Part 1 Fellowship
Refraction Certificate
Part 2 Fellowship Written Component
Part 2 Fellowship Oral Component
Diploma in Ophthalmology Examination

No previous experience in ophthalmology is necessary for candidates to sit the Part 1 FRCOphth.

The syllabus includes Basic Sciences but also theoretical optics and some pathology. There is no clinical component and the syllabus is assessed by a theoretical written section.

Candidates are permitted a maximum of six attempts in which to pass the Part 1 FRCOphth examination.

Please go to BASIC SCIENCES COURSE and enrol.

As soon as you have enrolled, go to the Royal College of Ophthalmologists web page, download and print the syllabus of the FRCOphth Part 1.

Then, study the lessons one after the other. As soon as you have finished a lesson, print the lesson and MCQs and file them. It will be very useful for your revision.

After finishing the first lesson, please send your views.

Then highlight the chapter you have finished in the syllabus.

After you have finished all the lessons, let me know the chapters and topics that are not covered and I shall send the lesson to you.

With Best Wishes,

Prof Muthu

No previous experience in ophthalmology is necessary for candidates to sit the Refraction Certificate but candidates are unlikely to pass this assessment if they have not undertaken a large number of clinical refractions in the clinical settings of either the hospital workplace or in optometric establishments.

The assessment consists of a 12 station Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Six of these stations are retinoscopy stations during which candidates will examine three patients, performing retinoscopy on each eye. The time allowed will be 10 minutes for each double retinoscopy station during which time both eyes must be assessed. Candidates are permitted to divide the 10 minute period between the eyes as they wish. After 10 minutes there will be a 1 minute change over period.

A 5 minute OSCE will then follow.

Each station will be timed precisely.

Candidates are permitted a maximum of six attempts in which to pass the Refraction Certificate examination

Please go to ICO Optics and Refraction Course and enrol.

The topics in this are similar to the Refraction Certificate of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.

As soon as you have enrolled, go to the Royal College of Ophthalmologists web page, download and print the syllabus of the Optics and Refraction

Then, study the lessons one after the other. As soon as you have finished a lesson, print the lesson and MCQs and file them. It will be very useful for your revision.

After finishing the first lesson, please send your views.

Then highlight the chapter you have finished in the syllabus.

After you have finished all the lessons, let me know the chapters and topics that are not covered and I shall send the lesson to you.

This examination is open to candidates who have passed the Part 1 FRCOphth and the Refraction Certificate and is held twice a year.

The structure is based on learning outcomes from the curriculum in its entirety. The syllabus is assessed by a 180, single best answer, multiple choice question paper.

Candidates are permitted a maximum of four attempts at the Part 2 FRCOphth written component.

This examination is open to candidates who have passed the Part 2 FRCOphth Written Component and is held twice a year. Candidates in OST are required to pass this examination by the end of year seven of ophthalmic specialist training.

The structure is based on learning outcomes from the curriculum in its entirety. The syllabus is assessed by a structured viva and an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Candidates are permitted a maximum of four attempts at the Part 2 FRCOphth Oral Component. Part 2 FRCOphth examination attempts prior to August 2014 do not count towards the number of attempts available
Success in the Part 2 FRCOphth examination leads to the award of Fellowship and the post-nominals FRCOphth. International Medical Graduates (IMG) should note that the award of FRCOphth does not permit exemption from the PLAB test.

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists administers an examination leading to the award of the Diploma in Ophthalmology (DRCOphth). The examination is currently held once a year in September.
This diploma assesses core skills and competencies of ophthalmologists who have not completed the Ophthalmic Specialist Training (OST) programme.

The MRCOphth is a postgraduate ophthalmic qualification for doctors which assesses core ophthalmic knowledge and skills. Further details are available here.

Please note: the College previously ran a three-part Membership examination, assessing the entire curriculum for Basic Specialist Training. This concluded in 2008.

Fellowship Assessment

This assessment was designed as an exit requirement for trainees completing Higher Specialist Training. The assessment takes the form of a presentation of an agreed number of cases which have been studied during HST and which include cases reflecting the trainee’s special interest or research subjects.

The final date for first submission of Fellowship Assessment casebooks was 24 December 2014. This is assessment is therefore only open to existing resit candidates.

From August 2014, candidates who are eligible to sit either the Fellowship Assessment or the Part 2 FRCOphth examination are permitted four attempts each for the Part 2 FRCOphth Written and Oral Components or four attempts for the Fellowship Assessment.