If the MCQ is passed at the first sitting, there will normally be four opportunities to take FFICM orals during Stage 2. Although only one exam sitting was cancelled in April 2020, COVID derogations to the training programme have allowed those without the exam to progress into Stage 3, whereas previously those who did not pass the FFICM were held in Stage 2 for supplementary training, for as long as was needed to gain the competencies to pass. This has led to a situation where some doctors in training are trying to acquire Stage 3 competencies as well as those missed in Stage 2 and study for the exam.
Some of those taking the exam are not in a training programme; opportunities for these candidates to gain the specialist ICM experience needed have also been reduced, whilst subject to the same COVID stressors.
