The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners

The First Year - GPEP1

In the first year of vocational education you are immersed in the experience of general practice, supported by expert clinicians and educators. You will undertake practice-based learning, experiencing ‘full-time general practice’ guided day-to-day by a GP teacher. Training can be undertaken with a training bursary or as an employed registrar.

For full time participants the programme runs for 42 weeks, divided into two 21-week general practice attachments. These attachments help you to translate your prior learning to a community-based, primary health team context, and to integrate new learning as you focus on the clinical needs of general practice. Part-time programme options are also available. 

During each attachment you will see patients under the supervision of a GP teacher, and receive one-on-one teaching and assistance. You will learn about primary and continuing care of patients through patient contact. Clinical supervision is an integral part of the training programme. Your teacher will meet with you for a minimum of 1.5 hours per week for informal discussions and questions, review of patients or problems, formal review of recorded consultations and joint consulting sessions.

In conjunction with your clinical placement there are regional day release seminars and workshops. These provide you with the opportunity to review and reflect on your practice experiences with your peers. As well as covering core topics, clinical skills and knowledge, topics for each seminar are structured using a training scaffold which links the topic to the curriculum domains.

At the end of the year you will be assessed in a written examination and a clinical examination using simulated consultations, these assessments form the primary membership examination (PRIMEX).

After your first year, you will move on to the second stage of the programme, GPEP2.

Applications for the 2012 intake close on 14 October 2011. The GPEP Stage 1 application form and information for applicants can be found in the below table.

Please contact us for more details.