Surgical Education and Training (SET)

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) has been recognised for over 80 years as the authoritative body for standards and training in surgical practice in Australia and New Zealand. RACS is accredited in Australia and New Zealand to train surgeonsas competent, independently practising specialists in each of nine surgical specialties.

The Surgical Education and Training (SET) program promotes high quality, efficient surgical education and training through early selection into speciality training - surgical trainees are selected directly into the specialty in which they will undertake specialist surgical education and training. Common standards and principles underpin training across all the specialties.

RACS conducts selection, training and assessment to ensure that surgical trainees become competent surgeons who provide safe, comprehensive surgical care of the highest standard to the communities we serve.

Specialty training boards allocate trainees to accredited training posts for their clinical placements. The specialty boards monitor the quality and outcomes of training in each post  through regular hospital accreditation processes and through information from trainees' logbooks.  Hospitals also have supervisors to monitor trainee progress.

What specialties are surgeons trained in?

RACS trains doctors to become surgeons in nine surgical specialities:

• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• General Surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
• Paediatric Surgery
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Urology
• Vascular Surgery

Guide to SET

You will find detailed information about SET training in the Guide to SET  (PDF 1.13MB) 

Curriculum Framework

You will find the framework upon which specialty curriculum is developed in the Curriculum (PDF 200 KB)

Nine RACS Competencies

The College has developed nine RACS competencies, deemed essential for graduating trainees and surgeons. These nine competencies underpin SET.

Training Standards

You will find a framework for standards of performance in each of the nine RACS competencies in Becoming a competent and proficient surgeon: Training Standards for the Nine RACS Competencies (PDF 172 KB)

Examinations

Information on examination dates and requirements.

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