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Exams

In order to become an ENT registrar, it is mandatory to complete royal college examinations demonstrating your knowledge and clinical skills in the field of surgery and specifically, otolaryngology / head and neck surgery.

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Examination Options

Please note changes as of
2023.

 

MSRA
(Multi Specialty Recruitment Assessment)

 

As of 2023 candidates
wishing to apply for Core Surgical Training are required to sit the MSRA exam. This
was originally the GP entry exam which is now being adopted by multiple
specialties. Your score is used to short-list for interview. Your overall CST
score and therefore ranking is a combination of your MSRA score (10-20%),
portfolio and interview score. For more information regarding the MSRA exam
please see Taking
the MSRA | Medical Education Hub (hee.nhs.uk).

 

MRCS (ENT)

There are two options:

  1. MRCS (ENT)
    1. MRCS Part A (MCQ) and the MRCS (ENT) Part B OSCE, formerly known as the DO-HNS Part 2.
  2. MRCS Part A, MRCS Part B and MRCS (ENT) Part B OSCE. 
    1. This allows application to any surgical specialty except obstetrics and gynaecology.

 

Option 1: MRCS (ENT)

MRCS (ENT) comprises of MRCS Part A and Intercollegiate DO-HNS Part 2:


MRCS Part A

See Guidance from the Royal College of Surgeons for the latest information.

From 1 January 2017, the Part A exam will be a 5-hour MCQ examination consisting of a three-hour paper (Applied Basic Sciences) followed by a two-hour paper (Principles of Surgery in General) – both taken on the same day. The papers cover generic surgical sciences and applied knowledge, including the core knowledge required in all nine surgical specialties

Paper 1 – Applied Basic Sciences MCQ paper

Paper 2 – Principles of Surgery-in-General MCQ paper

To achieve a pass in Part A the candidate will be required to demonstrate a minimum level of competence in each of the two papers in addition to achieving or exceeding the pass mark set for the combined total mark for Part A. The marks for both papers are combined to give a total mark for Part A.

The papers sat at each of the Colleges at any particular sitting are identical and are held simultaneously.

Candidates are entitled to a maximum of 6 attempts at Part A.


DO-OHNS Part 2 (OSCE)

See Guidance from the Royal College of Surgeons for the latest information.

Candidates must normally pass MRCS Part A before applying for the Intercollegiate DO-HNS Part 2 examination.

The Part 2 :   25-30 stations (5 patient stations, clinical photographs, anatomy prosections, surgical instruments, audiograms, radiology, scenario/short answer questions)

  • 7 minutes each
  • 3-5 rest stations
  • Bell at end of each station
  • Collect answer sheet for each station in folder
  • Candidate number on each sheet

 

The OSCE is held at one host centre up to three times a year in the UK and Ireland. The host centre will rotate between The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons ofGlasgow and The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

The host centre will send out the OSCE programme to all candidates sitting in that diet.

The results will be issued by the College to which the candidate applied.

Candidates will be eligible for election as Members of the College with which they successfully complete DOHNS Part 2 for the award of MRCS (ENT).

Candidates are allowed up to four attempts at the DO-HNS Part 2 for the award of MRCS (ENT).

Option 2: MRCS + DOHNS

Should the MRCS and DOHNS be completed separately, then the MRCS part B and Intercollegiate DOHNS part 1 also have to be completed.

The MRCS part B is an OSCE examination consisting of 18 stations. You are examined in anatomy and surgical pathology (5 stations), applied surgical science and critical care (3 stations), clinical and procedural skills (6 stations), and communication skills (4 stations). Each station lasts 9 minutes. You are permitted four attempts to complete this examination and must do so within seven years of completion of part A. The examinations are held at each royal college.

The DOHNS part 1 is a multiple choice examination lasting two hours and containing 40 multiple true-false questions and 100 extended matching questions. It is held three times a year. Experience in ENT and the support of your supervisor is recommended, but not absolutely necessary.