Gynaecological Oncology
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Competition
Very high
Qualification
CGO (with FRANZCOG)
Training duration
FRANZCOG first (about 6 years), then the CGO subspecialty: 3 years of full-time core clinical training (at least 2 years across 2 or more accredited gynaecological-oncology units, completed within 5 years), followed by an open-ended Post-Year-3 period for exams and research — realistically 9 or more years from entry to Certification.
Applications
An annual RANZCOG subspecialty selection round (the 2026 cycle ran applications 12 January to 12 February, interview 8 May). You do not need full FRANZCOG to apply — eligibility is pegged to late Basic Training (at least 138 weeks), passing the FRANZCOG Written Examination, and sitting the Oral in the first half of the application year — but to commence you need Advanced-Training eligibility or FRANZCOG. A maximum of 3 CGO applications is allowed. Check ranzcog.edu.au for the current round.
Selection format
The written application is scored by the CGO Selection Panel against five criteria — employment history, professional development and commitment, teaching and leadership, research and publications, and references — each on a 0-to-3 scale, and you need at least 2 in every criterion to be shortlisted. Shortlisted applicants attend a Zoom interview scored on CGO-specific elements (surgical skill, initiative, teamwork, conflict and grief management, self-awareness) alongside the written criteria. Three referees are contacted directly by the College.
When to apply
There is no PGY number — entry is defined by FRANZCOG progress. The formal minimum is a FRANZCOG trainee with at least 138 weeks of Basic Training, a pass in the FRANZCOG Written Examination, and sitting the Oral in the first half of the application year; in practice most successful applicants are Year 5 or beyond in the 6-year FRANZCOG pathway.
Competition
One of only five RANZCOG subspecialties and a very small field — the specialist society counts only a few dozen gynaecological oncologists across Australia and New Zealand. Positions sit in a small number of accredited units, and RANZCOG guidance notes most successful applicants are already Year 5 or beyond in FRANZCOG training. No applicant-to-position ratio is published.
Selection criteria
Clinical experience
Rotations, logbooks, procedures, and exposure
- Training — 3 years of full-time core clinical training, at least 2 years across 2 or more accredited gynaecological-oncology units, completed within 5 years; an open-ended Post-Year-3 period follows
- Surgical logbook — numeric procedure targets are logged (for example 15 open radical hysterectomies, 10 pelvic lymphadenectomies, 5 para-aortic explorations) with formal procedural-skills sign-offs
- Exit examinations — subspecialty Written and Oral Examinations, procedural-skills sign-offs, and a satisfactory research project are all required before Certification
Rural & regional
Rural, regional, and remote experience
Nothing captured yet — verify with RANZCOG.
First Nations
Selection points and pathways for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Māori applicants
- First Nations — RANZCOG runs College-wide Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Māori support and scholarships, but publishes no gynaecological-oncology-specific selection provision
Academic
Exams, qualifications, courses, and teaching
- Gateway — you must be a FRANZCOG trainee with at least 138 weeks of Basic Training and a FRANZCOG Written Examination pass (sitting the Oral in the first half of the year), or already hold FRANZCOG
Publications & research
Papers, impact factor, audits, and QI
- Research — a prospectively approved research project is mandatory (waivable with a relevant higher research degree), submitted within a year of finishing clinical training
Extracurricular
Leadership and roles beyond clinical work
Nothing captured yet — verify with RANZCOG.
Distinction
Prizes, awards, and academic standing
Nothing captured yet — verify with RANZCOG.
Eligibility & application
Prerequisites, referees, interviews, and fees
- Written application — scored against five criteria: employment history, professional development and commitment, teaching and leadership, research and publications, and references
- Panel scale — each of the five criteria is scored from 0 to 3 by the CGO Selection Panel; a minimum of 2 in every criterion is required to be shortlisted for interview
- Referees — three are required and contacted directly by the College: a recent FRANZCOG training supervisor, a recent day-to-day consultant, and a consultant or CGO subspecialist
- Interview — shortlisted applicants attend a Zoom panel interview scored on CGO-specific elements (surgical skill, initiative, teamwork, conflict and grief management) plus the written criteria
- Fees and attempts — 2026 selection application fee AUD $519 (plus a $2,013 interview fee if shortlisted); annual clinical training fee about $5,756; a maximum of 3 applications to CGO
Entry tips
Sourced from Australian medical community discussion. Always verify with RANZCOG.
Recent updates
Re-checked 2026-08-05: the selection-criteria document is still not published. The earlier "2027 information TBC" holding text has also been removed from the College subspecialty pages, which now carry programme descriptions, deadlines, fees and ten general training policy documents but no selection-criteria document for any of the five subspecialties — so the College no longer publishes any statement about when one will return.
RANZCOG updated its Training and Associated Fees Policy (Version 7, January 2026); the 2026 CGO selection application fee is AUD $519 and the interview fee (if shortlisted) is AUD $2,013.
The RANZCOG Education Standards Committee revised the subspecialty entry and commencement regulations (Section C) — application eligibility is pegged to late Basic Training and the FRANZCOG Written Examination, and the research component is required to commence.
The CGO Training Program Handbook was updated to Version 5 (December 2025).
Indicative only. Check the RANZCOG website for current information.
Official resources
RANZCOG Certification in Gynaecological Oncology (CGO)
Subspecialty training, selection, fees, and handbook
RANZCOG Regulations — Section C (Subspecialty Training)
Authoritative eligibility, entry, and commencement rules
CGO Training Program Handbook
Program structure, logbook targets, exams, and research requirements
Australian Society of Gynaecologic Oncologists (ASGO)
The specialist society for gynaecological oncology
Medical Board — Specialist Registration
MBA specialist registration pathways
State workforce data
Queensland Health’s medi-nav publishes selection and workforce figures for primary specialty training programmes. It does not publish them for this subspecialty certification, in any state — that is an absence in the source, not a gap in what we hold.
There is no state-based selection round to enter. Applications go to RANZCOG, and are made from within FRANZCOG training rather than after fellowship — the eligibility and timing set out above are the ones that apply.
Community discussions
Recent discussion about Gynaecological Oncology training from Australian doctors.
Search r/ausdocs and r/doctorsofaustraliaRequirements, windows, and criteria change annually. Verify with Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) before making career decisions. Report an error on this page.