Thinking about retiring?

Formally, ‘Retired Fellow’ status with RACS applies in the case that you:

• have fully retired from all forms of clinical practice* and are no longer practising as a medical practitioner AND
• are not registered as a medical practitioner by your country’s medical regulator OR
• are categorised as ‘non-practising’ and no longer have a CPD requirement as determined by your medical regulator.

*Clinical practice includes operative, consulting, assisting, general practice, medico practice, medico legal and administrative roles.

Further information can be found in the Retired Fellows policy (PDF 153.92KB). 

Retired Fellows maintain the same rights and benefits to active Fellows however they no longer have a requirement in the College’s CPD Program and are no longer required to pay an annual membership fee.

Your change in membership status from active to retired, in accordance with the College definition of retirement, must be confirmed in writing. 

To inform the College of your retirement, please download and complete the Confirmation of Retirement Form (PDF 139.12KB) and email to Fellowship.Admission@surgeons.org. 

You can also mail your completed form to us:

RACS Fellowship Services
Att: Fellowship Coordinator
250-290 Spring Street
East Melbourne VIC 3002

Should you wish to maintain your specialist and/or general registration, you will remain an active Fellow of the College. As your work circumstances have changed however, there may be an alternative subscription category available that better reflects your circumstances. For further information please contact our staff via the contact details below.

Please be aware, to remain registered with your medical regulator and as an active Fellow of the College, you will need to continue to fulfil your CPD requirements. Should you have any queries regarding CPD, our team will be happy to assist and can be contacted directly on +61 3 9249 1282 or by email CPD.College@surgeons.org.

• Surgical career transitions guide
• Position paper: Senior surgeons in active practice (2018)
• RACS Interest Groups

If you have queries regarding the benefits and implications of retiring, our Executive Director of Surgical Affairs Dr John Quinn is available for peer-to-peer advice, and can be contacted by email John.Quinn@surgeons.org. 

For general enquiries about retirement:
Email: Fellowship.Admission@surgeons.org
Telephone: +61 3 9276 7407

For CPD enquiries:
Email: CPD.College@surgeons.org
Telephone: +61 3 9249 1282