EBSQ Examinations

Emergency Surgery
EBSQ Examinations

Next EBSQ Examination

DatePartPlaceApplication deadline
11th & 12th February 2023
19th February 2023
Part 1 – written
Part 2 – oral
online
Madrid
30 November 2022

The next session of EBSQ Exam in Emergency Surgery is planned in two steps:

  • Part 1 – written exam (MCQ) – 11th and 12th February 2023 – online
  • Part 2 – oral exam (face-to-face) – 19th February 2023 – Madrid (Spain)

This examination is accessible either in English language or in Spanish language.

Applications for this upcoming examinations are closed since 30th November 2022!

We accept applications only through the UEMS dedicated web-platform. Applications by any other means are not accepted.

Please note that you have to 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).

Examination organisation & rules

To apply for certification as a Fellow of the European Board of Surgery in Emergency Surgery (F.E.B.S./EmSurg) a candidate has to undergo a two-step quality validation process: Eligibility and Examination.

Eligibility is a prerequisite for Examination.

Reapplication is possible for the Eligibility process and/or the Examination.

Eligibility requirements

In order to check the eligibility of any application, we request that each applicant download and fill in the Application form and the following documents that you can download below.

These documents and forms should be then uploaded on the UEMS platform during the registration process.

For details on the eligibility criteria, please download the following document:

For details on the required skills, please download the following document:

Checklist

Candidates must attach the following documents to their online registration on the UEMS Surgery platform:

  • signed application form
  • completed logbook
  • logbook validation form
  • recent photograph of yourself
  • copy of your passport
  • CV
  • certificate of completion of specialist training
  • certificate of completion of ATLS course or approved alternative
  • certificate of completion of DSTC course or approved alternative

Examination fees

The fees for the EBSQ certificate in Emergency surgery are divided as follows:
– Eligibility fee of 350 euros, non refundable if the candidate is not eligible, and
– Examination fee of 350 euros; the resit fee in case of failure is also of 350 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 policy & refund

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.

Examination format

The EBSQ Examination organised by the UEMS Division of Emergency Surgery consists of 2 parts:

  • a written exam in the form of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ),
  • an oral exam, in the form of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

For details on the proportion of questions from each category that candidates will be asked in the examination (i.e. 5% would be on pre-operative care), please download the Blueprint:

Suggested readings

Candidates should get a good understanding of the focus of the examination from reading these sources (non-exhaustive list):

  • Acute Care Surgery. Britt LD, Peitzman A, Barie P, Jurkovich G (Eds). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2012.
  • Acute Care Surgery: A Guide for General Surgeons Gracias V,  McKenney M,  Reilly P & Velmahos G (Eds).  McGraw Hill Medical 2009.
  • Common Problems in Acute Care Surgery.  Moore LJ, Turner KL, Todd SR (Eds.). Springer 2013.
  • Core Topics in General & Emergency Surgery, 5th Edition –  Companion to Specialist Surgical Practice.  S Paterson-Brown (Ed) Saunders Ltd 2013.
  • Current Therapy of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, 2nd Edition. Ascensio JA & Trunkey DD (Eds). Elsevier 2016.
  • Essential US for Trauma: E-FAST (Ultrasound for Acute Care Surgeons) Zago MP (Ed). Springer 2014.
  • Emergency Surgery Course (ESC®) Manual – The Official ESTES/AAST Guide. Fingerhut A, Leppäniemi A, Coimbra R, Peitzman AB, Scalea TM, Voiglio EJ (Eds.). Springer 2016.
  • Emergency Surgery. Brooks A, Cotton BA, Tai N, Mahoney PF (Eds). BMJ Books. Wiley 2010.
  • Emergency War Surgery 2014 Paperback – 16 Jan 2014 by Office of the Surgeon General. USA.  
  • Manual of Definitive Surgical Trauma Care, 5th edition. Boffard KD (Ed). CRC Press 2016.
  • Schein’s Common Sense Emergency Abdominal Surgery – An Unconventional Book for Trainees and Thinking Surgeons. Schein M, Rogers P, Assalia A (Eds.) Springer 2009.
  • The Trauma Manual: Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 4th Edition.  Peitzman AB, Schwab CW, Yealy DM, Rhodes M and Fabian TC.  Wolters Kluwer 2012.
  • FRCS General Surgery: 500 SBAs and EMIs. Wilson A, Craig W, Stevenson L.  JP Medical Ltd 2013 (useful for practice for candidates not familiar with MCQs).

Grant

Candidates who are successful in the Examination will be awarded the title “Fellow of the European Board of Surgery in Emergency Surgery – F.E.B.S./EmSurg”.

A UEMS fellowship (F.E.B.S.) represents a high-level validated quality controlled process and reflects certain knowledge and skills of a candidate. The title Fellow of the European Board of Surgery in Emergency Surgery (F.E.B.S./EmSurg) confirms that the holder has successfully demonstrated knowledge and skills in Emergency Surgery that, in most cases, far exceed the requirements for the national CCSTs.

The F.E.B.S./EmSurg qualification has no automatic legal recognition in the E.U. or in any other country. Individual recognition of qualifications by national authorities is supported by the EBSQ committee and is being adopted by increasing numbers of countries. The fellowship of itself does not imply an automatic right to independent practice nor does it automatically enhance participation in national social security systems of the E.U.
The future perspective of this European diploma is to been seen in unanimous legalization within the ongoing project of the European harmonization process of medical education.