The pre-vocational pathways to general practice are many and varied, yet all include a period in hospital-based practice. During this time, trainees rotate through a variety of distinct disciplines, which, broadly speaking, encompass the range of conditions they might encounter once ensconced in community-based primary healthcare. As these experiences are structured on the apprenticeship model, each participant can expect to interact with patients with sufficient familiarity to gain a clear and focused appreciation of the history, physical examination findings, investigation results and treatment paths. All of these build on medical school experience and form the foundations required for formal vocational training.