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The SET program

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is accredited by the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) and the Australian Medical Council (AMC) to train surgeons and maintain surgical standards in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. RACS conducts selection, training and assessment to ensure that surgical trainees become competent surgeons who provide safe, comprehensive surgical care of the highest standard to the communities we serve.

Specialty training boards allocate Trainees to accredited training posts for their clinical placements. The specialty boards monitor the quality and outcomes of training in each post through regular hospital accreditation processes and through information from Trainees' logbooks. Hospitals also have supervisors to monitor Trainee progress.

Surgical training involves a progression in levels of competency from being a doctor with at least three years of postgraduate experience to becoming a practising specialist. The Surgical Competence and Performance Guide (PDF 7MB)outlines a framework to describe progress during training for each of the ten RACS competencies. It has been developed to provide a guide for Trainees and their supervisors as to the stage a Trainee has reached for any one of the competencies.

The Guide to SET booklet (PDF 983.47KB)provides greater detail about the RACS SET program - an essential reference for all SET applicants and Trainees.

The Guide to Selection (PDF 1.36MB) provides an overview of the RACS SET Selection process for the 2023 intake.

The Work-based assessment: a practical guide (PDF 769.13KB)provides information on the assessment of SET Trainees and the range of work-based assessment tools utilised as defined by the specialty training boards.

The SET Training Fees table (PDF 69.55KB)outlines 2022 fees for full time training. Orthopaedic Trainees in Australia will be invoiced by the Australian Orthopaedic Association.

Surgical Education and Training (SET) policies

Aboriginal and Torres Strait  Islander Surgical Trainee Selection Initiative (PDF 30.25KB)
Access to RACS Interview and Assessment Transcript (PDF 36.45KB)
Assessment of Clinical Training (PDF 84.25KB)
Discrimination Bullying and Sexual Harassment (PDF 128.57KB)
Dismissal from Surgical Training (PDF 88.08KB)
Former Trainees Seeking to Reapply to Surgical Training (PDF 84.81KB)
Ill, Injured and Impaired Trainees (PDF 77.41KB)
Medical Registration for the Surgical Education and Training Program (PDF 53.04KB)
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Emmett Prize (PDF 31.41KB)
Recognition of Prior Learning (PDF 22.35KB) 
Reconsideration, Review and Appeal (PDF 153.97KB)
Registration for Selection into SET (PDF 89.39KB)
Religious Observance (PDF 26.12KB)
Research during Surgical Education and Training (PDF 23.3KB)
Selection to Surgical Education and Training (PDF 209.99KB)
SET Misconduct (PDF 89.58KB)
Specialty Surgical Education and Training Fee (PDF 48.56KB)
Surgical Education and Training (SET Fee) (PDF 59.14KB)
Surgical Supervisors (PDF 69.24KB)
Surgical Trainers (PDF 33.41KB)
Trainee Registration and Variation (PDF 98.7KB)
Training Agreement (PDF 43.5KB)
Training Board Chair's Allowance (PDF 23.38KB)
Training Post Accreditation and Administration (PDF 57.1KB)
Training Requirements and Curriculum Structure (PDF 32.87KB)