ICO International Clinical Sciences Assessment for Ophthalmologists

Clinical Sciences Assessment

On this page:

• 2008 Assessments on April 10
  
  
• Results of Assessments are mailed in June
  
  
• Courses available for ophthalmologists
  
  
• Background: The Basic Science Assessment
  
  
• The International Clinical Sciences Assessment
  
  
• Structure of the Assessment
  
  
• Fees and applications
  
  
• Applications and more information

2008 Assessments on April 10

The 2008 ICO International Basic Science Assessment for Ophthalmologists and International Clinical Sciences Assessment will be offered on April 10. Deadline for application is January 31, 2008.

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

Results of ICO Assessments are mailed in June

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

Please do not contact the Assessments Office for results.

The Chairman of the Assessments 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 Assessment

In 1995, the International Basic Science Assessment for Ophthalmologists was established so that individual candidates could assess themselves, and now almost 1000 candidates from 57 countries take this Assessment, 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 Assessment

The Clinical Sciences Assessment is offered to medical practitioners who have passed Parts I and II of the Basic Science Assessment 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 Assessment. The Assessment will be directed by the examiners appointed by the Assessment Committee of the ICO.

The Clinical Sciences Assessment 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 Assessment

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 Assessment will take place on the same day and in the same location as the International Basic Science Assessment
   
   
3. The Assessment will be conducted in English only
   
   
4. The Assessment 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 Assessment 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 Assessment in 2008 is 680 Swiss francs or 545 US dollars.

Fees for other Assessments in 2008 are:

Complete Basic Science, including Optics and Refraction (Parts I and II): 500 Swiss francs or 400 US dollars

Basic Science without Optics and Refraction (Part I only): 445 Swiss francs or 355 US dollars

Optics and Refraction only (Part II): 265 Swiss francs or 210 US dollars

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

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 Assessment 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 Assessment unless an application form and fee has been received.

Applications and More Information

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

The Examination Secretary
International Council of Ophthalmology Strangeways,
2 Wort's Causeway Cambridge CB1 8RN
England, UK
Telephone: + 44 (0) 1223 244101
Fax: + 44 (0) 1223 244079
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 Assessment: 10 April 2008
Closing date for Applications: 31 January 2008

Peter Watson FRCS, FRCOphth,
Assessments Director
International Council of Ophthalmology

Next: Co-ordinators

Also see: International Basic Science Assessment for Ophthalmologists