How to Apply for the ICO Examinations • Decided where you would like to take the ICO Examination. • Complete an ICO application form. These can be obtained from the ICO website, local coordinator or from the ICO Exams office. • Attach one passport size photo. • Organise payment either via Demand Draft made payable to ICO Examinations or directly into ICO Examinations account. • Send ICO Exams Application along with proof of Medical qualifications and proof of payment Please visit the ICO Examinations website www.icoexams.org and view the application documents and process. Contact ICO Examinations David Taylor Director of Examinations [email protected] Nicola Quilter Examinations Executive [email protected] Annette Board Examinations Administrator [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 20 7608 6949 Web: www.icoexams.org If you have any questions about any of our examinations or would like to contribute to the examinations question bank, then we would be happy to discuss this with you. INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY EXAMINATIONS Examination Fees The Examination fees are set in Swiss Francs but may be converted into US Dollars at the time of application. The fees are dependent on the Gross National Income per Capita (GNIPC) of the country. Introductory rates and Bursaries are available on request but are limited. building a world alliance for sight About the ICO Examinations Theoretical Optics & Refraction Examination Advanced Examination The ICO Examinations have been running since 1994 with an increasing number of candidates applying every year from over 130 exam centres in 70 countries. In 2012 nearly 2100 ophthalmologists participated with over 3327examinations taking place. The Theoretical Optics & Refraction is a one hour, paper based examination and comprises 30 Multiple True/False questions, each with five options. Thus the examination consists of 150 options. The Advanced examination is offered to ophthalmologists who have passed the Basic Science including Optics & Refraction and the Clinical Sciences. The candidates enter their answers on an optical mark reader sheet which is computer marked. A positive mark is awarded for each correct answer. No mark is given to those questions marked incorrectly or left blank. The examination tests up-to-date knowledge and a high level of common senses, precision and decision making. Passing the exam, along with a local face-to-face examination entitles the successful candidate to use the post-nominal acronym FICO. Foundation Formative Assessment The new online Formative Assessment will be introduced in 2013. Candidates can register and pay for the assessment online and an automatic ‘key’ will be issued. Subjects • Basic and Clinical Optics There are a total of 84 Multiple True/False questions semirandomly selected by the computer. Each question is time limited to 20 min and in addition to True/False questions candidates must also indicate their level of certainty of their response. This certainty indicator will be used to reward correct responses and penalise incorrect responses. • Theoretical Refraction The assessment can be taken in the first year of ophthalmology training or could be used as an entry test to a training programme. The Clinical Sciences Examination is offered to ophthalmologists who have passed the complete Basic Science Examination, including Optics & Refraction. On completion an analysis of the results will be e-mailed to the candidate. If successful, candidates will be issued with a certificate. The examination comprises of 200 multiple-choice questions over a four hour period. The questions consist of a statement, or a scenario, some with a picture of diagram. There are four options, one of which is correct. Basic Science Examination The Basic Science Examination is a two hour, paper based examination comprised of 80 Multiple True/False questions, each with five options. Thus the examination consists of 400 options. The candidates enter their answers on optical mark reader sheet which are computer marked. A positive mark is awarded for each correct answer. No mark is given to those questions marked incorrectly or left blank. Candidates usually opt to take the Theoretical Optics & Refraction along with the Basic Science Examination. Clinical Sciences Examination Subjects • General medicine related to ophthalmology • Community Medicine and Public Health • Ophthalmic pathology and ocular tumours • Neuro-ophthalmology • Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus • Orbit, eyelids and lacrimal disease Subjects • Trauma, external disease and cornea • Anatomy of the Eye, the Orbit and Related Structures • Ocular inflammation and uveitis • Embryology and Development • Glaucoma • Neuro-Anatomy • Lens and Cataract • Principles of General Physiology • Retina and Vitreous • Vision, Ocular Physiology, Biochemistry and Cell Biology • ICO Guidelines • Pharmacology • Epidemiology and Statistics • Genetics • Pathology and Micro-biology The results are analysed by the ICO committee and successful candidates are issued with an embossed certificate, signed by the President of the ICO and the Director of the examinations. The examination is a three hour paper and is presented in paper form. It will focus on twelve elements of clinical science including international Medical Ethics and the ICO Guidelines. The examination is comprised of 10 Extended matching-type questions and 75 context setting descriptions *(written, visual or graphical) each with 4 associated statements which require a True/False response. In addition to responding to the True/False option, candidates must also indicate their level of certainty with regards to their response. This will be used to reward correct responses and penalise incorrect response. The candidates enter their answers on response sheets which are computer marked. A positive mark is awarded for each correct answer. No mark is given to those questions left blank. The pass mark is demined before the examination is taken (“Criterion Referenced”) Successful candidates will be named on the ICO website, under their country and year of taking the examination. For further details, please contact the ICO office or your local coordinator.