Closure of the Practice Assessment Pathway (PAP)

The Practice Assessment Pathway (PAP) has been available for the past five years to fellows with established independent procedural experience, defined as a minimum of three years of regular independent procedural practice.

To establish a single, consistent approach to procedural endorsement, FPM will close the PAP on 31 December 2026. From that date, the Supervised Clinical Experience Pathway (SCEP) will become the exclusive pathway for all new procedural endorsements.

What this means for fellows, trainees and SIMGs

• Final opportunity to apply under the PAP
  All FPM fellows seeking procedural endorsement through the PAP must submit a complete application by 31 December 2026. FPM will not accept applications received after this date.
• Trainees in the 2026 training year
  Doctors undertaking the FPM training program in 2026 must complete the SCEP and are not eligible to apply through the PAP.
• Specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs)
  FPM will continue to consider established procedural practice through a recognition pathway for pain medicine specialists undertaking the SIMG process. Eligible doctors will receive further information.
• Expanding an existing scope of practice
  Fellows who already hold procedural endorsement and wish to add new procedures to their scope of practice must do so through the SCEP.
• After PAP closure
  From 1 January 2027, the SCEP will be the sole pathway for obtaining new procedural endorsements.

Supporting a fair and reasonable transition

We recognise that fellows are at different stages of their procedural practice. Where appropriate, PAP applicants who demonstrate a genuine and sustained commitment to developing their procedural skills, but require additional time to meet competency requirements, may receive a post-application assessment period (usually up to 12 months) to submit further evidence.

This may apply, for example, if you are:

• A new fellow (within two years of fellowship) who could not formally enrol in the SCEP during training because of limited access to accredited procedural supervisors, despite gaining relevant experience under experienced proceduralists (such as supervisors of training).
• A fellow with relevant procedural experience who has practised in another setting (for example, regional or overseas), where access to procedural lists has been limited in recent years.

The Procedures in Pain Medicine Committee will make final determinations regarding procedural endorsement.

The application form sets out the eligibility criteria and required supporting documentation. Further detailed information is available on the website. Please contact the faculty if you have any questions.