The Part 2 oral exam is the final exam on the route to Fellowship of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth). It assesses whether you can apply your ophthalmic knowledge and clinical judgement at the standard expected of a general ophthalmology consultant. The exam takes place in a mock clinical environment designed to reflect real-world ophthalmic practice.
The Part 2 Oral FRCOphth assesses your clinical reasoning, decision-making, communication skills and professional judgement across a range of ophthalmic scenarios. It uses a combination of structured viva stations and clinical assessment stations to assess the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of an ophthalmologist nearing completion of specialist training.
If you are on an approved Ophthalmic Specialist Training (OST) programme, you must pass both the written and oral components by the middle of ST6.
You can sit the Part 2 Oral FRCOphth if you have passed:
- Part 1 FRCOphth
- Refraction Certificate
- Part 2 Written FRCOphth exam
The exam is intended for candidates in level 3 of OST, or those with equivalent ophthalmology training and experience
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.
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.
Check out our Exam fees which are reviewed annually.
Read our cancellations policy in our exams terms and conditions for information about refunds.
The Part 2 Oral FRCOphth has two parts:
- Structured viva
This consists of five stations lasting 10 minutes each and two consultant ophthalmologist examiners are present at each station:- patient investigations and data interpretation
- patient management 1
- patient management 2
- attitudes, ethics and responsibilities
- audit, research and evidence-based practice, and health promotion and disease prevention.
- Objective structured clinical exam (OSCE)This consists of six stations:
- anterior segment
- glaucoma and lid
- posterior segment
- strabismus and orbit
- neuro-ophthalmology
- communication skills.
The five clinical stations are assessed by two consultant ophthalmologist examiners and last 20 minutes each. The communication skills station runs alongside the structured viva and lasts 10 minutes. It includes a simulated patient, an ophthalmologist examiner and a lay examiner.
The structured viva and OSCE components have separate pass marks. You must pass both parts of the exam. Cross-compensation may apply if you pass the OSCE, reach the combined pass mark but marginally fail the structured viva within one standard error of measurement (SEM). Poor OSCE performance cannot be offset by a stronger structured viva score.
Red flags
Examiners can raise a red flag if your performance suggests unsafe practice or inappropriate behaviour. If you receive a red flag, details of the incident will be sent via email. You are advised to speak to your educational supervisor to address these concerns.
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 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.
You are allowed four attempts at the Part 2 Oral FRCOphth exam. After four 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.
The Dr Sadhu Ram Gupta MBE Award recognises the highest-performing non-UK candidate who completes the Part 2 FRCOphth Oral examination at an overseas sitting during the calendar year. Eligible candidates must live permanently outside the United Kingdom and sit the examination outside the UK.
The winner is announced at the end of the year. Find out who the 2025 winner is.
If you still need support with your application, please email [email protected].