Begin your journey to Fellowship of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists with the online Part 1 written examination.
The Part 1 FRCOphth is a theoretical written exam based on the learning outcomes from the first two years of the Ophthalmic Specialist Training (OST) Curriculum.
It assesses your understanding of patient investigations and your knowledge of the basic and clinical sciences relevant to ophthalmology. There is no clinical component.
You must pass this exam before entering year three of ophthalmic specialist training.
You can take the Part 1 FRCOphth if you are medically qualified. You do not need previous experience in ophthalmology to sit the exam.
You may take the exam before entering a General Medical Council (GMC) approved OST programme, during a break in training, or while working outside the OST programme.
All candidates must hold a medical qualification approved by the GMC or the Irish Medical Council (IMC) before registering.
You can sit the Part 1 FRCOphth a maximum of six times. Attempts before August 2013 do not count towards this limit.
First-time applicants
If you have not previously sat an RCOphth exam, complete the Part 1 FRCOphth first-time application form. You must submit your application form by 5pm 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.
Application deadlines
Application opening dates, closing dates and exam dates are published in the Exams calendar.
Reasonable adjustments
If you would like to request a reasonable adjustment for your exam, please view our policies and procedures.
If you already have a candidate number or have previously sat an RCOphth exam, book through My RCOphth
Application deadlines
Application opening dates, closing dates and exam dates are published in the Exams calendar.
Reasonable adjustments
If you would like to request a reasonable adjustment for your exam, please view our policies and procedures.
Prepare for your online exam
Before exam day, make sure you have read the guidance and completed any required system checks.
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].
You will receive system check instructions one week before the exam and your exam access links between 72 and 24 hours before the exam.
You are assessed against the learning outcomes for years one and two of the OST curriculum. The exam consists of:
- two multiple-choice question (MCQ) papers
- 90 questions in each paper
- two hours for each paper.
Both papers take place on the same day, with a one-hour break between them.
The pass mark is set in advance using the Ebel method. Questions are reviewed in light of candidate performance, and candidates must achieve the pass mark set for that sitting to pass the exam. Pass mark setting methods may change at the College’s discretion.
Exam fees are reviewed annually.
Read our cancellations policy in our exams terms and conditions for information about refunds.
Results are released by the deadline shown in the Exams calendar, once verified by the Senior Examiner Exam board. We may release them earlier at our discretion.
We send results by email and publish pass lists and exam reports on our website. Please do not contact the exams team before the published results date to ask when results will be released.
Successful candidates do not receive a certificate for passing Part 1 FRCOphth. Certificates are issued only on completion of the full FRCOphth qualification.
You are allowed six attempts at the Part 1 FRCOphth 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 limit has been reached.
Please read the Part 1 FRCOphth information pack (PDF) before contacting us. If you still need support with your application, please email the Exams Team.