Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Q: How many times can I apply to SET?
A: Please check the specialty-specific selection regulations as some specialties have limited the number of applications that can be made to SET.

Q: Can I apply as soon as I've finished my medical degree?
A: The earliest you may apply to SET is when you are in PGY3.

Q: How many specialties can I apply to?
A: You may apply to all nine surgical specialties if you wish.

Q: If I've already done an ED and/or ICU rotation as an intern will I have to repeat these?
A: See the specialty-specific selection requirements for the specialty or specialties that you are interested in. Some specialties have a restriction regarding the currency of your clinical experiences; usually, this is within the last two to five years.

Q: When will selection occur?
A: Application dates are the same each year for all surgical specialties in Australia and New Zealand.

Stage 1: Registration of intent to apply (opens in January and closes in February)

Stage 2: Application (opens in February/March and close in March/April)

Selection for all specialties will be completed by mid July. Successful applicants must accept offers within 10 days of the offer.

Q: What is the earliest time I can sit the early SET exams? How long will the exam results be valid if I pass?
A: The early SET exams include a specialty-specific Surgical Sciences Exam and a clinical exam (CE). These exams are held in February and June each year. Please refer to the Exams and specialty webpages for details of requirements for each specialty.

Clinical Exam results do not have a 'lifetime'. If you have passed this exam, you will not be required to resit if you change specialties but you may need to do an additional, specialty-specific exam.

Q: What are the eligibility criteria for applying to SET?
A: There are two types of eligibility criteria (generic and specialty-specific) which applicants must satisfy.

The generic eligibility criteria apply to all surgical specialties.

All specialty training boards have made the successful completion of the Generic Surgical Sciences Exam (GSSE) a mandatory eligibility requirement for the SET selection process. Depending upon the specialty you apply for, this must be passed either by the time of registration or by the close of applications (a pass in the February session of the GSSE). Refer to the relevant specialty-specific regulations for confirmation of when this requirement must be met.

At the time of registration applicants must have:

• permanent residency or citizenship in Australia or New Zealand
• medical registration
  • In Australia: General (unconditional) registration, or
  • In New Zealand: General scope or restricted general scope registration in the relevant specialty
• completed Hand Hygiene Australia's RACS Hand Hygiene module since 1 January 2013
• completed the RACS Operating with Respect eModule
• either passed the GSSE or be enrolled for the February GSSE exam (as above). 

Applicants must also consent to a full criminal history check including submission of relevant documentation on request to enable this to be undertaken. All generic eligibility requirements must be completed prior to the closing of registration in the year of application.

Detailed specialty-specific eligibility criteria are published on the College website.

Q: When do I have to complete the eligibility criteria?
A: Generic eligibility requirements must be completed before registration. 

Specialty specific eligibility requirements: Applicants must be able to demonstrate at the time of submitting their application that they meet the eligibility requirements defined by the specialty. Some specialties allow applicants to complete some eligibility requirements before the start of the next training year, however if a selected applicant does not fulfil these requirements by this time their offer will be withdrawn.

Unless stated otherwise, an acceptable clinical rotation is a post-graduate experience with a minimum duration of eight weeks which has been under the supervision of an appropriately qualified clinician (surgeon, physician, anaesthetist or intensivist, depending on the type of term). Critical care experience is defined as ICU, HDU, or similar high-intensity clinical area training environments, including, by way of example, cardiothoracic; burns units; spinal units; vascular units; and busy acute general surgery units.

Q: Can I apply to SET in Australia and New Zealand?
A: Applicants to specialties which conduct separate selection application processes in Australia and New Zealand may only apply for selection in one country, not both. Applicants must nominate which country they are applying to at the time of registration.

Q: What are the pre-requisites for the specialties?
A: As well as generic eligibility requirements many specialties have specialty-specific requirements. Specialty specific requirements are available on the College website in Selection requirements.

Q: I've got a specialty/ICU/ED rotation scheduled for later in the year. Am I eligible to apply to SET this year?
A: That depends upon the eligibility requirements of the specialty to which you are applying.

Q: Will I have to resit the SSE (MCQ) exam in SET if I did it in BST?
A: Trainees who completed BST will need to complete all examinations specified by the relevant specialty. Exemptions can no longer be claimed for the Basic Surgical Exam (BSE).

Q: Can I apply to other specialties?
A: Yes. There is no limit to the number of specialties that you may apply to in SET. Please note that if you intend to apply to other specialties you will need to register during the registration period. You will also be required to meet all relevant specialty specific eligibility requirements.

Q: How do I get into the SET program if I am a foreign trained candidate? What do I need to do to be eligible to apply for advanced training?
A: There are two types of eligibility criteria (generic and specialty specific) which applicants must satisfy in order to proceed with their applications.

The generic eligibility criteria apply to all surgical specialties.

Applicants must have:

• permanent residency or citizenship status of Australia or New Zealand
• general (unconditional) registration in Australia or General scope or restricted general scope registration in the relevant specialty in New Zealand
• completed Hand Hygiene Australia's RACS Hand Hygiene Module
• completed the RACS Operating with Respect eModule

Applicants must also consent to a full criminal history check including submission of relevant documentation on request to enable this to be undertaken. All generic eligibility requirements must be completed prior to the closing of registration in the year of application,

Detailed specialty specific eligibility criteria are published on the College website.

Q: Do I have to have my AMC registration (full unconditional registration to practise in Australia or general scope registration to practise in New Zealand) before I can apply to SET?
A: Yes.

Q: Can I apply to SET while I'm waiting for confirmation from the AMC?
A: No.

Q: I am an overseas trained doctor and have completed my *BST equivalent* and have since done 18 months of SHO training posts in my specialty. I am planning on living in Australia and am looking towards applying for Specialist Surgical Training. Am I eligible to apply for SET2?
A: If you satisfy all of the relevant eligibility criteria, you may apply to SET. Selection to SET is a competitive process. A detailed list of the eligibility requirements for each specialty has been published on the College website.

If you are selected into SET, the relevant specialty training board will take your prior learning into consideration.

Q: I am an overseas trained doctor. Could you let me know what I should do to apply for surgical training in Australia?
A: You must meet all of the eligibility criteria including unconditional registration to practise in Australia or general scope registration to practise in New Zealand. Applicants must also have Permanent Residency status or hold citizenship.

To gain unconditional registration in Australia you must apply to the Australian Medical Council (AMC). You can find information about AMC requirements on their website.

Q: Is the fee refundable if my application is unsuccessful?
A: The registration fee is levied to cover the cost of the registration process. There are no refunds available.

Q: Is the fee refundable if I am unsuccessful in my application?
A: The registration fee is levied to cover the cost of the registration process. There are no refunds available.

Q: When must I pay the registration fee?
A: You must pay the registration fee when you submit your registration for SET selection.

Q. Why do you charge a registration fee and an application fee? What's the difference between them?
A: The two fees support administrative aspects of the selection process.

The registration fee covers the costs of verifying applicants' registration details (medical registration, residency status).

The application fee covers the application assessment procedures including processing and scoring applications, collecting referee reports and conducting interviews.

You need to pay an application fee for each application you make to a surgical specialty.