Rural practice: Funding to upgrade skills
If you are a new graduate, an international medical graduate, or a physician transitioning out of full-time practice who is interested in entering rural practice, you may be eligible to receive up to 20 days of funding for skills enhancement training through the Rural Skills Upgrade Program (RSUP).
RSUP funding is provided by the Rural Education Action Plan (REAP). Before applying for RSUP, physicians must be accepted into one of the Rural GP Locum Program, the Rural GPA Locum Program, or the Rural Specialist Locum Program. All applicants must be willing to complete a return of service to the locum program within 1 year of completion of training. The return of service will be twice as long as the training commitment.
Successful applicants will be paired with a preceptor. While physicians are encouraged to train with preceptors they know, REAP can help successful applicants connect with preceptors if they do not have any contacts. The learning structure is shaped by the applicant’s educational needs and can involve a regional experience, training in a high-volume urban setting, or a combination of both.
Funding includes a stipend to cover income loss as well as travel and accommodation expenses. Training may be completed prior to providing any service to the locum programs.
While funding for courses and conferences is not available through RSUP, locum physicians may access funding for selected courses through REAP’s Rural GP Locum CME Program. Locum physicians may also be eligible for funding to complete the San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training Program, an online course delivered by the Provincial Health Services Authority. To learn more about any REAP program, contact the REAP program assistant at reap@familymed.ubc.ca or call 604 827-1504.