission
Now known as Medicare Australia.

HMO – Hospital Medical Officer

HWA – Health Workforce Australia

IMG – International medical graduate
Also known as OTDs (overseas trained doctors). GP registrars who are IMGs/OTDs may be subject to the 10-year moratorium.

JAC – Joint Advisory Committee

JCC – Joint Consultative Committee

KFP – Key Feature Problems
A component of the RACGP Fellowship exam.

MBS – Medicare Benefits Schedule

ME and TA – Medical Educators and Training Advisors
One of these people will give advice and guidance about your training.

MCQs – Multiple choice questions (a component of the RACGP Fellowship exam)

NGPSA – National GP Supervisors Association
Not to be confused with the SLON (Supervisor Liaison Officer Network), although they are essentially same people. NGSPA is the GPRA equivalent for Supervisors. They undertake an
advocacy role for Supervisors, particularly in terms and conditions negotiations.

NPS – National Prescribing Service
A Commonwealth Government-funded organisation that provides independent information on the prescription and use of various medications. Lots of resources and case studies for GP registrars can be found at www.nps.org.au.

NRHSN – National Rural Health Students Network

OSCE – Objective Structured Clinical Examination
A component of the RACGP Fellowship exam.

OTC – Over the counter

OTD – Overseas trained doctor – see IMG
Also known as IMGs (international medical graduates). May be subject to the 10-year moratorium.

PBS – Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme/ Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule

PIP – Practice Incentives Program

PGPPP – Prevocational General Practice Placement Program. Find out more about PGPPP.

QA and CPD – Quality Assurance and Continuing Professional Development

RACGP – Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
One of two General Practice colleges. Has a fellowship process for vocational recognition. RACGP also offers a Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP).

RACGP Library -  RACGP members can access the full suite of services provided by the RACGP John Murtagh Library. Non-members can access some services for a fee. Visit www.racgp.org.au/library

RACGP State Censor
A Fellow of the RACGP in each State. Checks that the GP registrar has completed training requirements for the awarding of Fellowship of the RACGP.

RDAA – Rural Doctors Association Australia
Has State branches. Represents rural doctor issues to government and other organisations.

RDL – Registrar-directed learning

RFDS – Royal Flying Doctors Service

RHWA – Rural Health Workforce Australia

RRIPS – Registrars Rural Incentive Payments Scheme
To be replaced by the General Practice Rural Incentives Program (GPRIP) from 1 July 2010.

RLO – GP Registrar Liaison Officer
Employed by an RTP to represent and advocate for GP registrars.

RMO – Resident Medical Officer

RPBS – Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme/Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule

RROC – Registrar Representative on Council

RRADO – Registrar Research and Development Officer

RSRF – Registrar Scholarship and Research Fund

RTP – Regional Training Provider
RTPs tender for contracts from GPET to provide regionalised GP training.

SBO – State-Based (Divisional) Organisation
A state-funded organisation, not always directly linked to ADGP or individual Divisions. Provides some educational activities that GP registrars can attend.

SIP – Service Incentive Payment

SLO – GP Supervisor Liaison Officer
Employed by an RTP to represent and advocate for GP Supervisors.

TA – Training Advisor

TGA – Therapeutic Goods Administration

TMO – Trainee Medical Officer

UGPA – United General Practice Australia

VMO – Visiting Medical Officer

VR – Vocational registration; vocational recognition

WONCA – World Organisation of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians