CertLRS exam

Exams calendar CertLRS - Candidate Information Pack

The CertLRS exam is delivered through a combination of online and oral assessment and is intended for ophthalmologists seeking a recognised qualification in this specialist area.

The CertLRS is not part of the Fellowship of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth) exams.

The CertLRS leads to the award of the Certificate in Laser and Refractive Surgery and the post-nominals CertLRS. It assesses theoretical knowledge in commonly encountered refractive surgery scenarios and can support annual appraisal and revalidation evidence. 

Topics include: 

  • laser refractive surgery  
  • lens-based refractive surgery  
  • patient assessment and selection  
  • management of complications  
  • audit, ethics and professional practice. 

You can sit the CertLRS exam if you: 

  • are on the General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register for Ophthalmology, or 
  • are not on the specialist register but can demonstrate substantive ophthalmology experience and hold an accepted qualification. 

Accepted qualifications include: 

  • FRCOphth 
  • MRCOphth (awarded between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2008) 
  • FRCSEd(Ophth) 
  • FRCSI(Ophth) 
  • FRCSGlas(Ophth) 
  • FEBO 
  • FICO 
  • FRANZCO 

You must provide evidence of relevant qualifications as part of your application.

The application route depends on whether you are applying for an RCOphth exam for the first time. 

First-time applicants 

If you have not previously sat an RCOphth exam, you must submit your application form with the required attested documentation by 11.59pm on the Wednesday before the application closing date. This allows time for the exams team to review your application and for you to complete payment before bookings close. 

Please use one email address throughout your application. Using multiple email addresses can delay approval. 

Returning candidates 

If you already have a candidate number or have previously sat an RCOphth exam, book through My RCOphth.

After you apply

Within 10 working days of the closing date, you will receive confirmation of your exam place and key information about sitting the exam. If you have not received communication within this timeframe, email [email protected].

Reasonable adjustments

If you would like to request a reasonable adjustment for your exam, please view our policies and procedures.

Application opening dates, closing dates and exam dates are published in the Exams calendar, where you will also find a link to submit your application through My RCOphth.

Exam fees are reviewed annually.

Prepare for the examination by reading the guidance, completing the required MCQ system checks, and familiarising yourself with the viva structure and content. Please use the documents below to support your preparation.

The CertLRS exam has two parts delivered across two days: 

  1. Written paper

    This is a 100-question multiple-choice paper in an open-book format. You sit the paper online from home or work on the published date and time. The duration of the exam is 2 hours and 30 minutes.

     

  2. Structured viva

    The oral component consists of five structured vivas lasting 10 minutes each. These assess: 

    • good medical practice and audit 
    • laser treatments 
    • non-laser procedures 
    • pre-operative assessment 
    • post-operative assessment and complications. 

    Each viva is marked independently by two examiners using agreed questions and a structured marking guide. 

 

The written paper pass mark is set using the Ebel method. The structured viva pass mark is set using the Hofstee method. Pass mark setting methods may change at the College’s discretion. 

Results are released by the deadline shown in the Exams calendar, once verified by the Exam Board. We may release them earlier at our discretion. 

We send results by email and publish pass lists on our website. Please do not contact the exams team before the published results date to ask when results will be released. 

You are allowed six attempts at the CertLRS exam. After six unsuccessful attempts, you must provide evidence of additional educational experience before applying for a further attempt. The College may allow one additional attempt after the normal limit has been reached. 

If you still need support with your application, please email [email protected].

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