Ico Exams Frcsed 2020 Faqs

www.rcsed.ac.
uk
Frequently-asked questions - FRCSEd Ophthalmology

Examination Pathways
Why have you changed the FRCSEd Ophthalmology Examination pathway?
The objective is to make the pathway more simple, streamlined and cost-
effective for our candidates, members and fellows, through our collaboration
with the highly-respected International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO).
The previous system required candidates to travel long distances – often

internationally - to complete the membership-level exam, the FRCSEd
(Ophth) Part B. Each diet was only held once annually in Egypt, India and UK
respectively. This was time-consuming and expensive, particularly for those
candidates who were required to re-sit elements of the exam. Under the new
system, candidates who wish to achieve MRCSEd (Ophth) need only sit three
written examinations via the ICO at their convenient centres across the world.
• In the past, those candidates who sought to gain Fellowship of the Royal
College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCSEd (Ophth)) were required to
travel to Edinburgh to sit the exam. Under the new system, the exam
will be delivered internationally – and in a quicker and more streamlined
manner - in order to better serve our Fellowship candidates.
When was this change implemented?
The new examination pathway was launched in 2019.
How do candidates now achieve Membership with the RCSEd?
Simply apply to our partners, the ICO, to sit their three written exams:
• Visual Sciences
• Optics, Refraction and Instruments
• Clinical Ophthalmology
The ICO offer two diets of each exam every year in 137 exam centres in 83
countries around the world.
Once you have passed these examinations, you are eligible – and warmly
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encouraged - to apply for membership with the RCSEd.
What if I passed some of my examinations with RCSEd before this change?
Candidates who had already successfully completed Part A and Part B of the
FRCSEd Ophthalmology before 2020 are eligible for membership of RCSEd.
Those candidates who had successfully completed Part A but had not passed
FRCSEd Part B Ophthalmology will need to:
• Pass the ICO Clinical Sciences (Ophthalmology), and the ICO Advanced
Examination (115 Questions), in order to be eligible for MRCSEd
(Ophth). Candidates should note that there is a limited number of diets
remaining for these exams; if all of these are not completed and passed,
candidates will need to complete all three of the new ICO exams: Visual
Sciences; Optics, Refraction & Instruments and Clinical Ophthalmology.
• Pass the three new improved ICO examinations
If I passed all of my examinations with ICO, am I eligible to become a

Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh?
Yes – Candidates who have successfully completed the ‘old’ ICO Examinations
of Basic Sciences, Optics & Refraction, Clinical Sciences (Ophthalmology)
and the ICO Advanced Examination (115 Questions) are eligible for the MRCS
(Ophth) with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Those who have passed the three updated ICO exams from 2019 - Visual
Sciences; Optics, Refraction & Instruments and Clinical Ophthalmology - are
warmly welcomed to apply for membership with the RCSEd.
Can I apply for GMC Registration if I hold MRCSEd (Ophth) or FRCSEd

(Ophth)?
Yes, but you will only have automatic exemption from the GMC’s requirement
to pass the PLAB (Professional and Linguistics Assessment Board) if you
passed the ‘old’ FRCSEd (Ophth) Part B with an OSCE element, or if you wish to
progress and complete the ‘new’ FRCSEd (Ophth).
If you have taken the ICO exams to achieve membership of RCSEd, you
will need to sit the PLAB if you wish to seek GMC registration. We strongly
recommend that you contact the GMC for more information on their process
for registration and to view their list of acceptable post-graduate qualifications
for exemption from the PLAB. You can visit their website at https://www.gmc-
uk.org/.
We appreciate that not all of our candidates and members wish to seek GMC
registration, so this new pathway is much more convenient and efficient for the
majority of our candidates who wish to achieve Membership and Fellowship of
RCSEd.
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Does RCSEd offer a Fellowship in Ophthalmology?
Yes – After gaining their MRCSEd (Ophth), candidates only need to pass the ICO
Advanced 180 examination, have four years’ clinical practice and pass a face-to-
face viva conducted by RCSEd examiners in order to qualify for the Fellowship
in Ophthalmology; the FRCSEd (Ophth). This prestigious qualification allows
candidates to apply for registration with the GMC directly, without the need to
sit the PLAB.
We had intended to begin offering diets of the FRCSEd (Ophth) in May 2020,
but this has been interrupted by the Covid-19 global pandemic. We are hoping
– subject to government policy – to run the first diets later this year or early next
year.
Why should I join the RCSEd?
By joining The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) as a Fellow

or Member, you become part of a prestigious network of some 25,000
professionals in over 100 countries across the world. You are also welcomed into
an organisation dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and advancement in
surgical practice; and renowned for its friendliness and approachability.
The College is proud of its culture of innovation and is committed to supporting

our membership throughout their careers. Fellowship or Membership of
the College provides professional accreditation from one of the oldest, most
prestigious and respected surgical bodies in the world. Fellowship and
Membership of our College, first and foremost, is a professional qualification
which indicates that a surgeon has gone through a rigorous process to ensure
his or her professional competence.
With over 500 years of education, assessment and advancement of the

profession of surgery, we pride ourselves on our exacting standards and the
positive difference they make to patient outcomes and care. In addition to this
mark of quality which Fellowship and Membership of the Edinburgh College
carries, we provide support for our membership on key professional issues and
an impressive range of professional and personal benefits, during your career
and beyond.
Where can I find more information?
International Council of Ophthalmology – [email protected]
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Examinations Department – surgical.

[email protected]
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Membership Department -

[email protected]

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What changes have been made to the FRCSEd Ophthalmology examination pathway?

What changes have been made to the FRCSEd Ophthalmology examination pathway?

What examinations must candidates now pass to achieve Membership with RCSEd?

What examinations must candidates now pass to achieve Membership with RCSEd?

www.rcsed.ac.

Frequently-asked questions - FRCSEd Ophthalmology

Why have you changed the FRCSEd Ophthalmology Examination pathway?

The previous system required candidates to travel long distances – often

When was this change implemented?

The new examination pathway was launched in 2019.

How do candidates now achieve Membership with the RCSEd?

encouraged - to apply for membership with the RCSEd.

What if I passed some of my examinations with RCSEd before this change?

If I passed all of my examinations with ICO, am I eligible to become a

Can I apply for GMC Registration if I hold MRCSEd (Ophth) or FRCSEd

Does RCSEd offer a Fellowship in Ophthalmology?

Why should I join the RCSEd?

By joining The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) as a Fellow

The College is proud of its culture of innovation and is committed to supporting

With over 500 years of education, assessment and advancement of the

Where can I find more information?

International Council of Ophthalmology – [email protected]

Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Examinations Department – surgical.

Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Membership Department -

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