Cardiothoracic surgery
Cardiothoracic surgery is the diagnosis and treatment (operative and non operative) of patients with disorders of structures within the chest including: the heart and vascular system, the lungs and trachea, the oesophagus, the diaphragm and chest wall. It includes the management of trauma and congenital and acquired disorders of these structures.
Vocational training in cardiothoracic surgery is undertaken through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). Once RACS training is completed the doctor is awarded the Fellowship of the RACS (FRACS) in cardiothoracic surgery.
Am I able to apply to work as a recognised specialist in New Zealand?
To apply for vocational registration in cardiothoracic surgery, you would need to hold:
- the FRACS qualification; or
- an international postgraduate medical qualification, where your combination of qualifications, training and experience will then be assessed against the standard of FRACS in cardiothoracic surgery.
What standard will I be compared against?
To obtain the FRACS in cardiothoracic surgery, the trainee completes at least 6 years of training (after obtaining general medical and surgical experience):
- 1 year of basic cardiothoracic surgical training
- 5 years of advanced cardiothoracic surgical training
- a minimum of 12 rotations must be completed during training
- completion of Early Management of Severe Trauma (EMST), Care of the Critically Ill Surgical Patient (CCrISP) and Australian and New Zealand Surgical Skills Education and Training (ASSET) courses required before entry into second year of training
- passes required in the generic surgical science examination, cardiothoracic surgical science examination and clinical examination before entry into third year of training
- experience in an intensive care unit required before entry into third year of training
- a thesis must be completed before entry into fourth year of training
- 2 articles must be published in peer-reviewed journals during training
- cardiothoracic courses and Australasian Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ASCTS) meetings must be attended every year during training
- logbooks must be submitted to supervisor at 6 monthly intervals
- a pass in the Fellowship examination required upon completion of training
- FRACS in cardiothoracic surgery awarded on satisfactory completion of examination and training requirements
- participation required in the RACS continuing professional development programme
I want to make a vocational registration application
If you wish to make a vocational registration application, please refer to the Vocational Registration Homepage and select the Option appropriate for you.
Am I able to apply for other types of registration?
You may be able to apply for more than one type of registration. To find out which is the best fit for you, please use our self assessment tool