Following application via the Executive Secretary and the Chair of the Credentials Committee you will receive notification of your eligibility to sit the examination not later than 1^st January of the year of the examination. This notification will normally be via email. If you have not received notification by this time, it is your responsibility to contact the Secretary so that this can be investigated.

The ECVO examination is held annually. It is usually held in the spring and the dates vary from year-to-year. The location and dates of the next examination will be given to you at the same time as your notification of eligibility to sit the examination (i.e. not later than 1 January of the year of the examination). However, check the ECVO website regularly, as this information will often be announced earlier than this.

Information regarding transport and accommodation options for the examination will usually be supplied to candidates by 1^st January of the year of the examination. If you have not received such information by 2 months prior to the examination, you should contact the Examination Committee chairperson and the Secretary.

The document ‘ECVO qualifying examination: Information for candidates’ gives details on examination format. This document can be downloaded from the ECVO website. 

The host institution will supply a standard set of diagnostic and examination equipment, including slit-lamp biomicroscope, direct ophthalmoscope, monocular/binocular indirect ophthalmoscope and condensing lens(es). However, candidates are welcome to bring their own equipment if preferred, and will be allowed a short period of time to set-up prior to the clinical examination section.

• All surgical instruments for the cadaver and ocular surgery must be supplied by the candidate.
• Candidates must also supply their own suture material, blades, surgical gloves, and head loupes.
• Surgical drapes and gowns are not required, or will be supplied by the host institution.
• An operating microscope for the intraocular surgery section and stands/trays for organizing the surgical instruments will be available.

This request is usually dealt with on a case-by-case basis. If you would like such a letter then please contact the Resident Co-ordinator or the Secretary. Please note that provision of such a letter does not guarantee that this equipment will be accepted as hand luggage.

Please re-submit the following forms:

• application form B to the Secretary and the Chair of the Credentials Committee by 1st December
• examination fee(s) for the relevant part(s) of the examination to the Treasurer by 1st December. 

Yes. Refer to Article 9 (Appeal Against Adverse Decisions) in the Constitution & Bylaws on the website for more information. Article 9.3 states that ‘Any candidate who wishes to appeal against the decision on failure in the examination must do so within 90 days of the postmarked date of his/her notification. The request for appeal must be made in writing to the Secretary and shall include a statement of the grounds for reconsideration and documentation in support of the petition.‘

Further information is available in the document ‘Exam information for candidates’ on the website.

There is no specific set of instruments for the ECVO exam, however you need to be prepared for adnexal, corneal and intraocular surgery.