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 for August/September 2025 Exam - CLOSED as of 12pm (noon) on Monday 23 June 2025.

Written Component

7 August 2025 (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 5 September 2025.

Clinical/Viva Component in Adelaide, Australia

Saturday 20 September to Sunday 21 September 2025; except for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery which will run from Friday 19 September to Sunday 21 September 2025.
Result Release and Presentation of successful candidates to the Court of Examiners:
Monday 22 September 2025. 

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

From 2025, the Fellowship Examination will be uncoupled, i.e. the outcome of the Written component and Clinical/Viva component will be released separately. 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.