Plastic and reconstructive surgery
Plastic and reconstructive surgery is the diagnosis and treatment (operative and non operative) of patients requiring the restoration, correction or improvement in the shape and appearance of the body structures that are defective or damaged at birth or by injury, disease, growth or development. It includes all aspects of cosmetic surgery.
Vocational training in plastic and reconstructive 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 plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Am I able to apply to work as a recognised specialist in New Zealand?
To apply for vocational registration in plastic and reconstructive 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 plastic and reconstructive surgery.
What standard will I be compared against?
To obtain the FRACS in plastic and reconstructive surgery, the trainee completes at least 5 years of advanced training (after obtaining general medical and surgical experience):
- attendance at one training event required before entry into second year of training
- completion of Care of the Critically Ill Surgical Patient (CCrISP), Early Management of Severe Trauma (EMST), Australian and New Zealand Surgical Skills Education and Training (ASSET) and Emergency Management of Severe Burns (EMSB) courses required before entry into second year of training
- Direct Observation of Procedures (DOPS) and Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercises (Mini-CEX) must be undertaken during first 2 years of training
- attendance at the annual, weeklong Registrars’ Conference required from second year of training until the Fellowship examination has been taken
- passes in the generic surgical science and clinical examinations required before entry into third year of training
- passes in the online in-service annual examination required from third year of training until the Fellowship examination has been taken
- a pass in the plastic and reconstructive surgical sciences and principles examination required before entry into fifth year of training
- a research project must be completed before the Fellowship examination can be taken
- logbooks must be submitted to supervisor for each surgical term
- a pass in the Fellowship examination required upon completion of training
- FRACS in plastic and reconstructive 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