From Student to Surgeon: How the Medical Path Works in Australia

Being a surgeon in Australia is a highly rewarding yet challenging journey. Aspiring students need to start preparing while they are still in school. The medical path involves years of training, studying, and limitless dedication.

If you’re wondering how to become a doctor in Australia and how a student can begin their journey toward becoming a skilled surgeon, here’s a detailed guide.

1. Complete Secondary Education

The first step for students who want to enter the medical field or become a surgeon is to focus on the right subjects, such as biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. These create a strong foundation for higher studies, even if not all the subjects are required later on.

The student must attain the best possible results for the Year 12 exam to be eligible to apply for highly coveted medical programs.

2. Decide Between Medical School Graduate Entry and Undergraduate Entry

Australian students can enter medical school in two different ways:

1. Undergraduate Entry

Here, students join a medical school and pursue a Bachelor's of Surgery or Medicine program after completing high school. The course lasts for 5-6 years.

Students need exceptional ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) scores and outstanding performance in Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs). The most important thing is that students must take the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) entrance exam. This standard exam for secondary school graduates measures their logical reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. A high UCAT score is a must if a student wants to enrol in the best medical schools in Australia.

2. Graduate Entry

Students who completed an undergraduate degree in a specific field but want to switch to medicine must have a high GPA in their degree.

Then, they’ll need high scores in GAMSAT (Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test) and perform well in interviews to be eligible for a 4-year post-graduate medical degree.

During medical school, students learn the principles of medical practice, anatomy, physiology, and pathology in the classroom and laboratories and apply them while serving in hospitals later on. 

4. Get an Internship

After graduating from medical school, new doctors must undergo a one-year internship at any recognised hospital. Here, they apply their knowledge under supervision in different real-world scenarios.

The hands-on practice builds both practical skill and confidence in the freshies. Successful interns are awarded a general registration with the Medical Board of Australia, which lets them continue their practice.

5. Train in Residency

Post-internship, doctors begin residency, which lasts up to 3 years. Residents are junior doctors who serve in different specialties, such as cardiology, paediatrics, and surgery, under a senior doctor.

Those who want to pursue surgery must be more proactive when working with seniors. They must learn new surgical terms from doctors and surgical teams, ask to assist during operations, and manage surgical patients.

This stage helps them confirm their interest in the surgical field, build skills, and prepare for further training. 

6. Apply for Surgical Training

The surgical training world is highly competitive. The 2023-24 annual report shows there are only 6,562 surgical specialists in Australia. Doctors have to apply to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) to enter the Surgical Education and Training (SET) program.

The selection depends on past academic records, selection assessment scores, research publications, performance during residency, reports and references from senior doctors, and interview performance. A very small number of applicants are accepted, so one needs to give it their all.

7. Begin Surgical Training

After being accepted, they become surgical trainees or registrars and practice in the hospital for 5-6 years under the supervision of senior surgeons.

They learn advanced surgical techniques, manage patients both pre- and post-surgery, and perform operations.

If one wants to join a specific specialty (general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, or so on), they must take the respective examinations.

8. Crack Fellowship Exams

After completing training, surgical trainees must appear for the RACS Fellowship Examination, showing their knowledge and practical skills.

When they pass this exam, they receive the Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS), recognising them as specialist surgeons. The accreditation allows them to practice as an independent surgeon in Australia.

With this, they can practice in private clinics, public hospitals, or academic settings. They can even specialise with further training.

Closing Thoughts

Becoming a doctor in Australia requires excellent academic scores, resilience, and a commitment to learning. It takes more than 10 years to become a professional surgeon in Australia (after finishing high school). So, if you want to become a surgeon, stay focused and dedicated, and have faith in your dreams.