SET trainees complete rotations in approved surgical training hospitals. In addition, all trainees must complete required skills courses which may include the Australian and New Zealand Surgical Skills Education and Training (ASSET) course, the Early Management of Severe Trauma (EMST) course, and the Care of the Critically Ill Surgical Patient (CCrISP) course. Early assessment requirements include generic and specialty-specific basic sciences examinations and generic clinical examinations.
Trainees perform clinical rotations in units designated by the specialty in which they are selected as providing career aligned requirements. During training there is an increased focus on workplace competency assessment and in-training assessment. All trainees are required to achieve satisfactory performance in clinical rotation and must successfully complete the fellowship examination before being awarded fellowship of the college.