OSCA occupation

264634 Orthopaedic Surgeon

Performs surgery to treat muscular and skeletal diseases and injuries.

Major group: 2 Professionals
Unit group: 2646 Surgeons
Edition: OSCA 2024
Skill level: Level 1

Should you use OSCA or ANZSCO?

OSCA 2024 is the current Australian occupation classification for storing, organising and reporting occupation information. Use this OSCA record for current Australian statistical and analytical classification work.

Some migration and administrative programs still specify ANZSCO 2022. Check the exact system named by the agency or form rather than replacing the code automatically.

Check the current ABS guidance on OSCA and ANZSCO use

Official ANZSCO correspondence

ANZSCO 253514 Orthopaedic Surgeon Exact correspondence in the ABS table

Role overview

Performs surgery to treat muscular and skeletal diseases and injuries.

Use this page to confirm the official title, the parent unit group, the task list and the related ANZSIC industry context before using the occupation in classification, reporting or migration-adjacent workflows.

Occupation facts

Skill level: 1
Major group: 2 Professionals
Sub-major group: 26 Health Professionals
Minor group: 264 Medical Practitioners
Unit group: 2646 Surgeons

Tasks

Consults with patients to diagnose orthopaedic conditions and determines the need for surgical intervention
Performs surgical procedures to treat musculoskeletal diseases and injuries
Orders and interprets diagnostic tests, such as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, to aid in diagnosis and treatment planning for muscular and skeletal diseases
Prescribes treatments and medications following diagnosis of orthopaedic diseases or injuries

Skill level guidance

Skill level helps place the occupation inside the ABS hierarchy. Use it as a classification cue, then check the actual task list and occupational context before making a decision for HR, visa or reporting work.

How to use this occupation page

Start with the official OSCA title and task list. Then confirm the parent unit group and compare the related occupations on this page if the job title is broad, overlapping or used differently across employers.

The ANZSIC links are there to help when the same occupation appears across several industries and you need the business-side classification as well.

Related occupations

Industry context

Alternative titles

No alternative titles are currently attached.

Compare before choosing

Compare OSCA 264634 with related occupations

Compare roles in the same OSCA unit group by their official definition, skill level, tasks and recognised alternative titles.

Comparison point	Current code264634 Orthopaedic Surgeon	264631 General Surgeon	264632 Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Official role definition	Performs surgery to treat muscular and skeletal diseases and injuries.	Performs surgery to treat diseases and illnesses covering a broad range of medical conditions.	Performs heart and lung surgery.
Skill level	Skill Level 1	Skill Level 1	Skill Level 1
Key tasks	Consults with patients to diagnose orthopaedic conditions and determines the need for surgical intervention Performs surgical procedures to treat musculoskeletal diseases and injuries Orders and interprets diagnostic tests, such as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, to aid in diagnosis and treatment planning for muscular and skeletal diseases Prescribes treatments and medications following diagnosis of orthopaedic diseases or injuries	Consults with patients to obtain comprehensive medical histories Examines and evaluates patients to determine if surgical treatment of illnesses, conditions and injuries are required, and explains risks to patients Requests laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures, and interprets findings Performs surgery and procedures in operating theatres and treatment rooms	Assesses patients' medical conditions and determines the need for cardiothoracic surgery Utilises diagnostic tools such as imaging tests, electrocardiograms and blood tests to assess patients' conditions and determine appropriate treatment plans Performs surgical procedures on the heart and lungs, including bypass surgery, valve repair or replacement, and oesophagus, trachea and lung transplantation Advises and counsels patients and families about patients' conditions, treatment options and recovery

Comparison uses occupation definitions, skill levels, tasks and title variants from the ABS OSCA data files.

In this section

Official source

Official source: ABS OSCA 2024 release and correspondence tables
Last reviewed: 2026-04-17

This site is an independent reference resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the ABS, ATO or any Australian Government agency.

Please verify critical classification decisions with the official authority before using them for tax, payroll, licensing, immigration or compliance work.

Report a correction