the highly competitive surgical education and training (set) program in cardiothoracic surgery is six years in duration, usually commencing several years after completing medical school. training is administered and supervised via a bi-national (australia and new zealand) training program. multiple examinations take place throughout the course of training, culminating in a final fellowship exam in the final year of training. upon completion of training, surgeons are awarded a fellowship of the royal australasian college of surgeons (fracs), denoting that they are qualified specialists. trainees having completed a training program in general surgery and have obtained their fracs will have the option to complete fellowship training in cardiothoracic surgery of four year in duration, subject to college approval. it takes around eight to ten years minimum of post-graduate (post-medical school) training to qualify as a cardiothoracic surgeon. competition for training places and for public (teaching) hospital places is very high currently, leading to concerns regarding workforce planning in australia.