Five tools: NSA Anatomy Exam 30% (you need >=70%, and you sit it in February BEFORE applications open), CV 10%, multi-source feedback 20%, portfolio 10%, interview 30%.
Who picks youthe collegethe college selects
Typical entryPGY4PGY4-7
Unaccredited2 yrstypical, before a training post
To fellowship11 yrs8 minimum from the start of training
Competitiveness5 / 5●●●●●
Pathway, med school to consultant
prevocationalselectiontrainingexamfellowship
Typical start years; people vary by a year or two. Diamonds are exams. Stage list and sources in the pathway tab.
How competitive, against the other 31 guides
15
Dermatology5
Neurosurgery5
Orthopaedic Surgery5
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery5
Cardiothoracic Surgery5
Clinical radiology4.5
General Surgery4
Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery (ENT)4
Sport and exercise medicine4
Urology4
Anaesthetics4
Paediatric Surgery4
Ophthalmology4
Paediatric emergency medicine4
Vascular Surgery4
Paediatrics (Basic Training in Paediatrics & Child Health)3.5
Obstetrics and gynaecology3.5
General practice and rural generalism3
Basic Physician Training (Adult Internal Medicine)3
Radiation oncology3
Pathology3
Public health medicine3
Palliative medicine2
Medical administration2
Emergency Medicine2
Intensive Care Medicine2
Psychiatry2
Rehabilitation medicine2
Sexual health medicine2
Occupational and environmental medicine1.5
Addiction medicine1.5
Hard 70% anatomy exam gate before you can even apply; top-32 then top-24 funnel; ~293 neurosurgeons in the national workforce. Ratings are the encoder's 1–5 call from college numbers and r/ausjdocs; applicant-to-place ratios double-count people who apply in several states. Evidence rows are in getting selected.
In one paragraph
The funnel is explicit: rank on exam + CV -> top 32 -> MSF + portfolio -> 24 interviewed -> ranked out of 100. Offers land 3 July, earliest of the nine. Year-to-year variance is enormous (13% in 2024, 35% in 2026) and only a handful of units run unaccredited neurosurgery jobs, so geography is often the limit.
Two cautions, two encouragements
No one gets on big bro. We have a pgy8 still trying. Find something else.
Overstated in my view. Note the vast majority of people saying it are interns/med students.
You can't nepotise your way through the GSSE/BPT exams / CV scoring.
Might it help you get an unaccredited job? Sure, but if you don't perform you won't advance.
No, the GSSE is much easier compared to the neurosurgery anatomy exam.
nsa.org.au for the facts and summary · rating and pathway encoded by hand from the same sources · quotes are verbatim r/ausjdocs comments, community view not policy
General (unconditional) AHPRA registrationmandatory
General registration (AU) or general scope (NZ). Provisional or limited registration is disqualifying. Criminal conduct is not considered if AHPRA/MCNZ has been notified and unconditional registration is maintained.
Online RACS module; the only universally mandatory pre-application course. Replaced the retired Operating with Respect eModule (either one is accepted, one only). Complete before registration. A JDocs subscription may a…
One RACS-wide registration, A$655 incl GST non-refundable (2026), opens ~6 Jan and closes ~30 Jan 12 noon AEDT, no extensions. Covers unlimited specialties; specialty application (Stage 2) is separate with its own fee.…
A$563 (separate, non-refundable). Sat in February BEFORE applications open (20 Feb 2026; registrations 10 Nov - 8 Dec 2025). Best of the 2025 or 2026 exam used (two consecutive years). Weighted 30% of the final score.
Multi-Source Feedback Report >= 2.0 average per questionmandatory
New for 2027: >=15 referees across clerical, nursing, allied health, ED/ICU/HDU, junior doctors AND consultant surgeons; de-identified feedback returned to applicants. 20% of final score.
Ineligible if: two or more written employment warnings, a misconduct finding, or termination in the prior 3 years; or any registration condition/undertaking in the prior 5 years.
Clinical Examination (CE)not required by the collegeup to the 2027 intake
RETIRED. Final sitting February 2026. From the 2027 selection period (2028 intake) the CE is not required for any surgical specialty. It was a 2027-intake prerequisite only for Cardiothoracic, Plastics, Urology and Vasc…
PGY3+ at application (de facto, not a rule)not required by the college
RACS says application is not linked to PGY level but the earliest realistic point is PGY3. Specialty rotation prerequisites (several at PGY3+) are the real PGY gate.
ASSET, CCrISP, EMST, CLEAR and TIPS are training requirements for most specialties, not selection requirements (exceptions: Cardiothoracic requires EMST/ATLS + CCrISP pre-entry; Orthopaedics scores them on the CV).
RACS College component A$4,655 (2026, full time) plus the specialty society's SET fee (AOA $9,550 down to CT $2,915); the A$200 figure on the fee page is the instalment-plan surcharge.
Society-set SET fees are not published centrally by RACS; scrape each society annually.
By state
ACT
Canberra Health Services campaign May 2026 - Feb 2027; most registrar and unaccredited registrar positions opened 29 Jun and closed 2 Aug 2026; RMO and Service SRMO 31 Aug - 27 Sep. CHS publishes standalone PDs per role that disclose unit composition. Neurosurgery: your 24 weeks must be in your nominated Home Region, so the state of the unaccredited job is a selection variable, not just a lifestyle one. WA SSR (SCGH) and CHS Canberra advertise named neurosurgery unaccredited lines.
SET selection is national (college). Feeder jobs (SRMO, Trainee-Unaccredited Position PGY4+) sit in the NSW Health Annual Medical Recruitment main round on the JMO Career Portal, but the LHD/unit selects - no surgical specialty is a statewide centralised panel. HETI's six Surgical Skills Training Networks list PreSET jobs in the same campaign. SRMO is paid at Resident award rates; Trainee-Unaccredited at Registrar rates. Neurosurgery: your 24 weeks must be in your nominated Home Region, so the state of the unaccredited job is a selection variable, not just a lifestyle one. WA SSR (SCGH) and CHS Canberra advertise named neurosurgery unaccredited lines.
Main round advertised — 14 July 2026 (2027 intake)
Main round closes — 4 Aug 2026 (2027 intake)
Trainee-Unaccredited Position offers — 4 Sept 2026 (2027 intake)
SRMO General Surgery offers — 7 Sept 2026 (2027 intake)
Separate Top End and Central Australia campaigns (~1-28 Jun 2026) via jobs.nt.gov.au. Registrar contracts must start 1 Feb or 31 Aug - a formal mid-year entry point. Neurosurgery: your 24 weeks must be in your nominated Home Region, so the state of the unaccredited job is a selection variable, not just a lifestyle one. WA SSR (SCGH) and CHS Canberra advertise named neurosurgery unaccredited lines.
RMO/SRMO campaigns — 1 June 2026 (2027 intake)
NT dates triangulated from secondary aggregators; verify on jobs.nt.gov.au.
SET selection is national (college). One RMO & Registrar Campaign covers registrars, PHOs (QLD's unaccredited-registrar grade, L4-L7), SHOs and JHOs. Round 1 = registrars + PHOs; Round 2 = SHO/JHO; Round 3 open round for remaining vacancies from 9 Nov. QLD also centrally allocates SET1 PHO posts in General Surgery and Plastics inside the campaign. Late applications are not accepted. HHS-level ads also run on SmartJobs outside the window. Neurosurgery: your 24 weeks must be in your nominated Home Region, so the state of the unaccredited job is a selection variable, not just a lifestyle one. WA SSR (SCGH) and CHS Canberra advertise named neurosurgery unaccredited lines.
Campaign opens — 1 June 2026 (2027 intake)
Campaign closes — 29 June 2026 (2027 intake)
Round 1 (registrar/PHO) offers — 3 Aug 2026 (2027 intake)
Re-preference round — 4 Sept 2026 (2027 intake)
Round 3 open round from — 9 Nov 2026 (2027 intake)
SET selection is national (college). SA MET centralised PGY2+ EOI (up to 4 program preferences). The Surgical Resident Medical Officer program (PGY2+, up to 3 years, 83 posts: CALHN 50, SALHN 25, NALHN 8) is purpose-built with rotations 'designed to provide the mandatory requirements for SET entry'. Registrar-grade unaccredited roles are advertised individually as Service Registrar / Senior Service Registrar (MDP2) on careers.sahealth.sa.gov.au. Neurosurgery: your 24 weeks must be in your nominated Home Region, so the state of the unaccredited job is a selection variable, not just a lifestyle one. WA SSR (SCGH) and CHS Canberra advertise named neurosurgery unaccredited lines.
EOI opens — 10 June 2026 (2027 intake)
EOI closes — 1 July 2026 (2027 intake)
Round 1 offers — 17 Sept 2026 (2027 intake)
Late Vacancy Management until — 1 Feb 2027 (2027 intake)
Statewide RMO application for resident-level roles; registrar-level 'Doctors in Training Recruitment Campaign 2027' roles advertised individually with rolling Aug-Sep closes. Clinical year starts 11 Jan 2027. Tasmanian orthopaedic unaccredited posts (RHH, LGH) go through the Victorian PMCV match. Neurosurgery: your 24 weeks must be in your nominated Home Region, so the state of the unaccredited job is a selection variable, not just a lifestyle one. WA SSR (SCGH) and CHS Canberra advertise named neurosurgery unaccredited lines.
Statewide RMO applications — 25 May 2026 (2027 intake)
SET selection is national (college). Feeder jobs: PGY2 HMO2 via the PMCV PGY2 Match (some competitive surgical HMO2 roles sit outside the match and are managed directly by health services); HMO3+ and unaccredited registrar roles direct to each health service. Only orthopaedics has a centralised unaccredited-registrar match; everything else is direct. Neurosurgery: your 24 weeks must be in your nominated Home Region, so the state of the unaccredited job is a selection variable, not just a lifestyle one. WA SSR (SCGH) and CHS Canberra advertise named neurosurgery unaccredited lines.
PMCV PGY2 Match opens — 27 July 2026 (2027 intake)
PMCV PGY2 Match closes — 21 Aug 2026 (2027 intake)
PMCV PGY2 Match results — 23 Sept 2026 (2027 intake)
PMCV Ortho Unaccredited Registrar Match opens (VIC+TAS) — 26 June 2026 (2027 intake)
PMCV Ortho Unaccredited Registrar Match closes — 20 July 2026 (2027 intake)
PMCV Ortho Match results — 17 Sept 2026 (2027 intake)
SET selection is national (college). WA runs the cleanest unaccredited-surgical mechanism in the country: the Service Surgical Registrar (SSR) centralised recruitment - 'ONE application to cover THREE site and specialty preferences', self-described as 'ideal for doctors aspiring to enter surgical training'. Salary ~$155,932-$208,619, 1 Feb 2027 start. Separate RMO/SMR centralised round for resident-level jobs. Neurosurgery: your 24 weeks must be in your nominated Home Region, so the state of the unaccredited job is a selection variable, not just a lifestyle one. WA SSR (SCGH) and CHS Canberra advertise named neurosurgery unaccredited lines.
SSR centralised recruitment opens — 15 June 2026 (2027 intake)
RMO/SMR centralised round — 25 May 2026 (2027 intake)
Dates drift a week or two each year; the calendar has confirmed vs expected windows.
What the CV rubric scores
A masters earns a few points, not many.
A PhD is worth 3 points.
First-author papers earn 2 points each, capped at 2.
Rural experience scores up to 1 points.
Indigeneity earns no points in the rubric.
Weighting: interview about 30%, CV about 10%.
There is an exam before you can be selected.
other higher degree3 pts
Referees and attempts
Referees5 refereesNew for 2027: >=15 referees across clerical, nursing, allied health, ED/ICU/HDU, junior doctors AND consultant surgeons; de-identified feedback returned to applicants. 20% of fina…
Attempt cap4 attempts4 attempts, +1 each time you reach final ranking, capped at 6.
Requirements and rubric: surgeons.org, nsa.org.au · state mechanics: canberrahealthservices.act.gov.au, health.nsw.gov.au, jobs.nt.gov.au +5 · community rows from r/ausjdocs
Exams
Dots are sittings the college has dated; "approx." means only a month was published.
GSSE (Generic Surgical Sciences Examination) — Pre-entry; sit in PGY1-2 (unlimited attempts before SET). Deadline for neurosurgery: at the time of application. · A$4,850 incl GST per attempt (2026); NZ$5,425
NSA Neurosurgery Anatomy Examination — Pre-entry; sat in February before applications open; best of two consecutive years · A$563 non-refundable
Pass rates, official vs claimed
0%100%
GSSE · college59%–60%
NSA Neurosurgery… · college30%–70%
college figureclaimed on r/ausjdocs
Hollow dots are hearsay — the poster was not citing a figure. A bar spans the components or years quoted; hover for the exact words.
What it costs
Cost to get on$10,891RACS selection registration fee (Stage 1, all specialties), RACS selection processing fee (AU/bi-national programs, per specialty), GSSE, per attempt (incl GST), Neurosurgery application fee, Specialty Surgical Science Examination (SSE), AHPRA/Medical Board general registration - application fee (one-off, national)
College schedule$45,53615 published items over the whole of training
College schedule
RACS Fellowship Examination (full fee) $10,465RACS Appeals Lodgement Fee $9,995GSSE, per attempt (incl GST) $4,850RACS SET Training Fee - College component (full time, 2026) $4,655Specialty SET fee - Neurosurgical Society of Australasia (NSA), 2026 $4,255RACS Fellowship Entrance Fee (from 1 January 2026) $3,0009 smaller items $8,316
"Cost to get on" is a name-based pick of the one-off fees paid before or at selection. The college schedule is a lifetime-of-training list at each item's own year, not one bill; community amounts overlap it and are never summed. Courses, travel and repeat sittings are the part the sub complains about.
Exams and fees: surgeons.org, nsa.org.au, medicalboard.gov.au · claims, prep and costs quoted: r/ausjdocs exams-and-costs collection, community view not policy · paid prep products need three independent non-suspect authors and a free alternative to appear
Open jobs that count
Scored by the Neurosurgery rules — whether or not the title names the specialty — highest first, closing soonest next.
Four neurosurgery residents per rotation, so a double neurosurgery term is realistically achievable — and RMH is named as one of the two Victorian jobs (with plastics) that is genuinely hard to get.
Show the 3 feeder posts the sub keeps recommending
Neurosurgery / Plastic Surgery / Paediatric Surgery Unaccredited Registrar — Canberra Health Services (ACT)
CHS publishes standalone PDs disclosing unit composition (neurosurgery: six consultants, two SET trainees, three unaccredited registrars) - high per-registrar exposure and a low-competition market re…
3-year purpose-built programme (83 posts) whose rotations are 'designed to provide the mandatory requirements for SET entry'. The most efficient rotation-eligibility factory in the country. Structura…
The only centralised unaccredited-surgical scheme in Australia that self-describes as 'ideal for doctors aspiring to enter surgical training'. One application covers three site+specialty preferences.…
2027 intake campaign windows
applications openinterviews / offers
Faded bars are expected, not confirmed. Full detail on the calendar.
Jobs: last night's scrape, scored by hand-written rules (no AI) · units and offer reports: r/ausjdocs, counted by distinct author · campaign windows: canberrahealthservices.act.gov.au, health.nsw.gov.au, healthjobs.nt.gov.au +4
What the regs say
Verbatim, one caution beside one encouragement per topic where both exist, the rest folded. Every quote links to the comment.
Competitiveness 3
No one gets on big bro. We have a pgy8 still trying. Find something else.
many people get tripped up by the anatomy exam year after year - and their references degrade as their stamina wavers/lose motivation or move hospitals as they think this will rejuvenate them
Show all 3 quotes on competitiveness
Average year to get on is PGY 7/8
Getting on 3
You don't seem to have a good understanding of the selection process for NSx. The two most important things are: getting a good score on the NSx anatomy examination (a separate exam to the GSSE), and having the support of current NSx consultant.
Overstated in my view. Note the vast majority of people saying it are interns/med students.
You can't nepotise your way through the GSSE/BPT exams / CV scoring.
Might it help you get an unaccredited job? Sure, but if you don't perform you won't advance.
Show all 3 quotes on getting on
People who get on ‘fast' start SET as a PGY-5 for NSx. People can get on relatively early because of how selection occurs (i.e. heavy weighting towards your NSx Anatomy Exam marks). … Compare that with Plastics and ENT where it is much more of a slog, and getting on PGY-5 is pretty much unheard of.
Jobs 2
AFAIK there are only four neurosurgical hospitals in QLD: PAH, RBWH, GCUH and TUH.
I imagine they all have PGY3 RMO jobs (generally called SHO in QLD).
in QLD the conventional path for neurosurg is intern>RMO>SHO>PHO for 3 years then apply for SET.
PHO = unaccredited reg (NB PHO is not the same as SRMO)
If you want a PHO job then an SHO year is de facto compulsory. Anywhere that offers you a PHO job <PGY4 or without an SHO year is probably somewhere that struggles…
Lifestyle 1
I witnessed both a PGY8 hopeful breakdown into tears as he once again failed to score high enough on the anatomy test to get an interview despite taking the year in a non-NSx job solely to study … I truly believe the amount of sleep deprivation inherent to every stage of neurosurgery from SRMO up is incompatible with…
Exams 1
No, the GSSE is much easier compared to the neurosurgery anatomy exam.
Term quality 1
Monash Health are toxic +++ - their neurosurg dept had reg ending up on a swx offenders registry, another awarded 200,000 compensation cos her boss (still practicing btw) expected her to give him a blow job.
PGY4 unaccredited subspecialty reg, NSW: ~$180k gross on 70-80h weeks.
r/ausjdocs comments and posts, hand-curated from the surgery, employers collections; scores as at the dump · community view, not policy
Knowledge rows last loaded 13 Sept 2026, encoded by hand from the sources linked on each panel; no AI wrote any of it. Compare specialties · calendar · all guides.