Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training: entry requirements and selection

Program structure

How Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training is structured.

Before you start

Entry needs both degrees. A medical degree with full and unconditional registration to practise medicine and a dental degree with full and unconditional registration to practise dentistry, in Australia or New Zealand, plus 12 months of PGY2 or later rotations in surgery or acute care. Nine months in those disciplines is considered where 12 months of PGY2 or later rotations are complete. More than 6 months of an oral and maxillofacial rotation during PGY2 disqualifies an applicant whose PGY2 is their only post-internship surgical year.

Training duration

A minimum of four full-time years, credited in successful 6-month terms. Both a medical and a dental degree come first, so the whole route from a first degree is far longer. (maximum eight years from the date of commencement)

Training pathway

1
Foundation
From OMS 1
To complete
- The Foundation Examination, which assesses the eight foundation modules
- A research proposal to the Research Committee by 15 February of OMS 2
- A learning portfolio, a logbook and a six-monthly assessment report, in this and in the later stage
2
Advanced
To the end of OMS 4
To complete
- The research project itself, finished by the end of OMS 4
- Two satisfactory assessments of operative performance each term, and one case presentation and discussion
- The Fellowship Examination, sat in the final 18 months and applied for on its own eligibility form

Required courses

Foundation Examination

Anatomy and growth, surgical equipment and skills, pharmacology, physiology and pathology, and perioperative care among its eight modules.

Foundation

Fellowship Examination

Advanced

Mandatory research in training

Before Fellowship is awarded

CCrISP, ASSET and EMST, or an equivalent

Named as the RACS skills courses, and required to be eligible to sit.

Before the Fellowship Examination

CLEAR, Critical Literature Evaluation and Research, or the Royal College of Surgeons England postgraduate certificate in research methodology

Either one counts.

Alongside the research requirement

Selection criteria

One set of categories across every specialty, so two can be compared. Only those with criteria recorded for this specialty are shown.

Score your portfolioagainst RACDS criteria

How it is weighted

Total 100%, and no tool can rescue another

Multiple mini interviews
Minimum 50%.
45%
Professional performance appraisal referee reports
At least eight reports, four nominated and four chosen by the committee. Minimum 50%, except for applicants who meet the selection initiative at clause 5.7.1(a).
35%
Structured curriculum vitae
Minimum 50%, except for applicants who meet the selection initiative at clause 5.7.1(a).
20%

Clinical experience

Rotations, logbooks, procedures, and exposure

Clinical experience — at least 12 months of PGY2+ rotations in surgery or acute care (or 9 months of an approved rotation), with no more than 6 months in OMS if it is your only postgraduate surgical year

First Nations

Selection points and pathways for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Māori applicants

First Nations and rural — Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori, and Pacific applicants progress automatically to interview and gain a CV point; rural origin or experience also adds a CV point

Academic

Exams, qualifications, courses, and teaching

Primary Examination — the RACDS Primary (or an equivalent college exam, or the RACS GSSE) is NOT required to apply; it earns a 2-point CV bonus if held

Publications & research

Papers, impact factor, audits, and QI

Research — publications, presentations, courses, and qualifications are scored within the CV, but only if completed in the last 5 years

Referees

Who is asked to report on you, and what they are asked

Referee reports — 35% of the score: at least 8 Professional Performance Appraisal reports (4 you nominate plus 4 the committee selects); minimum 50%
Each tool gated — you must independently score at least 50% on the interviews, the referee reports, and the CV; a strong score on one cannot rescue a fail on another

Interview

Format, stations, and what the interview assesses

Multiple mini-interviews — 45% of the score: six 8-minute stations (about an hour) on expertise, communication, leadership, professionalism, and cultural safety; minimum 50% to progress

Scoring

How the application is marked and weighted

Structured CV — 20% of the score, out of 21 points across 8 categories (qualifications and academic 6, courses 2, presentations 2, publications 3, surgical experience 3, leadership 1, awards 2, selection initiatives 2)

Application process

Registration mechanics and logistics not covered above

Eligibility — you must hold full, unconditional registration as BOTH a medical practitioner and a dentist (the dual-degree requirement)
Selection format: Selection is a fully weighted matrix run by the RACDS Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Selection Panel rather than through a RACS process. Multiple mini interviews run six 8-minute stations over about an hour, on expertise, communication, leadership, professionalism and cultural safety. Professional performance appraisal referee reports are requested from at least eight consultants and supervisors, four nominated by the applicant and four chosen by the selection committee. A structured curriculum vitae is scored out of 21 points across eight categories. The interview minimum of 50% applies to everyone, and a strong score on one tool cannot rescue a fail on another. Applicants who identify as Maori, Pacific Islander, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and meet the eligibility criteria proceed to interview automatically, so the curriculum vitae and referee minimums do not apply to them. Rural origin or rural medical experience earns a curriculum vitae point and does not change progression.

Published figures

Selection and workforce history, transcribed as published.

Training positions

2025 selection year

Anticipated posts

2027 intake, across five regions

7 to 19

Range

Across the 2017 to 2025 selection years

A small program with a wide swing in intake — 19 training positions in 2022 against 7 in 2020 and 10 in 2025. The board anticipates 9 posts across five regions for the 2027 intake and notes it is seeking to accredit more positions, so additional posts may become available. From the 2028 selection, marks will no longer be awarded in the structured curriculum vitae score for a dental or medical degree awarded with honours, distinction, credit or Dean's commendation.

Training positions by selection year and region

Trainees appointed onto the training program, broken down by the region of the position.

Training positions by selection year and region
Year	Training positions	NSW/ACT	QLD	SA/TAS	VIC	WA	New Zealand

2025	10	2	0	3	1	2	2
2024	12	2	4	1	1	2	2
2023	12	2	2	0	4	1	3
2022	19	7	3	2	4	0	3
2021	11	3	1	2	3	1	1
2020	7	1	1	1	2	2	0
2019	15	2	4	1	5	1	2
2018	13	5	2	0	2	0	4
2017	11	3	1	2	4	1	0

Anticipated post vacancies for the 2027 intake

A guide only. The board notes that additional positions may be available, because it is seeking to increase the number of accredited training positions.

Anticipated post vacancies for the 2027 intake
Training region	Anticipated posts
Australian Capital Territory / New South Wales	4
Queensland	1
South Australia / Northern Territory	0
Victoria / Tasmania (your selected state)	3
Western Australia	1

The South Australia / Northern Territory figure carries an asterisk in the published guide.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Applications

Timeline

When to apply

Selection format

Competition

Program structure

Before you start

Training duration

Training pathway

Foundation

Advanced

Required courses

Prerequisites

Selection criteria

How it is weighted

Clinical experience

First Nations

Academic

Publications & research

Referees

Interview

Scoring

Application process

Entry tips

Published figures

Training positions by selection year and region

State workforce data

What the college has changed

Available Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training positions

Official resources

Official links

Anticipated post vacancies for the 2027 intake

Applications

Timeline

When to apply

Selection format

Competition

Program structure

Before you start

Training duration

Training pathway

Foundation

Advanced

Required courses

Prerequisites

Selection criteria

How it is weighted

Clinical experience

First Nations

Academic

Publications & research

Referees

Interview

Scoring

Application process

Entry tips

Published figures

Training positions by selection year and region

State workforce data

What the college has changed

Available Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training positions

Official resources

Official links

Related specialties

Anticipated post vacancies for the 2027 intake