The Royal College of Ophthalmologists Examinations form an important part of the assessment of trainees during OST. The old three-part MRCOphth and final fellowship assessment has been replaced by a two-part FRCOphth examination. There is also a stand-alone examination in Practical Refraction.
The OST Assessment Blueprint shows which Learning Outcomes are assessed by these examinations but in summary:
Part 1 FRCOphth
This examination is blueprinted on Year 1 and Year 2 Learning Outcomes. Trainees must pass this examination in order to progress from Year 2 OST to Year 3 OST. The examination assesses the following LO:
Patient Investigation PI1-16
Aspects of Patient Management PM1, PM10, PM14
Basic and Clinical Sciences BCS1-6, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
For details of the syllabus and assessments used in this examination please visit the Examinations section of the main RCOphth website.
Refraction Certificate
This examination must be passed by an OST trainee before the end of Year 3. The examination assesses the following LO:
Practical skills PS2 (refraction)
Basic and clinical sciences BCS6 (optics)
Communication C1, 2, 12
The assessment consists of a 12 station Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Six of these stations are retinoscopy stations during which candidates will examine three patients, performing retinoscopy on each eye.
The examination will include:
Retinoscopy
Subjective refraction
Measurement of BVD
Muscle balance tests
Accommodative power
Prescription of distance glasses
Prescription of reading glasses
Measurement of IPD
And will require an understanding of
Decentration of lenses and prismatic effect
Best form lens
Prescribing multifocal lenses
For details of the syllabus and assessments used in this examination please visit the Examinations section of the main RCOphth website.
Part 2 FRCOphth
This examination is blueprinted on the entire OST Curriculum.
OST trainees must pass the examination by the end of Year 7 – even if all other assessments are passed, a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) cannot be awarded without successful completion of this exam.
For details of the syllabus and assessments used in this examination please visit the Examinations section of the main RCOphth website.