The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is suspending the Candidate Assessment and Applied Knowledge Test (CAAKT) for the final intake of the 2021 Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program and will provide a full refund to candidates.
The test, scheduled to commence from Monday 19 October, uses the same platform as the Key Feature Problem (KFP) exam which had to be cancelled last week.
RACGP Acting President Associate Professor Ayman Shenouda said the RACGP has reached an agreement with Regional Training Organisations (RTOs) to allow all final intake candidates to progress through the selection process without delay.
"After considering all our options, we simply could not risk candidates experiencing what KFP candidates went through last Friday, and have instead worked quickly with RTOs to come up with an alternative approach," he said.
"Given the relatively small number of candidates for the second and final AGPT intake for 2021, the RTOs have agreed all CAAKT candidates will automatically progress to the final selection process where their medical knowledge as well as their clinical, ethical and other decision-making skills will be tested at the multiple mini interview."
"The use of multiple mini interviews is a familiar step in the selection process which means that we are not introducing a new methodology for candidates late in the selection process."
RTOs will be in touch directly with candidates about the scheduling of these stage three interviews.
"We will also fully refund the $725 selection fee candidates have paid, and will commence the refund process next week," Associate Professor Shenouda said.
The Acting RACGP President said that candidates do not need to take any immediate action to receive this refund or continue with the 2021 AGPT selection process.
"I appreciate candidates will have made preparations for this assessment that extend well beyond making themselves available at the appointed time on test day," he said.
"Those efforts will not be wasted and will still be of benefit for candidates in the alternate selection process."
The RACGP offers and endorses a range of services for doctors' mental health, including:
· the GP Support Program – offers free, confidential, 24/7 access to crisis counselling, and scheduled access to face-to-face or telephone counselling
· Drs4Drs – a mental health service especially for doctors including a 24/7 helpline staffed by senior GPs and experienced counsellors trained in doctors' health
· the Black Dog Institute's The Essential Network for Health Professionals.
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