International expansion of prestigious FRCOphth examinations
23 June 2021
Exams are now open to increased numbers of international candidates in five countries.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) is pleased to announce the expansion of our prestigious Fellowship in Ophthalmology (FRCOphth) examinations overseas with new international host centres opening in India, Egypt and Trinidad and Tobago in 2022. Applications open from October 2021.
During the pandemic, the RCOphth made significant changes to the way it evolved Part 1 and Part 2 written examinations to online in order to support our ophthalmologists in training in the UK. The success of this has also meant an increased number of candidates from overseas with over 850 candidates having sat the first three online examinations of the Part 1 FRCOphth since October 2020.
Now, the RCOphth is making it possible to also take the practical elements of the FRCOphth examinations overseas. This removes the cost and time commitment involved for international candidates who previously had to travel to the UK to take these exams. They can now sit all components of the prestigious FRCOphth locally, a considerable advantage with travel restrictions still in place for many countries due to the ongoing pandemic. Candidates will also be able to gain a professional qualification that is recognised by the UK’s General Medical Council, which can open up job opportunities in the UK as well as in their home countries.
New international locations for FRCOphth exams
Beginning in 2022, sittings of both the Refraction Certificate and Part 2 FRCOphth Oral examinations, will take place in New Delhi and Chennai in India, Cairo in Egypt and Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. They are already offered for candidates in Singapore and Malaysia.
India
These new sittings will begin in India in February 2022, where the Vision Eye Centre in New Delhi will host our Refraction Certificate examination from 7th – 10th February. This will be followed by a sitting of the Part 2 FRCOphth Oral examination in October 2022, to be hosted by the Sankara Nethralaya Eye Hospital in Chennai. There will be a further sitting at the Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai in 2023.
Trinidad and Tobago
From 14th – 18th March 2022, The Ophthalmological Society of Trinidad and Tobago will host a sitting each of the Refraction Certificate and Part 2 FRCOphth Oral examinations.
Egypt
In April 2022, the Refraction Certificate will also be held in Cairo, Egypt, with the exam dates and host centre to be announced in summer 2021.
These new 2022 exams will open for applications from October 2021 and potential candidates are advised to check our examinations calendar here for full details of opening and closing dates, as well as examination dates:
Applications can be made online via our website or by requesting an application from exams@rcophth.ac.uk
For further information please contact Dylan Costello, Head of Examinations: Dylan.costello@rcophth.ac.uk
The RCOphth is also looking to expand its panel of local College examiners in the countries detailed above, and in neighbouring regions. Full details on becoming a College examiner can be found here: www.rcophth.ac.uk/examinations/examiners/
Statement from Dr Ashok Grover from the Vision Eye Centre in New Delhi, India:
“Vision Eye Centre is a state-of-the-art superspecialty Eyecare institution of excellence, which is accredited by the National Accreditation Board of Hospitals (NABH) and the National Board of Examinations (NBE), India. We are pleased to be hosting the FRCOphth examinations in association with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (London) in New Delhi from 2022 onwards. This offers an opportunity to the candidates in the country and the region to take this prestigious world class international examination without the hassle of long-distance travel. We look forward to welcoming the candidates to New Delhi.”
Statement from Dr. Vishwamitra Ramdath, President of the Ophthalmological Society of Trinidad and Tobago:
“The Ophthalmological Society of Trinidad and Tobago is proud to partner with The Royal College of Ophthalmologists to host the Refraction Certificate and the FRCOphth Part 2 exams. Our Society was established in 1984 and has always strived for excellence in eye health. This partnership will foster enhanced relations with the RCOphth, which recognizes the quality of international training. The collaboration is mutually beneficial, as it will encourage diversity and the exchange of ideas whilst increasing international access to the College’s high level of academic standards.”
Contact details for the exam centres are:
Vision Eye Centre,19, Siri Fort Road, New Delhi, India
Ophthalmological Society of Trinidad and Tobago
Gulf View Medical Centre, 64 McConnie St
La Romaine, 651031
San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago