EBSQ Examinations

Abdominal wall Surgery EBSQ Examinations

Next F.E.B.S./AWS Examination

DateTypePlaceApplication deadline
2 May 2023on siteBarcelona21 March 2023

Candidates must apply through the UEMS dedicated web-platform accessible through the button below!
Applications by any other means are not accepted.

▲ Places are limited. Do not wait last minute to finalise your application.
We will apply a first applicant, first registered policy in case we have more candidates than we have the capacity to welcome.

▲ Please note that you must submit all the required documents and paid the Eligibility fee before the deadline date. The further payment of the Examination fee may be possible after the deadline date within 2 weeks from the notification of your eligibility (sent by email).

We do not accept any document as support to applications by any other means than uploaded on the dedicated web-platform. Any document sent by any other means including by email will not be considered as part of an application.

▲ Please note that once the deadline date to apply is passed, no application will then be possible and acceptable by any means.

We kindly encourage applicants to submit their documents and payment as early as possible.

You wish to apply to the EBSQ Examination in Abdominal Wall Surgery for the first time or you were assessed as not eligible in a previous attempt to participate to the exam. Please click below:

Examination organisation & rules

The F.E.B.S. AWS Examination (Board Exam) is subject of comprehensive revision and continuous development. The examination covers the whole field of Abdominal wall surgery as described in the syllabus.
The structure of the Board Qualification is clearly defined and consists of a 2-stage process involving the Eligibility and the Examination, the Examination comprising a MCQ test with at least 100 items and an OSCE circuit with at least 6 stations.

For details on the organisation and the rules attached to the EBSQ examination in Abdominal Wall Surgery, please read carefully the following document:


If you wish to apply and assess your eligibility for the next EBSQ Examination in Abdominal wall surgery, please download the following document, filled it out electronically, printed, signed and submitted as pdf-file:

Examination fees

The fees for the EBSQ certificate in Abdominal Wall surgery are divided as follows:
– Eligibility fee of 150 euros, non refundable if the candidate is not eligible, and
– Examination fee of 450 euros; the resit fee in case of failure is also of 450 euros.

The eligibility fee is to be paid when the candidate register for the certification.

The examination fees should be paid once the eligibility of the candidate has been confirmed, to finalise the registration of the candidate for the examination.

Cancellation/Postponement up to 30 days before the exam- Exam fees (if paid) postponed to next sitting + an admin charge of 90 euro.
Cancellation/Postponement less than 30 days before the exam – Exam fees not transferred to the next exam. If candidate was deemed eligible then they will pay the full exam fee + 90 euro admin fee. They will not have to pay the eligibility fee again if they have been assessed eligible.

Reasonable cancellations within 30 days of the exam will be considered on a case by case basis. Supporting documentation may be required.
 
For those who have been assessed eligible, you may postpone for up to 24 months. After 24 months you must go through the eligibility assessment again.

All fees paid are non-refundable. The exam fee may be transferred to another exam sitting if more than 30 days notice is given.

Specific fees are application for members of the European Hernia Society as indicated in the following documents. You must notify the UEMS office of this reduction ( if it applies to you) before payment.

Requirements

The “transferable competency” of Abdominal Wall Surgery (AWS) requires assessed and documented numbers for “Knowledge and Skills“. Candidates must demonstrate Skills in each of the described areas of responsibility and be able to present a complete and signed log-book.

The candidates’ individual log-books must fulfil the UEMS criteria.
In the logbook patient’s initials (or hospital ad admission number), type of procedure, date of procedure and approval with signature by independent expert have to be provided for each item.

The individual log-books are scrutinised in the Eligibility process.

Eligibility will only be assessed if all forms and documents mentioned in the check list here below have been submitted.

Application checklist

  • EBSQ Abdominal Wall Surgery Application Form duly completed, signed by
    the applicant and 2 trainers
  • Signed document by the 2 trainers
  • National certificate of General/Visceral Surgery training completion
  • EBSQ Abdominal Wall Surgery List of operations
    (all operations must be listed per operation date and hospital/private practice)
  • Short CV including publications list

Details on the eligibity requirements are available in this document:

Marking & grant

A total of 600 points can be achieved in the EBSQ exam:
– 300 points in the MC test (3 points per question),
– 300 points in the OSCE circuit (50 points per station).

The threshold for passing the exam is 75%, which means at least a total of 450 points.

Appeals against the decision of the Board of Examiners are possible.

In addition, an unsuccessful candidate is entitled to another chance to take the exam that he/she failed.

The successful candidates (successful Eligibility and Examination) are awarded the title “Fellow of the European Board of Surgery – AWS” or “F.E.B.S./AWS” and are provided with the relevant certificate normally the same day in a formal celebration.
In the moment the qualification F.E.B.S./AWS has no automatic legal recognition in the E.U. or in any other country. Individual recognition of qualifications by the national authorities is supported by the EBSQ committee.
Individual recognition of qualifications by the national authorities is supported by the EBSQ committee and the number of countries officially adopting the Board exam is continuously rising.