Postgraduate surgical examinations in the United Kingdom and Ireland: an update

• Published in: Surgery (Oxford) Vol. 39; no. 12; pp. 790 - 795
• Main Authors: McGregor, John R., Hines, John E.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2021
• Subjects: FRCS; Intercollegiate Committee for Basic Surgical Examinations (ICBSE); Joint Committee on Intercollegiate Examinations (JCIE); MRCS; Postgraduate Surgical Examinations; Postgraduate Surgical Examinations; MRCS; Joint Committee on Intercollegiate Examinations (JCIE); FRCS; Intercollegiate Committee for Basic Surgical Examinations (ICBSE)
• ISSN: 0263-9319; 1878-1764
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mpsur.2021.09.004

This article summarizes the current status of postgraduate surgical examinations in the UK and Ireland and their relationship to the surgical training pathway. It has been written by the Chairs of the Intercollegiate Committee for Basic Surgical Examinations (ICBSE) and the Joint Committee on Intercollegiate Examinations (JCIE) and is predominantly aimed at surgical trainees. The authors respectively address the Membership (MRCS) and the Specialty Fellowship (FRCS) Examinations and outline the changes to examination delivery that were necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 and 2021. The paper also provides an insight into the forward thinking of the two examination bodies as to longer term changes to assessment in relation to the evolution of approved surgical curricula.