Analysis by training status of performance in the certification examination for Australian family doctors.

OBJECTIVES: Following recent changes to eligibility requirements for recognition as a general practitioner in Australia, an increasing proportion of candidates select the non-training, or practice-eligible, route to the RACGP Fellowship Examination, without the benefit of formal general practice training.
DESIGN: Pass rates for the training and practice-eligible cohorts from the 1996 and 1997 examinations were determined and compared.
SETTING: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
SUBJECTS: General practitioner candidates for the RACGP.
RESULTS: The analysis of the 1996 and 1997 examinations showed that the overall pass rate and individual examination segment scores of the practice-eligible route candidates were lower than those for candidates from the training route.
CONCLUSIONS: The observed difference in performance is more probably due to different preparation for the examination than any systematic bias against particular groups of candidates. All candidates for the examination would benefit from exposure to the general practice curriculum and supervised experience in Australian general practice.