General surgery
General surgery is a broad based specialty which includes the diagnosis and treatment (operative and non operative) of patients with disorders of the colon and rectum, upper gastro-intestinal organs, breasts, endocrine organs, skin and subcutaneous structures, blood vessels (including varicose veins) and the head and neck region. It also includes the early and ongoing management of trauma.
Vocational training in general surgery and the specialty branches 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 general surgery.
Am I able to apply to work as a recognised specialist in New Zealand?
To apply for vocational registration in general surgery, you would need to hold:
- the FRACS qualification; or
- an international postgraduate medical qualification, where your combination of qualifications, training and experience is considered by Council to be equivalent to, or as satisfactory as, the FRACS.
What standard will I be compared against?
To obtain the FRACS in general surgery, the trainee completes at least 5 years of training:
- entry into programme is restricted and therefore competitive
- 1 year of basic general surgical training:
- 6 months in a general or acute surgical unit
- 6 months in a non-general surgical uni
- passes required in the generic surgical science examination, surgical science examination in general surgery and clinical examination
- 4 or more years of advanced general surgical training
- experience required of colorectal, upper gastro-intestinal, breast endocrine, trauma and vascular procedures
- experience required of gastrointestinal endoscopy, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures
- logbooks must be submitted to supervisor at 6 monthly intervals
- a pass in the Fellowship examination required upon completion of training
- FRACS in general 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 [link] 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