Entry Requirements

RACS Eligibility:  

• Registrants must be citizens or permanent residents of Australia or New Zealand.  

• Registrants must be registered with the Medical Board of Australia or the Medical Council or New Zealand.  
• Completion of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Hand Hygiene Learning Module 
• Completion of the RACS “Operating with Respect” eLearning module 
• Must consent to a Police Check 

AOA Specialty Specific Eligibility Criteria: 

• Completion of at least 26 working weeks of orthopaedic surgical experience within the last two years (commencing start of clinical year 2021at the earliest) at PGY3 or higher  
• Successful completion of the Generic Surgical Sciences exam (GSSE) 
• Successful completion of a state-licenced Radiation Safety Course 
• Refer to the Australian Orthopaedic Association AOA 21 Training Program for further information on selection and/or eligibility. 

Total Training Time

Total: The AOA 21 Training Program is competency-based rather than time-based. Average time to complete the program is 5 years.

The AOA 21 Training Program is competency-based rather than time-based.  

Pre-requisites for training – Approx. 30-48 months  

Introduction to Orthopaedics – Approx. 12-18 months  

Core Orthopaedics – Approx. 36 months  

Transition to Consultant Practice – Approx. 12 months  

How to Apply

Selection to the AOA 21 Training Program in Orthopaedic Surgery in Queensland is managed by the Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA) and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).

Applicants wishing to apply to the Australian Orthopaedic Association AOA 21 Training Program must first register with Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and fulfil all of the RACS generic eligibility criteria.

In addition to RACS generic eligibility criteria, applicants must fulfil the AOA special criteria.

Applicants who are successful with AOA and RACS will need to apply to the Queensland Health RMO Campaign for an employment contract to be issued by the allocated facility.

Application Deadline

RACS Registrations open January each year  

AOA Applications open March each year   

These dates can vary, please click here to view the AOA Website.  

Frequently Asked Questions