FJFICM Exam Courses

FJFICM exam courses

Until I sat the FJFICM, I'd never been a big one for exam courses. As far as I'm aware, there are no ICU courses for the UK DICM; and most of the UK anaesthetic courses are lecture-based, which is guaranteed to send me to sleep. But thanks to a combination of a generous study leave allowance, and an unexpectedly long run-up to the exam, I was able to attend no less than three preparatory courses for the FJFICM, all of which I can thoroughly recommend. Apart from giving you the opportunity to put your knowledge and skills to the test ahead of the exam, it's also a chance to see other candidates in action, pick up tips from them, and learn from their mistakes.

The Adelaide Course

Also known as Tubs' Course, after its founder Lindsay 'Tubs' Worthley, this course is now run by Rob Young (a FJFICM examiner) under the auspices of the Australasian Academy of Critical Care Medicine (AACCM). It runs over three days in February/March each year. In the past it has been intensively exam-orientated, with practice OSCEs (presumably to be dropped/modified from 2008), Hot Cases, and Vivas all carried out under strict exam conditions, plus a few tutorial-type lectures; I understand the exam focus has now been softened a little. It is superbly well-organised; and apart from course hand-outs, we also received an answer booklet to the practice OSCE, and our individual 'mark sheets' from the practice vivas (though these were either more or less useful depending on the individual examiner). This course is deservedly popular and rapidly oversubscribed, so get your booking in early - the 2008 registration form can be found here (the 2009 course will start booking in October 2008).

The Brisbane Course

This is run by no less than the Chairman of the Court of Examiners, Bala Venkatesh, again under the auspices of the AACCM. It takes place in September each year, and the full course lasts four days, though you can sign up separately for one- or two-day modules. It is also aimed very specifically at exam candidates, with plenty of practice Vivas, Hot Cases and Data Interpretation. This course also fills up fast, though Bala tries to give preference to those imminently about to sit the exam. Further details can usually be found on the JFICM website, or from Katrina Smith at the Princess Alexandra Hospital (07-3232 7931).

The Melbourne Course

This course runs over three days in June each year, and is rather different from the other two: although it caters heavily to FJFICM candidates, it is more like a refresher course, and as such is also attended by qualified consultants. It is largely lecture-based; although there is an afternoon of practical stations, there are no mock exams of any type, and no hot-case practice. Nevertheless it was valuable preparation for the exam, with up-to-date summaries of various hot topics by some of the big names in Australian ICU, all glued together by the tremendously erudite and entertaining Ramesh Nagappan. Contact details can be found on the 2008 flyer here.

I'd suggest that if you're aiming to sit the exam in April/May, try to attend either the Brisbane course (as an observer) or the Melbourne course the June before, to give you an idea of the standard expected; then get yourself a full place on the Adelaide course to fine-tune your skills shortly before the exam. Conversely, if you're aiming to sit in September/October, aim to attend the Adelaide course (as an observer) or the Melbourne course early on, and then take the Brisbane course as a 'dry run' just before the exam.

If anyone know of any other useful courses, please let me know at austin@dicm.co.uk and I'll advertise them here.