Formal accreditation against the Standards involves a structured assessment of your practice.

The process of accreditation allows a general practice to improve and enhance its organisation and management by identifying areas for improvement in a systematic and objective manner, by providing practical analysis, guidance and benchmarks.

After the 1st November 2011, all practices registering for accreditation or being reaccredited will be assessed against the RACGP Standards for general practices 4th edition.

Accreditation is a three year cycle. The following steps outline the accreditation process:

1. Register with an accreditation provider. Choice of two accreditation providers. AGPAL or GPA.
2. Perform a self assessment. Assess your practice against the RACGP Standards for General Practice
3. Collect patient feedback
4. Submit the self assessment on satisfactory completion
5. Arrange the accreditation visit
6. Prepare for accreditation visit
7. Accreditation visit conducted
8. Assessors prepare a survey report for review an internal Accreditation Review Committee
9. Report received by practice from the accreditation provider
10. Address any outstanding issues highlighted in the report
11. Accreditation is granted or maintained

Accreditation expires three years from the award date.

A practice will be awarded one of two levels of accreditation subsequent to the survey visit. Accreditation is granted when a practice meets every standard of the RACGP Standards for General Practice whilst Conditional Accreditation is granted when a practice does not meet every standard.