The Refraction Certificate assesses practical refraction skills and forms part of the FRCOphth exams or a standalone qualification.
The Refraction Certificate assesses a candidate’s competence in practical clinical refraction, ensuring they can perform accurate retinoscopy and subjective refraction safely and independently. The examination is delivered as a 10-station OSCE and tests practical refraction techniques using a combination of real patients and retinoscopy simulators under timed conditions.
You can sit the Refraction Certificate if you
- hold a medical qualification approved by the General Medical Council (GMC) the Irish Medical Council (IMC), or an attested medical degree from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. or
- are an optometrist with a medical degree, MCOptom or an equivalent qualification.
- You are more likely to be ready if you have completed around 50 to 100 full clinical refractions. If you are in Ophthalmic Specialist Training (OST), you must pass this exam before entering year four.
Candidates who have been registered with the General Optical Council (GOC) as an optometrist in the last five years are exempt from this certificate. Candidates intending to apply for exemption should therefore ensure that they do so within this period. Candidates in ophthalmic specialist training are advised to apply for exemption before the end of year 3.
Candidates requesting an exemption must contact the General Optical Council (GOC) and complete an online form. Once the form has been completed, the GOC will issue a letter of good standing. Candidates must send this letter to the Director of Examinations for approval. If the exemption is approved, the candidate will receive an email confirming that they are exempt from the examination.
First-time applicants
If you have not previously sat an RCOphth exam, complete the Refraction Certificate first-time application form. You must submit your application by the published first-time applicant deadline. 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.
Returning candidates
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 exam
The Refraction Certificate is delivered electronically. You will enter your answers on an iPad at each station.
Before the exam, make sure you are familiar with the marking system and exam format.
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].
The Refraction Certificate is an objective structured clinical exam. It consists of:
- 10 stations across five rooms
- 10 minutes at each station
- retinoscopy and subjective refraction assessments
- a hybrid format using patients and simulators.
You attend on one day only during the exam week.
The Refraction Certificate OSCE is pass mark set using the Hofstee method. The pass mark setting methods quoted are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the College.
Candidates are required to pass the OSCE. If awarded a fail, candidates must re-sit the entire examination, even if a pass was previously achieved in any station.
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. 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 Refraction Certificate 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.
Please read the Refraction Certificate Information Pack before contacting us. If you still need support with your application, please email [email protected].