The Medical Board of Australia has endorsed the ACRRM and RACGP rural generalist training programs, marking the next step to formally recognising rural generalism as a subspecialty of general practice.

Health ministers announced in October that rural generalism would become the first GP subspecialty, following a seven-year campaign by the two colleges.

The board’s endorsement follows the Australian Medical Council’s accreditation of the two programs in July, confirming that they meet the national standards for specialist training.

It also means that rural generalist is now a protected title.