Rural GP Highlights the Value of Becoming an RACGP Fellowship Examiner
22 Jul 2026
Dr Sara Fergusson has worked as an RACGP Clinical Competency Exam (CCE) and Quality Assurance examiner for several years. She said the role has helped her stay up to date with current Fellowship standards, making it easier to guide GP registrars as a supervisor.
She also wanted to represent rural and remote communities, Aboriginal Medical Services and dual Fellowship training pathways within the examiner group.
Originally from Scotland, Dr Fergusson began her Australian GP training in Broken Hill in 2003 after moving to Australia as an international medical graduate. She first worked as a paediatric registrar, providing neonatal and paediatric retrieval services across New South Wales.
Her training later included psychiatry, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Maari Ma Aboriginal Health Corporation, experiences that strengthened her commitment to rural, remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare.
She later completed emergency medicine training at St Vincent's Hospital Sydney before choosing to continue her Dual Fellowship GP training in regional New South Wales.
Dr Fergusson said working as an examiner has allowed her to learn how the Fellowship assessment has changed over time while contributing to a fair and consistent examination process.
The latest RACGP Clinical Competency Exam was held over four days in June, with 1,076 candidates sitting the 2026.1 CCE. Results show 850 candidates passed, giving an overall pass rate of 79%.
For doctors preparing for the exam, Dr Fergusson encouraged candidates to approach the assessment in the same way they manage patients every day in general practice.
She said strong clinical reasoning, clear communication, structured consultations and patient-centred care are all essential skills. She also encouraged candidates to demonstrate curiosity, understand each patient's individual circumstances and use available multidisciplinary support when appropriate.
According to the 2026.1 CCE report, the largest areas assessed were:
- Clinical management and therapeutic reasoning – 25%
- Communication and consultation skills – 22%
- Diagnosis, decision-making and reasoning – 21%
- Clinical information gathering and interpretation – 14%
Dr Fergusson also highlighted the importance of practising communication in an online setting, as virtual consultations require different skills from face-to-face appointments.
She suggested practising online case discussions with supervisors, colleagues or study groups and said professional voice and communication coaching can provide useful feedback for candidates preparing for the exam.
Dr Fergusson believes learning does not stop after Fellowship, saying ongoing professional development remains an important part of every GP's career.
Rural GP Highlights the Value of Becoming an RACGP Fellowship Examiner
Source: RACGP newsGP