RACGP Standards

Why this matters for your practice

The Standards are the yardstick every accredited general practice is measured against, so knowing their structure is the difference between an evidence folder that maps cleanly to what a surveyor checks and one that leaves gaps. Practices often treat accreditation as a scramble near survey time; understanding the Standards turns it into a set of systems you can maintain year-round. It also matters because the Standards decide which requirements are mandatory, and a single unmet mandatory indicator can hold up accreditation regardless of how strong the rest of the practice is.

How the Standards are structured

The Standards work as a hierarchy:

• Modules group the requirements. In the current 5th edition these are the Core module, the Quality improvement module, and the General practice module.
• Criteria sit under each module and describe an area of safe, quality care (for example informed consent, clinical governance, or infection prevention).
• Indicators are the specific, checkable requirements under each criterion. Some are marked as mandatory, and these carry extra weight at survey.

Accreditation against the Standards runs on a three-year cycle, with a self-assessment followed by an on-site or hybrid assessment by an accrediting agency.

The RACGP is moving from the 5th edition toward a 6th edition, so part of staying current is tracking what changes and migrating your evidence, rather than assuming last cycle's folder still fits.

What the assessor expects

• Evidence mapped to indicators, so each requirement has a document, record, or demonstrable system behind it.
• Every mandatory indicator met, with no exceptions treated as optional.
• Live systems, not just policies, for example a recall system that is actually used, not only described.
• Quality improvement activity that shows the practice measures, changes, and re-measures.
• Consistency across the team, so what the policy says matches what staff do.

Common mistakes

• Confusing the Standards with accreditation: the Standards are the document, accreditation is the process of being assessed against them.
• Missing a mandatory indicator while over-investing in lower-weight areas.
• Writing policies that describe an ideal practice the team does not actually follow.
• Leaving evidence to the last month instead of maintaining it across the cycle.
• Not tracking edition changes, so evidence is prepared against a superseded version.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the RACGP Standards?

The RACGP Standards for general practices are the national benchmark a practice is accredited against. They are structured into modules, criteria, and indicators, and set out what a safe, quality general practice must have in place.

What is the difference between the RACGP Standards and accreditation?

The Standards are the document that defines the requirements. Accreditation is the three-yearly process, run by an accrediting agency, of assessing whether a practice actually meets those requirements.

What are mandatory indicators?

Mandatory indicators are the requirements within the Standards flagged as essential. They carry particular weight at survey, and an unmet mandatory indicator can prevent a practice from being accredited even if other areas are strong.

Which edition of the RACGP Standards applies?

Practices are currently accredited against the 5th edition, with the RACGP introducing a 6th edition. Part of accreditation readiness is tracking edition changes and migrating your evidence so it matches the version you will be assessed against.

Last reviewed 2 July 2026