ICO International Clinical Sciences Examination for Ophthalmologists

Clinical Sciences Examination

On this page:

• 2010 Examinations on April 15
  
  
• Results of Examinations are mailed in June
  
  
• Courses available for ophthalmologists
  
  
• Background: The Basic Science Examination
  
  
• The International Clinical Sciences Examination
  
  
• Structure of the Examination
  
  
• Fees and applications
  
  
• Applications and more information

2010 Examinations on April 15

The 2010 ICO International Basic Science Examination for Ophthalmologists and International Clinical Sciences Examination will be offered on April 15. Deadline for application is January 31, 2010.

For more information, see the sections of the ICO Eye Site on the Basic and Clinical Examinations or contact the Examination Office.

Results of ICO Examinations are mailed in June

Results of the ICO Basic Science Examination and Clinical Sciences Examination are mailed to candidates in June.

Please do not contact the Examinations Office for results.

The Chairman of the Examinations Committee will send each candidate a letter and analysis sheet. Results are confidential and will not be issued by e-mail, fax or telephone.

Courses available for ophthalmologists

There are a number of courses for ophthalmologists and we have listed those which have come to our notice.

Please note that these courses are not organised by the International Council of Ophthalmology.

Background: the Basic Science Examination

In 1995, the International Basic Science Examination for Ophthalmologists was established so that individual candidates could assess themselves, and now almost 1000 candidates from 57 countries take this Examination, which has been accepted as the equivalent to the basic science part of the ophthalmic examinations in several countries and by other examining bodies.

The International Clinical Sciences Examination

The Clinical Sciences Examination is offered to medical practitioners who have passed Parts I and II of the Basic Science Examination for Ophthalmologists or an examination of a similar standard recognised by the International Council of Ophthalmology.

Doctors in practice or at any stage of their training make take this Examination. The Examination will be directed by the examiners appointed by the Examination Committee of the ICO.

The Clinical Sciences Examination is designed to discover whether candidates have acquired the breadth and depth of knowledge of the clinical sciences related to ophthalmology to enable them to recognise and treat the diseases of the eye with which they will come in contact in day to day practice.

Structure of the Examination

1. A syllabus will be sent to the candidate as soon as an application has been received. The syllabus is not intended to be comprehensive so questions may be asked on subjects not mentioned in the syllabus.
   
   
2. The Clinical Sciences Examination will take place on the same day and in the same location as the International Basic Science Examination
   
   
3. The Examination will be conducted in English only
   
   
4. The Examination will consist of 200 multiple choice questions (MCQ) over a four hour period
   
   
5. The questions will consist of four stems, one answer being correct
   
   
6. The Examination will consist of, and will be scored separately, under the following topics:
   
   
   1. General medicine related to ophthalmology
      
   2. Ophthalmic pathology and intraocular tumors
      
   3. Neuro-ophthalmology
      
   4. Pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus
      
   5. Orbit, eyelids and lacrimal system
      
   6. External disease and cornea
      
   7. Intraocular inflammation and uveitis
      
   8. Glaucoma
      
   9. Lens and cataract
      
   10. Retina and vitreous
       
       
7. the candidates will enter their answers on response sheets which will be computer marked
   
   
8. the computerised results will be analysed by the examiners
   
   
9. candidates and Co-ordinators will be informed of the results of the 10 sections into which the test is divided

Fees and applications

The fees for the Clinical Sciences Examination in 2010 is 705 Swiss francs or 679 US dollars.

Fees for other Examinations in 2010 are:

Complete Basic Science, including Optics and Refraction (Parts I and II): 525 Swiss francs or 506 US dollars

Basic Science without Optics and Refraction (Part I only): 470 Swiss francs or 452 US dollars

Optics and Refraction only (Part II): 290 Swiss francs or 280 US dollars

No refund is given to candidates who enroll for both papers but only complete part of the Examination.

In some centres Co-ordinators are prepared to:

Candidates wishing to withdraw their applications must do so in writing. For withdrawals received before the closing date (January 31), a full fee refund will be given (less a small charge for administration).

No refunds will be allowed for candidates who fail to attend the Examination or who withdraw after the closing date.

Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. No candidate will be allowed to take the Examination unless an application form and fee has been received.

Applications and More Information

Applications for the Examination must be made on the official application forms (photocopies will not be accepted). These are available to individuals or institutions from:

The Examination Office
International Council of Ophthalmology
11-43 Bath Street
London EC1V 9EL
England, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7608 6949
Fax: +44 (0)20 7608 6947
E-mail: assess@icoph.org

Note: A SEPARATE APPPLICATION FORM WILL BE REQUIRED FOR CANDIDATES TAKING JUST THE OPTICS AND REFRACTION SECTION.

Date of the Examination: 15 April 2010
Closing date for Applications: 31 January 2010

David Taylor, MD, FRCS, FRCP, FRCOphth
Examinations Director
International Council of Ophthalmology

Next: Co-ordinators

Also see: International Basic Science Examination for Ophthalmologists