Qualifications

DOCTORS QUALIFICATIONS

WHAT DO ALL THOSE LETTERS MEAN?

FRACGP – Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Fellowship is the admission to the specialty of general practice. The RACGP is responsible for maintaining and developing the standards of general practice in Australia. The RACGP’s Fellowship program is held in high esteem around the world and since 1996 the Australian Government has adopted the Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP) as the standard for certifying competence to deliver unsupervised general practice services in any general practice setting in Australia – urban, regional, rural and remote.

FRACP – Fellow of Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Is recognition of the completion of the prescribed postgraduate specialist training program in internal adult or internal paediatric medicine of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

FRCP – Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians is a British professional body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of Physicians by examination.

MBBS – Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery

MBChB – Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery/Chirurgery
Both of the above MBBS and MBChB are awarded to medical practitioners upon graduation from university. A doctor with an MBBS holds a basic medical degree.

MRCP (UK) – Member of the Royal College of Physicians
MRCP (UK) develops and delivers membership and specialty examinations that are recognised around the world as quality benchmarks of medical knowledge and clinical skills. MRCP (UK) is accountable to the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom. The Federation sets internationally acknowledged standards in medicine, building on a proud tradition of professional excellence, established over centuries by British physicians.

FACRRM – Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
GP Registrars enrolled in the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program, working towards completion of the FACRRM undertake a four year program which includes a year of specialised training to prepare for rural general practice. On completion of the AGPT program and fellowship is achieved (FACRRM) members are then able to work as a vocationally registered GP anywhere in Australia.

RANZCOG – Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
The present College, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) was formed in October 1998 with the amalgamation of the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RACOG) and the Royal New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RNZOG).

Previously Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialists were represented by:

The Australian Regional Council of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG UK) (formed in 1947)
The Australian Council of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG UK) (formed in 1966)
The Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RACOG) (formed in 1980)

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists training program is a 6 year structured post – graduate program which leads first to certification as a Member (MRANZCOG) of the College and then to certification as a Fellow of the College (FRANZCOG). Fellowship of the RANZCOG is the only post-graduate qualification which leads to recognition as a specialist Obstetrician/Gynaecologist in Australia or New Zealand.

RACOG – Royal Australia College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (see above RANZCOG)

DRANZCOG – Diploma of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
This is a diploma qualification for general practitioners/residents who wish to provide shared ante and postnatal care with Specialist Obstetricians, GP Obstetricians or a specialist hospital. Specifically, the aim of the DRANZCOG is to offer training to doctors who wish to,

Provide shared antenatal and postnatal care with Specialist Obstetricians, GP Obstetricians or a specialist hospital
Provide office gynaecology
Provide family planning
Manage the antenatal care of low to moderate risk patients
Perform normal deliveries and assisted deliveries
Perform basic gynaecological procedures

MRCGP (UK) – Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners
MRCGP is an integrated assessment system, success in which confirms that a doctor has satisfactorily completed speciality training for general practice, and is competent to enter independent practice in the United Kingdom without further supervision. Satisfactory completion of the MRCGP is a pre-requisite for the issue of a certificate of completion of training (CCT) and full membership of the RCGP.

DFSRH – Diploma of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health
The DFSRH is a learning package using theoretical and practical assessments to enable the holder to demonstrate that they have the knowledge and skills required to manage community sexual and reproductive health consultations. It covers the breadth of sexual and reproductive health. The DFSRH was formerly known as the DFFP (Diploma of the Faculty of Family Planning). The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health is one of the faculties of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

DFFP – Diploma of the Faculty of Family Planning (see above DFSRH)

FCP (SA) – Fellowship of the College of Physicians of South Africa
For admission to the Fellowship of The College of Physicians of South Africa, the candidate must have sat and passed their exit exam. Once passed this means that the candidate is qualified to fulfil the role of a Specialist General Physician in the medical and academic communities. This Fellowship is closely linked to the Fellow of Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP).

CCT – Certificate of Completion of Training (UK)
The Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) is the certificate that medical doctors in the United Kingdom receive to indicate that they have completed training in their chosen specialty and are therefore eligible for entry onto the specialist or GP register pathway.

Satisfactory completion of the MRCGP is a pre-requisite for the issue of a certificate of completion of training (CCT) and full membership of the RCGP. This registration is needed to apply for posts as a Consultant or General Practitioner (GP) respectively.

As of 2010, there are postgraduate medical training programmes in 61 specialities that lead to the award of a CCT.

The Specialist Training Authority (STA), which was formed by the combined Royal College awarded a certificate called a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training, or CCST. Currently these two certificates are considered equivalent.

CCST – Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (UK) (see above CCT)