Overview

The Fellowship examination is a summative assessment undertaken towards the end of each Surgical Education and Training program or as a requirement of a SIMG assessment. The examination is comprised of written and clinical/viva components. In each specialty, there are seven segments in total, with most being divided into two written papers and five clinical/viva segments.

The required standard for this examination is a level of competency equivalent to that of a consultant surgeon in his or her first year of independent practice. The surgical competencies espoused by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons are used as a guideline for the examiners who follow agreed marking guidelines and the predetermined standard. The examination is blueprinted to each specialty's curriculum.

Registration period

The April/May 2026 exam opens on 12 January 2026 at 1pm (AEDT VIC time zone) and will close on 28 January 2026 at 1pm (AEDT VIC time zone). 

General Surgery and Orthopaedic Surgery only:
Due to limited number of examination spots available in Australia, some Australian-based candidates may be invited to sit the examination in Aotearoa New Zealand. Registration will be on a first-come first-served basis.
No registration will be accepted after the closing date/time stipulated above.

Written Component

Thursday 9 April 2026 (Multiple locations)
Candidates will be notified via email regarding their progression to the clinical/viva component approximately two weeks prior to the scheduled start date of the first clinical/viva segment, ie. by Friday 8 May 2026.

Clinical/Viva Component in Wellington, NZ

For General Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery
Exam dates: Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May 2026
Result release and Presentation of successful candidates to the Court of Examiners: Monday 25 May 2026

Clinical/Viva Component in Melbourne, AU

For all specialties, except Neurosurgery
Exam dates: Saturday 30 to Sunday 31 May 2026; except for Cardiothoracic Surgery and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery which will run from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May 2026.
Result release and Presentation of successful candidates to the Court of Examiners: Monday 01 June 2026.

Written Examination as a pre-requisite to the Clinical/Viva

All candidates will need to achieve at least one pass in the Written component of the Fellowship Examination in order to progress to the Clinical/Viva component of the exam.

1) Candidates who do not meet the standard for a Pass in two written segments will not progress to the Clinical/Viva exams. These candidates will receive a refund of the examination fee for the Clinical/Viva Component. 

2) Candidates who meet the standard for a Pass in at least one Written segment in their specialty will be invited to sit the Clinical/Viva exams. All candidates in Vascular Surgery (only one written paper) will progress to the Clinical/Viva exams.

3) Candidates who progress to the Clinical/Viva exams and fail the overall exam will be advised of their failed segments when they receive their official results letters after the conclusion of the exam.

4) Candidates who fail one written segment and fail the overall exam must re-sit the written component in their next exam attempt.

5) Candidates who pass all written segments but do not pass the overall exam will receive a one-time exemption from sitting the written component at the next scheduled exam, allowing them to progress directly to the clinical/viva component. This exemption only applies to the next scheduled exam and cannot be carried over to any other future exam.

Important Note: As candidates will no longer automatically progress to the clinical/viva component, we advise all candidates to book flexible/refundable flights and accommodation for the clinical/viva examination component.

RACS is not responsible for any costs incurred by candidates in relation to the examination including, but not limited to, flights, transportation, accommodation, and any other fees and charges.