Plastic Surgery

Rotation

6 months

Each term, two a year, starting in February or August

Time limit

9 years

From your first rotation, to finish every requirement

Absence

6 weeks

At most in a 6-month term, or the term may not count

Part time

50%

Of full time at least, after a full-time first year

• Training has three stages, in order. Early SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year. is the first, at least 12 months and at most 24. Mid SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year. is at least 24 months and at most 48. Late SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year. is the last, at least 12 months and at most 36
• The 9 years do not count approved interruption, and are shortened by any time credited for prior learning

• Accredited sites50 in Australia, hospitals and units with accredited posts. A training network of a primary hospital and its secondary hospitals is listed as its primary hospital
• AccreditationThe Board accredits each post for up to 5 years, against national standards for trainee welfare, supervision, clinical experience and facilities. Posts in private hospitals meet the same standards as public ones
• Your employerThe hospital you are allocated to employs you, not RACSRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons or the Board. Contact it within 4 weeks of your allocation to start its employment process, or it can refuse to employ you

What accredited plastic surgery posts give you across training

Procedures logged

100

Every 3 months at least, in proportion if part time

Usual volume

500

Procedures most trainees log in each 6-month term, or more

• Your posts cover hand and upper limb surgery, microsurgery, burns, head and neck and craniomaxillofacial surgery, skin cancer and melanoma, breast, trunk and lower limb reconstruction, children's plastic surgery and aesthetic surgery
• Rosters: your hospital records the hours you work, manages fatigue and workload, and changes rosters where it finds an unsafe load

Supervisor

1

For each accredited post, a plastic surgeon the hospital nominates and the Board approves

Time on site

2 hours

A week at least, your supervisor operating at your hospital

• You always work under supervision. Your trainers are the consultants you operate and run clinics with, and they assess you with your supervisor

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Science and Principles ExaminationThe RACS examination on the basic sciences of plastic surgery: one paper of 100 true or false multiple choice questions in two and a half hours

Year 1 or 2

In Early SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year., passed by its end

Fellowship ExaminationThe RACS final examination in plastic and reconstructive surgery: two written papers, then five clinical and viva segments

Year 5

Usually, in Late SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year., passed within 9 years of your first rotation

• The science and principles examination is sat on a computer in June or October, in ten cities across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. It is pass or fail, and you have four attempts
• The Fellowship Examination is run by RACSRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons. The written papers are sat in March or August, and the clinical and viva part follows about a month later in one city

Professional performance assessmentsYour supervisor rates you on each RACS competency as Met, Borderline or Poor, after asking every consultant in the unit

Every 3 months

One mid-term and one at the end of each 6-month term

Workplace based assessmentsA consultant watches you operate, examine a patient, discuss a case or present, and rates you on the RACS training platform

6

Each term at least, from different trainers

Entrustable professional activitiesA task of the job, such as leading a ward round, that a consultant signs off once they trust you to do it with distant supervision.

14

Over training: 4 in Early SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year., any 6 of the next 10 in Mid SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year., the last 4 in Late SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year.

Research points

4

Earned during training, within 9 years of your first rotation

Regional presentation day

Each year

Attend, and present your research there if you choose

• A research higher degree the Board approves in advance earns all 4 points at once

Australian and New Zealand Surgical Skills Education and Training

Year 1 or 2

By the end of Early SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year.

Care of the Critically Ill Surgical Patient

Year 1 or 2

By the end of Early SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year.

Advanced Trauma Life Support

Year 1 or 2

By the end of Early SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year.

Emergency Management of Severe Burns

Year 5

By the end of Late SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year., usually the final year

SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year. Conference

Each year

The Australasian SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year. Conference, after the SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year. Induction Conference in Year 1

• The first is a two-day course in basic surgical skills. The second teaches the care of an unwell surgical patient and spotting one who is getting worse. The third teaches the first hours of care of an injured patient. The fourth teaches the first care of a badly burned patient
• Advanced Trauma Life Support was called Early Management of Severe Trauma until the end of 2025