EBO-EURETINA Subspecialty Exam 2023

General Information

The EBO and Euretina have come together to develop the FEBOS-R qualification.

The purpose of this qualification is to harmonise the standard of expected knowledge and clinical acumen for retina specialists across Europe.

The exam will assess candidates’ ability to manage a retina clinic. It could be seen as an “exit” exam, that someone has achieved a theoretical level of knowledge required to manage patients safely and effectively.

• • – Euretina is designing this exam, as the society’s mission is to promote the most up-to-date science and encourage evidence-based practice, to provide the best care and outcomes for patients
  • – EBO is accrediting this exam, as part of its mission to harmonise knowledge and training in ophthalmology to promote better patient care across Europe
  • – Candidates will sit the exam, to attain certification that they have met the standards set by Euretina, regarding the knowledge and acumen of a retina specialist, who manages patients safely and effectively.
  • – The exam will benefit the wider community, as the standard for retina specialists across Europe is harmonised, fellowships and other opportunities for those training to become retina specialists can use the exam to inform their training.

In this way, Euretina and the EBO are setting the standard for retina specialists and patient care across Europe.

Structure

This exam will be conducted in two distinct parts:

• PART I: Online multiple-choice exam is conducted remotely, composed of Multiple True/False and Single Best Answer question types.

Candidates must pass Section I to proceed to Section II, the viva voce (clinical knowledge) test.

• PART II: Viva voce is a 60-minute interview-based exam, in 4 parts. Candidates will be interviewed at 4 stations by experts.

Each station interview will be based on two cases (one case per subject area) and will last 15 minutes. The stations are:

Please note: these subjects represent the 8 subsections of Euretina. Each subject will carry an equivalent weight in the overall judgement of a candidate’s final score.

Candidate Requirements

The following represent minimal requirements to sit the exam:

At a minimum, candidates should

• – be in the final year of a retina fellowship (where there are fellowships)
• – OR have passed the comprehensive EBO examination (FEBO) or equivalent (FRCOphth, FRCS Ophthalmology (RCS Glasgow)), and have at least one years’ experience working in a retina clinic

Those with more extensive experience, but without a specific diploma will be considered.

Informal enquiries about eligibility can be made by emailing exam@euretina.org. Please include “Exam Eligibility” in the subject line of your email so we can attend to it more quickly.

The examination working group will review applications to ensure applicants meet candidate requirements, prior to accessing the exam.

Fees

The EBO-Euretina exam has an introductory fee of €550.

Euretina will include a registration to the 23rd Euretina Congress in Amsterdam for those accepted to sit the exam.

Where an applicant is not accepted to sit the exam, they will be refunded €400. €150 is retained by EBO and Euretina to cover administration and document review costs.

Except in exceptional circumstances, if a candidate does not attend for the exam, or cancels after the closing date for applications, they will not be reimbursed their exam fee

Exam Process Overview

Applications will open in December 2022. The application form will be accessed via a link on the EBO and Euretina websites.

Applications will close on March 14th 2023. EBO and Euretina reserve the right to close applications early if the number of expected applicants exceeds capacity.

During the application process, you will be asked to provide:

• – The fee (Currently set at €550 as an introductory fee)
• – Photograph
• – CV
• – Recommendation letter (download a template here)
• – Proof (Scan, etc.) of FEBO / FRCophth, etc. (if applicable)

The Euretina Examination board will review applications. For those selected to become candidates:

1. PART I (MCQs) will be conducted online on 12th June 2023.
   You must pass the MCQ section to be invited to sit the viva voce.
2. PART II (Viva Voce) will be held on the day before the Euretina Congress opens, Wednesday 4^th October, in Amsterdam. The specific location and time will be confirmed closer to the time.

If you do not pass PART I, you will be given an option:

1. 1. You can transfer your application to the next year for the exam. This will commute your exam fee and application and ALSO your registration for the Euretina Congress. Therefore, you will have to pay for registration for the 23rd Euretina Congress (2023) in Amsterdam
2. 2. OR, you can avail of your registration for the 23rd Euretina Congress (2023) in Amsterdam. In this case, if you wish to take the exam in 2024, you will need to undergo the application process (and pay the appropriate fee) when applications open for the 2024 exam.

Those who pass the EBO-Euretina exam will receive an EBO-accredited and stamped diploma, and be awarded the post-nominal title “FEBOS-R”

Recommended Reading

The minimum required knowledge is that covered in the AAO Basic and Clinical Sciences volumes:

Section 1: Update on General Medicine

Section 4: Ophthalmic Pathology and Intraocular Tumors

Section 9: Uveitis and Ocular Inflammation

Section 12: Retina and Vitreous (Please note a major revision of this volume has been published in 2022)

In addition, candidates will be expected to have kept abreast of recent important research, trials, and clinical practice.

The following have been recommended: