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Exam Eligibility

Specialists
Anyone who is a certified Specialist in Ophthalmology in a country of the European Union, Norway, Switzerland or Turkey, is eligible to sit the EBOD Examination, on condition that this eligibility is confirmed during the application process by the relevant EBO National Delegate from the country of the applicant’s training. Candidates applying as Specialists must have qualified as a Specialist at the TIME OF APPLICATION. If you have not already received your Specialist certification at the time of application, you must apply as a resident. Successful specialist candidates will be sent the FEBO diploma granting them the title of Fellow of European Board of Ophthalmology (FEBO) by their Country National Delegate following the exam.

Residents
It is also possible to sit the examination during the LAST YEAR OF RESIDENCY in a country of the European Union, Norway, Switzerland or Turkey on condition that this eligibility is confirmed during the application process by the Head of Department (Approval Letter) and one of the two EBO National Delegates from the country of training of the candidate (EBO will contact National Delegates directly) Candidates applying as Residents must be in their final year of residency AT THE TIME OF THE EXAM. The specific criteria may vary in some countries as outlined in the footnotes below.
In such cases a temporary certificate will be sent to those who successfully passed the EBO exam. After the candidates has become Specialist in the country through which they applied they must present to their EBO National Delegate(s) a certified copy of a document confirming registration as a specialist in this country. They will only then receive their FEBO diploma from the EBO National Delegate of their country of certification and are then entitled to call themselves Fellow of European Board of Ophthalmology (FEBO).

PLEASE NOTE: Candidates are not required to contact their National Delegate for approval. EBO contacts all National Delegates directly.

All Residents are required to upload an approval letter from their programme chair/ Head of department during the application stage. Resident applications are not complete without this letter, please have it ready before applying online. Please see sample of an approval letter Approval Letter Sample

With regard to Candidates from the following countries, please note:

ESTONIA:
Residents in their last year of formal training in Estonia are eligible to sit the EBO exam upon approval of the Head of Department and one of the two National Delegates from the country of training of the candidate.

FRANCE:

French Specialists are required to upload a copy of their CV during the application stage, please have it ready before applying

GERMANY:

German Specialists are required to upload a copy of their Specialist certification during the application stage, please have it ready before applying

IRELAND:
Trainee candidates from Ireland will be eligible to sit the EBO exam during their fourth or subsequent year of training provided they have passed the MRCSI. Trainees must do their Ophthalmology training for a minimum of 4 years in a Country of the European Union, Norway, Switzerland or Turkey.

The eligibility is confirmed during the application process by one of the two EBO National Delegates and by the Head of Department.

It is necessary for Irish candidates to pass the EBO exam for application to the Medical Council of Ireland for inclusion on the specialist division of the register as Ophthalmologist.

LITHUANIA:
Residents in their last year of formal training in Lithuania are eligible to sit the EBO exam upon approval of the Head of Department and one of the two National Delegates from the country of training of the candidate.

SWITZERLAND:
Residents in their final year of specific postgraduate training in ophthalmology in Switzerland must apply for the exam through the Swiss Society of Ophthalmology (SOG)

UK:
Residents in their fourth year of formal training in the UK are eligible to sit the EBO exam providing they possess a training number and receive approval from their Head of Department and the EBO National Delegates.

Specialists from the UK will be eligible once they are on the GMC Register and receive approval from the EBO National Delegates. UK Residents and Specialists must refer to the following questions and contact the EBO Office with the requested information.
RESIDENTS: Have you completed four years of formal training in the UK? If so, please send your training number & Deanery to ebo@ebo-online.org
SPECIALISTS: Are you on the General Medicine Council Specialists Registrar? If so, please send your registration number to ebo@ebo-online.org

All applying candidates must be qualified to practice in / be training to qualify in one of the following countries (PLEASE NOTE: If your country is not on the list you will not be eligible to apply):

 

European countries eligible to sit the EBO exam:

Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
The Netherlands
Norway 
Poland 
Portugal
Romania
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland (see section above)
Turkey
United Kingdom


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