Tiny: 2-7 appointed a year across ~11 accredited sites.
Who picks youthe collegethe college selects
Typical entryPGY5PGY5-7
Unaccredited3 yrstypical, before a training post
To fellowship12 yrs10 minimum from the start of training
Competitiveness4 / 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
19 applications for 7 offers (36.8%) in 2026 - a high rate on a tiny base. 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
Total score = 75% multiple mini-interview + 25% referee report; the 56-point CV is a gate at 33. It is the only RACS CV that explicitly prices unaccredited registrar time (6 points per 6 months in paediatric or general surgery, up to 12 each) and states that 'a Principal House Officer (PHO) is scored as an unaccredited Registrar'. You need 52 weeks at registrar level plus 10 weeks of paediatric surgery. Three attempts, but only applications deemed Unsuitable count.
Two cautions, two encouragements
Another was a pediatric surg reg who left after ~8 years of unaccredited.
Paediatric Surgery fellowship exam has to be up there. One of the toughest training programs with regularly no candidates or only 1 person passing. The last sitting had 0 passes out of 10 candidates.
surgeons.org 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
Unaccredited registrar / PHO / SSR in paediatric or general surgery (typically 2-4 years, PGY3-6; 52 weeks must be at registrar level) — from PGY3, 36 monthsausdoc.com.au
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.…
52 weeks supervised postgraduate surgical work at registrar level in an AU/NZ unitmandatory
Registrar level: unaccredited registrar, PHO (QLD), service registrar, SSR all count. Private hospital attachments capped at 6 months total; private assisting not scored.
List every team worked in over the last 2 years plus every surgical consultant in that team who has seen you operate; the Committee samples to obtain 3 valid reports (>=1 paediatric surgical). 25% of total score.
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. Paediatric surgery unaccredited lines: CHS Canberra (PGY4+ by Feb 2027, APLS or equivalent), WA SSR at Perth Children's, John Hunter (accredited site), CHW inside the Westmead network. Note QLD PHO = unaccredited registrar for CV points.
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. Paediatric surgery unaccredited lines: CHS Canberra (PGY4+ by Feb 2027, APLS or equivalent), WA SSR at Perth Children's, John Hunter (accredited site), CHW inside the Westmead network. Note QLD PHO = unaccredited registrar for CV points.
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. Paediatric surgery unaccredited lines: CHS Canberra (PGY4+ by Feb 2027, APLS or equivalent), WA SSR at Perth Children's, John Hunter (accredited site), CHW inside the Westmead network. Note QLD PHO = unaccredited registrar for CV points.
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. Paediatric surgery unaccredited lines: CHS Canberra (PGY4+ by Feb 2027, APLS or equivalent), WA SSR at Perth Children's, John Hunter (accredited site), CHW inside the Westmead network. Note QLD PHO = unaccredited registrar for CV points.
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. Paediatric surgery unaccredited lines: CHS Canberra (PGY4+ by Feb 2027, APLS or equivalent), WA SSR at Perth Children's, John Hunter (accredited site), CHW inside the Westmead network. Note QLD PHO = unaccredited registrar for CV points.
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. Paediatric surgery unaccredited lines: CHS Canberra (PGY4+ by Feb 2027, APLS or equivalent), WA SSR at Perth Children's, John Hunter (accredited site), CHW inside the Westmead network. Note QLD PHO = unaccredited registrar for CV points.
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. Paediatric surgery unaccredited lines: CHS Canberra (PGY4+ by Feb 2027, APLS or equivalent), WA SSR at Perth Children's, John Hunter (accredited site), CHW inside the Westmead network. Note QLD PHO = unaccredited registrar for CV points.
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. Paediatric surgery unaccredited lines: CHS Canberra (PGY4+ by Feb 2027, APLS or equivalent), WA SSR at Perth Children's, John Hunter (accredited site), CHW inside the Westmead network. Note QLD PHO = unaccredited registrar for CV points.
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 9 points.
First-author papers earn 4 points each, capped at 8.
Rural experience scores up to 3 points.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants score 3 points.
Weighting: interview about 75%, CV about 0% — there is no scored CV; the CV is a gate.
There is an exam before you can be selected.
PhD in a field of medicine Master's or MPhil in a field of medicine Graduate Diploma 3; FRACS 12 First OR second author 4; first-author book chapter 4; other author 2; collaborative paper 1 Resident term in paediatric medicine/surgery: 3 pts per 10-12 weeks Registrar term in paediatric medicine, PICU or NICU: 6 pts per 6-month rotation Unaccredited registrar term in Paediatric Surgery: 6 pts per 6 months Unaccredited registrar term in General Surgery: 6 pts per 6 months Addi…
Referees and attempts
Refereessee noteList every team worked in over the last 2 years plus every surgical consultant in that team who has seen you operate; the Committee samples to obtain 3 valid reports (>=1 paediatr…
Attempt cap3 attemptsMax 3 attempts, counting only applications deemed Unsuitable; no cap if you were merely Unsuccessful.
Requirements and rubric: surgeons.org · 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 paediatric surgery: close of applications. · A$4,850 incl GST per attempt (2026); NZ$5,425
RACS Fellowship Examination (FEX) - Paediatric Surgery — Final years of SET (exit exam); written and clinical/viva components. Sat only after the SET training requirements are… · A$10,465 full fee (2026, GST free): writing $5,232.50 + viva $5,232.50
Pass rates, official vs claimed
0%100%
GSSE · college59%–60%
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$8,086RACS selection registration fee (Stage 1, all specialties), RACS selection processing fee (AU/bi-national programs, per specialty), GSSE, per attempt (incl GST), AHPRA/Medical Board general registration - application fee (one-off, national)
College schedule$49,10314 published items over the whole of training
College schedule
RACS Fellowship Examination (full fee) $10,465RACS Appeals Lodgement Fee $9,995Paediatric Anatomy and Embryology Examination $5,035GSSE, per attempt (incl GST) $4,850RACS SET Training Fee - College component (full time, 2026) $4,655Specialty SET fee - Paediatric Surgery (set by RACS, not a society), 2026 $3,8008 smaller items $10,303
"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, 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 Paediatric Surgery rules — whether or not the title names the specialty — highest first, closing soonest next.
Show the 5 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…
Advertises 'Structured educational programs including Pre-SET and GSSE preparation; practical surgical skills workshops and simulation training'. One of the six HETI Surgical Skills Networks.
A named PreSET SRMO programme inside a HETI Surgical Skills Training Network, with rotations spanning subspecialties and Broken Hill (which converts to GSA rurality points). Network membership is the…
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. Only 4 dated offer reports mention Paediatric Surgery, too few for a chart. 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.
Red flags 1
Another was a pediatric surg reg who left after ~8 years of unaccredited.
Exams 1
Paediatric Surgery fellowship exam has to be up there. One of the toughest training programs with regularly no candidates or only 1 person passing. The last sitting had 0 passes out of 10 candidates.
PGY4 unaccredited subspecialty reg, NSW: ~$180k gross on 70-80h weeks.
r/ausjdocs comments and posts, hand-curated from the surgery collection; 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.