How To Become A General Practitioner In South Africa

A general practitioner (GP) is a doctor who is also qualified in general medical practice. GPs are often the first point of contact for someone, of any age, who feels sick or has a health concern.

What’s it like to be a General Practitioner?

As a GP you will have broad medical knowledge and the skills to examine patients. A GP is usually the first port of call when a person has a health issue. You may treat common illnesses and minor injuries and refer more serious cases to other specialists.

A GP is qualified to give general health advice and prescribe medications. You will often act as the central point of contact for patients and coordinate their holistic health needs.

What is a GP starting salary?

A doctor in specialist training starts on a basic salary of £37,935 and progresses to £48,075. Salaried general practitioners (GPs) earn £58,808 to £88,744 depending on the length of service and experience. GP partners are self-employed and receive a share of profits of the business.

What is a general doctor called?

Also called family doctors or internists, general practitioners often develop an ongoing relationship with you, providing continuity of care. They treat common medical conditions and perform routine exams. They refer you to other medical services or doctors if you need urgent or specialized treatment.

Below are Tasks and duties To Become A General Practitioner In South Africa


Provide competent, patient-centered care that addresses the patients’ health needs and promotes wellness

Administrating basic medical treatments, such as injections, immunization’s, skin cancer removals, wound dressing, stitches and minor surgical procedures

Keeping detailed, up-to-date records of all patient treatments and interactions for their own medical practice and Medicare

Keeping up to date with the latest medical treatments and medications relevant to general practice/primary healthcare

Advising patients on diet, nutrition, exercise, health care plans/ additional assessments, travel plans and other lifestyle habits to prevent or recover from illness

Arranging admission of patients to hospital where necessary

Below is How To Become A General Practitioner In South Africa

Complete a relevant degree such as the double degree Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine. Alternatively, complete an undergraduate degree followed by a postgraduate qualification, such as the Doctor of Medicine masters-level program.

Entry into these programs is based on prior completion of a bachelor degree, performance in the Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) and a score resulting from a semi-structured interview.

Complete an internship at a recognised hospital (1 year).

Apply for registration with the Medical Board of Australia.

Obtain GP fellowship. There are two medical colleges in Australia through which you can obtain GP fellowship. The colleges in Australia are:

the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), resulting in Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), resulting in Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM).

To become a fellow of the FRACGP, you must complete an additional 3 years of general practice training following the intern year and pass an exam. Rural practice incorporates a further year of special rural skills training (3-4 years).

How long does it take to become a general practitioner in South Africa?

In order to become a general practitioner, one must study and train for a minimum of 6 years. Before one can begin studying to become a general practitioner at a university in South Africa, students need to matriculate with the following subjects: English. Mathematics.

What qualifications do you need to be a GP In South Africa?

You’ll need to complete:

a 5-year degree in medicine, recognised by the General Medical Council.

a 2-year foundation course of general training.

a 3-year specialist training course in general practice.

How long does it take to become a general practitioner In South Africa?

Answer: It takes around 12 years to become a general practitioner (GP), also known as physicians or medical doctors (MD). This is one of the longest educational paths for any profession in the In South Africa

What is a general doctor called?

Also called family doctors or internists, general practitioners often develop an ongoing relationship with you, providing continuity of care. They treat common medical conditions and perform routine exams. They refer you to other medical services or doctors if you need urgent or specialized treatment.

How much does it cost to study medicine in South Africa?

The cost of tuition can vary quite a lot for medicine in South Africa. The cheapest can be R 27959.23 per year, while the most expensive is around $15,000. In addition, you have to think about living costs as well, which can be quite expensive in South Africa.

Is a doctor a job or career?

A doctor is a medical professional who is highly educated in a field of medicine, and they work as physicians, surgeons, and other highly trained medical experts.

Which university is the best in medicine in South Africa?

Here are the best global universities for clinical medicine in South Africa

University of Cape Town.

University of Witwatersrand.

Stellenbosch University.

University of KwaZulu Natal.

North West University – South Africa.

University of Pretoria.

University of the Western Cape.

How much do medical students get paid in South Africa?

Once approved for a bursary, a medical student will be paid R10 000.00 in January and the remaining R10 000 in August as stated above in the Policy.

Which university can I study to be a doctor in South Africa?

You can only study medicine in accredited South African Universities. There are nine medical universities in South Africa, including the University of Cape Town, University of Witwatersrand, and Stellenbosch University.

Can I become a doctor without Physics in South Africa?

Note also, you don’t need to have physics for Occupational or Speech therapy. Stellenbosch also offers the option of a Bachelor of Science in Human Physiology. With an average of 60-70% (code 5) you can consider Dentistry or Pharmacy at the University of Western Cape (UWC).

How much do nurses earn in South Africa per month?

The average salary for a Nurse in SA is R 341 620 gross per year (R 28 470 gross per month), which is 23% higher than the South Africa’s national average salary. Salary Range: a Nurse can expect an average starting basic salary of R 144 200. The highest salaries can exceed R 583 500 (excluding benefits and allowances).