Updated: 24 November 2021

Trainees for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery are selected on a competitive basis. Strict eligibility criteria apply and are published annually on The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) website. The P&RS Regulations for Selection are subject to annual review, and are published on this page each November.

All enquiries must be sent in writing to education@plasticsurgery.org.au.

Notice of planned changes

Notice date: 18 March 2021 (updated 2 Feb 2022)
By 2023, the Board intends to exclude online Master of Surgery degrees as being creditworthy for selection points.

A precise definition of which Masters programs will be recognised is being developed but
is likely to concentrate on:

• original research
• lab-based research
• on-site classes
• assessment by thesis

Notice date: 21 September 2021
Clinical examination is a pre-requisite for Selection from 2022.

Important Notices for the 2022 selection round

24 November 2021

Error corrected in the registration closing date. Registration closes at 12:00 pm AEDT.

22 November 2021

All associated documents for the 2022 application process are published on ASPS website (refer to Related Documents below). Applicants must rely solely on the published regulations to guide their applications, but some changes are highlighted below.

Application timetable (see regulations section 2.1)

Application opening and closing dates have been revised. See the table below.

Maximum Attempt Limit (see regulations at section 2.8)

In 2022, some applicants will be unsuccessful for a third time, reaching the maximum attempt limit. All applicants are limited to 3 eligible attempts, in total, with one caveat.

Situational Judgement Tests (see regulations at section 2.9)

SJTs are not implemented for application into SET for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (Australia).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Selection Initiative (see regulations at sections 4 and 8.3.3)

One training position is reserved to support selection opportunities for candidates who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and who reaches the minimum standard for selection as well as scores within or below the cut off band. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders applicants who score above the band will be selected based on their regional preferences.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements (see regulations at section 5.6)

The RACS Clinical Examination (CE) is a pre-requisite for selection in 2022. The Board has made allowance for applicants to provide evidence of a pass in the CE to ASPS by 20 July 2022. Refer to RACS website for CE registration dates. The Board determined that. If a pass is not communicated to ASPS by the advertised deadline, that application will be re-classified to “ineligible” status.

Minimum referee numbers have reduced from eight to six surgical referees. Nurse referee numbers are unchanged.

Referees (see regulations at section 6.3)

Referees are limited to a valid period of 2 years prior to making an application.

Minimum surgical referee numbers have reduced from 8 to 6.

Ward nurses and allied health (or equivalent) referees are not valid referees.

Theatre nurses are allowed as valid referees.

Related documents:

• 2022 Selection Regulations for Selection into 2023 SET Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery program: Download
  (Previous year: 2021 Selection Regulations Download)
  
• 2022 Selection Referee Contact Details: Download
  IMPORTANT: Only use Microsoft Excel to edit the form.
• Interview Declaration: Download
• Interview Guide for Candidates: Download
• Training Agreement (v4): Download (updated 19 July 2021)
• Training Variation (v6): Download (updated May 2021)

Key Dates for 2022

Selection Registration Opens (RACS)	Wednesday 12 January 2022 12:00pm AEDT
Selection Registration Closes (RACS)	Wednesday 9 February 2022 12:00pm AEDT
Selection Application Opens (ASPS)	Wednesday 2 March 2022 12:00pm AEDT
Selection Application Closes (ASPS)	Wednesday 23 March 2022 12:00pm AEDT
Referee Reporting	April through May 2022 Evenings Mon-Thu
Interviews	June 2022 (subject to COVID-restrictions)
Latest Announcement of Offers Date	Monday 25 July 2022
Last Date for Offers	Friday 11 November 2022

Application Fee

All applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee which must be paid at the time of application.

The 2022 fee is $886 (in GST).

Support for Applicants

Should the SET application process raise difficulties for you or feeling that you do not know how to deal with, ASPS suggests you to seek out support and advice from these or other related organisations.

Beyond Blue support services:

• 1300 22 4636
• Chat online
• Email
• Online forums

Lifeline:

• 13 11 14
• Crisis support chat
• Help resources
• If life is in danger CALL 000