The Advanced (Fellow of the International Council of Ophthalmology – FICO) Examination is designed for candidates who have already passed the Visual Sciences, Optics, Refraction and Instruments, and Clinical Ophthalmology Examinations.

The examination will test up-to-date knowledge and a high level of common sense, decision making, but cannot be used as an assessment of competence or technical ability. It does not verify training, test practical competence, or reflect the needs and variation of diseases found in different countries. Passing it will, along with a local face-to-face ophthalmology examination, entitle the successful candidate to use the post-nominal acronym FICO (Fellow of the International Council of Ophthalmology).

The examination takes three hours and is presented in a booklet and will focus on elements of clinical ophthalmology. The candidates enter their answers on response sheets which are then computer marked. A positive mark is awarded for each correct answer. No mark is given to those questions marked incorrectly or left blank.