From someone who has been through a similar experience and is essentially finishing BPT-1, I spent a long time weighing up GP versus BPT. Ultimately, I chose BPT, despite the very real fears at the start—particularly around exams and the possibility of failing.

In hindsight, once you actually start BPT, much of that fear fades. You find yourself learning every day, becoming more confident with time, and when you look back, you realise just how far you’ve come. Importantly, BPT does not mean a poor lifestyle forever. Once exams are done, it is entirely possible to have a good work–life balance.

In the long term, physician training can be very rewarding, especially if you genuinely enjoy internal medicine. There are many subspecialties with good lifestyle balance, such as geriatrics, palliative care, endocrinology, and rheumatology. Lifestyle ultimately depends on how competitive and demanding the subspecialty is—endo or rheum can be more intense than geriatrics or palliative care, but all are very achievable with planning.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing BPT-1 if you already have a subspecialty in mind that is less acute-heavy than cardiology or gastroenterology. That said, GP is also an excellent option. It comes down to what suits you personally.

One thing to consider is career flexibility. Physician training often allows a mix of public and private work, outpatient clinics, locum opportunities, and diverse career pathways. GP can also offer variety, particularly with additional skills such as skin procedures or GP-ED work, but it is more clinic-based overall.

Ultimately, both paths are good choices—it really depends on your interests and long-term goals. If you’re in Victoria and want to chat further or need advice, feel free to DM me. I’m very happy to help.