Short-term-training in Australia

You may be eligible to undertake up to two years of short-term training if you:

• are an overseas-trained specialist and have passed the relevant specialist examinations, or
• are an overseas specialist-in-training and are no more than two years from completing specialist training, and
• have been offered a short-term training position in Australia.

RACS’ role is to advise the MBA as to the suitability of the applicant to undertake a specific short-term training position.

NOTE: Short-term training positions do not lead to Fellowship of the RACS (FRACS) or general or specialist registration.

Learn more about pathways to Fellowship of RACS.

Learn more about medical registration in Australia.

There is an application fee when applying to RACS for assessment of your suitability for a short-term training position.

The FAQ section of this page has all the information on which fees are applicable in which circumstances. 

Payment of the fee must be made in full when lodging your application online. RACS accepts payment via credit card.

The short-term training application fee covers RACS’ administrative costs for processing an application and assessing your suitability for the proposed short-term training position. It is not a training fee and it cannot be refunded once an application has been processed, including in the event an applicant is unable to proceed with the training for any reason.

RACS fees are reviewed annually and listed on the College fees page. 

2022 Short-term training fees

Short-term training application fee AUD $1,510 (including GST)

Short-term training extension fee AUD $1,510 (including GST)

Additional site fee AUD $ 495 (including GST)
 

FAQs:

What documents will I need to provide?

To apply for short-term training you will be required to submit the documents outlined in RACS’ Checklist: Short-Term Training (under 'Forms'). Please ensure you have thoroughly reviewed the checklist and obtained all required documents before commencing your online application for short-term training.

Incomplete applications will not be progressed until RACS is able to confirm receipt of all documents outlined in the checklist.

How much does it cost to apply for short-term training?

Please refer to the above “Fees” section.

How long does it take for RACS to process my short-term training application? 

RACS aims to process applications for short-term training within four weeks from the date of acceptance of a complete application. To minimise delays in the application process, please ensure you provide all the required documents when you submit your application.

Please be advised RACS is unable to expedite the processing of applications. It is therefore strongly recommended applications are submitted 8-12 weeks in advance of the training start date.

Can I apply for an extension of my approved short-term training period?

Applicants for short-term training may request a maximum of 24 months of short-term training in total. Extensions will only be considered when the following three conditions are met:

1. an extension application is submitted via the online application form;
2. RACS receives all documents outlined in RACS’ Checklist: Short Term Training Extensions;
3. The details of your current position (including title, position description, supervisors and locations) remain unchanged. NOTE: if the details of your position have changed, you must submit a new application for short-term training.

How much does it cost to apply for an extension of my approved short-term training period?

Please refer to the above “Fees” section – refer to Short-term training extension fee.

How long does it take for RACS to process my extension application? 

RACS aims to process extension applications for short-term training within four weeks from the date of acceptance of the completed extension application. To minimise delays in the application process, please ensure you provide all the required documents when you submit your application.

Please be advised RACS is unable to expedite the processing of applications. It is therefore strongly recommended applications are submitted 8-12 weeks in advance of the training start date.

Can I change the start/end dates of my endorsed short-term training period?

Any requests for a change to previously endorsed start/end dates will only be considered by RACS provided that:

• the details of your current position have not changed (NOTE: if the details of your current position have changed, you must submit a new application for short-term training);
• the duration of the proposed new training program does not increase (i.e. if your endorsed training period was 12 months, the proposed new training period must not exceed 12 months) 

  (NOTE: If you wish to extend your short-term training instead, please refer to the question: Can I apply for an extension of my approved short-term training period?).

To request a change of dates of your current approved short-term training, please email the following documents to SIMG.Enquiries@surgeons.org:

• correspondence from the hospital or site outlining the reason for the change and confirming the requested dates
•  position description and/or training plan (as provided in your current approved short-term training application).

There is no fee charged to submit a request to change the dates of your short-term training.

How long does it take for RACS to process my request for a change of start/end dates?

RACS aims to process requests for change of dates within two weeks from the date of acceptance of the completed application.

Can I add another hospital to my endorsed short-term training?

Additional site requests will only be considered by RACS:

• following confirmation of receipt of all documents outlined in RACS’ Additional Site Application Form;
• if the details of your current position are unchanged (NOTE: if the details of your current position have changed, you must submit a new application for short-term training).

In order to add an additional site to your current endorsed short-term training, please email the following documents to SIMG.Enquiries@surgeons.org:

Checklist - Additional Site Application:

• AAMC-30 Medical Board of Australia/AHPRA Application for assessment by a medical college form
• Position Description and/or Training Plan, which clearly lists all sites at which you will be required to practice.

From 7 August 2023 there will be a processing fee of $450 (+GST) for an Additional Site Application.

How long does it take for RACS to process my additional site request?

RACS aims to process additional site requests within two weeks from the date of receipt of the required documents.

Who can I contact if I have any further questions?

• For questions about applying to RACS for assessment of a short-term training position, please contact: SIMG.Enquiries@surgeons.org or call +61 88219 0972
• If you experience any difficulties with the online application, please contact: help.desk@surgeons.org or call +61 3 9249 7422
• For questions relating to primary source verification, please contact the Australian Medical Council (AMC) or visit their website
• For more information on medical registration in Australia, please visit the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) website
• To learn more about pathways to Fellowship of RACS, please visit Pathways for SIMGs