Key facts
| Full form and awarding body | The College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (CAI) awards the Fellowship of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (FCAI). |
|---|---|
| Written format | Online written stage with 90 SBAs in 180 minutes and 10 SAQs in 200 minutes; both are sat on the same day. |
| Clinical format | Three in-person SOEs, each with six five-minute cases; 90 minutes total testing time. |
| Next Dublin written sitting | Next listed Dublin written sitting: March 4, 2027; application window December 7, 2026–January 25, 2027; fee €700. |
| Next Dublin clinical sitting | Next Dublin clinical sitting: November 24–25, 2026; application window September 14–October 27, 2026; fee €700. |
| Written eligibility | Written eligibility includes an MCAI pass within seven years or accepted exemption, 36 months of anaesthesia practice, recent clinical work and good standing with the regulator. |
| Pass standard | Written components use Modified Angoff cut scores and must each be passed; minimum clinical SOE grades are 3, 3 and 2. |
| International sitting | The CAI lists a Final Fellowship exam in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on February 18, 2027, with a €1,200 fee. |
What is the FCAI exam?
FCAI means Fellowship of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (CAI). The examination has a written stage and a clinical stage. Passing the fellowship examination is a progression requirement for Irish specialty trainees before SAT 6.
The written stage tests knowledge and clinical application. The clinical structured oral examinations assess how you interpret information, reason through cases and communicate safe management plans.
FCAI exam format and components
The examination has two stages. You sit both written components on the same day. Candidates who pass both can proceed to the clinical stage.
Written examination
| Component | Format and timing | Administration |
|---|---|---|
| Single-best-answer (SBA) | 90 questions; 180 minutes, split into two sections of 45 questions and 90 minutes each | Online, remotely proctored |
| Short-answer question (SAQ) | 10 structured questions with multiple subparts; 200 minutes, split into two sections of five questions and 100 minutes each | Online, remotely proctored |
The SAQ rewards clear reasoning, prioritisation, safe judgement and concise answers. Use the marks and command verbs to decide how much detail each part needs; a short, direct answer is often stronger than an unstructured essay.
Clinical examination
The clinical stage comprises three structured oral examinations (SOEs). Each SOE has six short clinical cases, with five minutes per case. Total testing time is 90 minutes.
| SOE | Main focus |
|---|---|
| SOE 1 | Perioperative medicine, patient optimisation and data interpretation |
| SOE 2 | General anaesthesia and pain medicine |
| SOE 3 | Intensive care medicine and advanced sciences |
Cases map to the CAI anaesthesiology curriculum. See the CAI written examination page and clinical SOE page for component details.
FCAI exam dates and application windows
The October 1, 2026 written sitting has passed. The next listed Dublin written sitting is March 4, 2027. The next Dublin clinical sitting is November 24–25, 2026; its application window closes October 27, 2026.
| Sitting | Application window | Trial date | Exam date | Location and fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written | December 7, 2026–January 25, 2027 | February 25, 2027 | March 4, 2027 | Online; €700 |
| Written | June 28–September 3, 2027 | September 30, 2027 | October 7, 2027 | Online; €700 |
| Clinical SOEs | September 14–October 27, 2026 | — | November 24–25, 2026 | Chartered Accountants Ireland, Dublin; €700 |
| Clinical SOEs | February 23–March 23, 2027 | — | April 27–28, 2027 | The Grand Hotel Malahide, Dublin; €700 |
The College also lists a Final Fellowship exam in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on February 18, 2027. The listed fee is €1,200, and applications run from November 11 to December 16, 2026.
The CAI states exam times in Dublin local time for its Dublin schedule. See the CAI examination calendar, written examination page, clinical SOE page and international centres page for the published timetable.
FCAI eligibility criteria
For the written exam, you must have passed the Membership of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (MCAI) within the seven years before the exam date or hold an exemption accepted by the CAI. The regulations list accepted exemptions, including the Primary or Final Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists for non-CAI trainees, the Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, the European Diploma in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, and specified fellowship or board qualifications from other jurisdictions. Exempting qualifications generally must have been obtained within the seven years before application; the regulations set out the full list and conditions.
You must also have completed 36 months in anaesthesia practice, have worked clinically within 12 months of the exam, and be in good standing with your regulator. If you are on Ireland’s National Anaesthesiology Training Programme, all 36 months must be within that programme.
For the clinical exam, you need a written-exam pass within the preceding three years, as well as the applicable MCAI pass or exemption. The written pass is valid for three years. Candidates who have failed a component six times cannot resit that component. Read the CAI examination regulations for the full eligibility and exemption rules.
FCAI syllabus and curriculum
The examination is mapped to the CAI National Specialist Anaesthesiology Training Programme curriculum. It covers core, modular and specialty modular units, with advanced sciences integrated into the written and clinical assessments.
Clinical areas
- Core units: perioperative management, airway management, general anaesthesia, neuraxial and foundation peripheral nerve blockade, ambulatory and orthopaedic anaesthesia, trauma management, and transfer of the critically unwell patient.
- Modular units: general, urological and gynaecological surgery; plastic and reconstructive surgery, including burns; anaesthesia outside the operating theatre and sedation; peripheral nerve blockade; ophthalmic, ENT, oral and maxillofacial, vascular, neurosurgical, cardiac and thoracic anaesthesia.
- Specialty modular units: obstetric anaesthesia and analgesia, paediatric anaesthesia, intensive care medicine and pain medicine.
- Advanced sciences: anatomy, clinical measurement and equipment, physics, physiology and biochemistry, and pharmacology.
The CAI curriculum and candidate guide describe the curriculum map and examination blueprint.
FCAI pass mark and results
The written SBA and SAQ cut scores use Modified Angoff standard setting. You must pass both written components independently; a strong result in one does not compensate for a failure in the other. For the clinical SOEs, the minimum grades are 3, 3 and 2.
Written results are not released on the day of the online exam. They follow marking and quality assurance, and candidates are notified of the release date. Clinical SOE results are issued on the day after the examiners’ meeting. The CAI publishes pass lists on its Recent Results page.
How to prepare for the FCAI exam
A useful six-week plan follows the curriculum and assessment formats rather than treating revision as a list of isolated facts.
- Weeks 1–2: Map the core, modular and specialty modular units. Use a short SBA set to find gaps, then revise perioperative care, airway management, general and regional anaesthesia, trauma and transfer.
- Weeks 3–4: Work through specialty areas and advanced sciences. Link each science topic to a clinical decision, and practise interpreting common investigations and explaining management priorities aloud.
- Week 5: Rehearse the written timings: 90 SBA questions in 180 minutes and 10 structured SAQs in 200 minutes. For SAQs, follow the command verb and marks; answer the question directly and avoid padding.
- Week 6: Run mock clinical circuits of six five-minute cases for each SOE. Practise giving an organised answer: identify the problem, interpret the relevant data, state priorities and justify a safe plan.
Keep clinical reasoning visible in every answer. Disorganised thinking, unsound judgement, weak application of basic science, important knowledge gaps, slow responses and reliance on frequent prompting are all risks to address before the examination.
More preparation advice: Cracking the FCAI Exam: A Journey to Becoming a Consultant Anaesthetist in Ireland
Practise for the FCAI exam
Use question practice to build fluency in each format, alongside the CAI curriculum:
- Final/Advanced anesthesia MCQ/MTF contains 1,281 questions across MCQ, MTF, SBA and MBA formats. Use its SBA questions to practise choosing and defending the best option.
- Final/Advanced anesthesia Short Answer Questions (SAQ) contains 1,135 SAQs for concise, structured written-answer practice.
- Final/Advanced Anesthesia Structured Oral Examination (SOE) contains 229 SOEs for verbal clinical-reasoning practice.
These are broader final/advanced practice products; their question counts do not represent coverage of the FCAI blueprint. New accounts receive a three-day free trial after verifying their email.
- Final/Advanced anesthesia MCQ/MTF 1,281 questions
- Final/Advanced anesthesia Short Answer Questions (SAQ) 1,135 questions
- Final/Advanced Anesthesia Structured Oral Examination (SOE) 229 questions
Frequently asked questions
What does FCAI stand for?
FCAI stands for Fellowship of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland. The examination has written and clinical stages.
What are the FCAI exam dates for 2026 and 2027?
The October 1, 2026 written sitting has passed. The next listed Dublin clinical sitting is November 24–25, 2026, and the next Dublin written sitting is March 4, 2027. Further Dublin sittings are clinical on April 27–28 and written on October 7, 2027; the College also lists a Final Fellowship exam in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on February 18, 2027.
What is included in the FCAI written exam?
The online written stage has 90 single-best-answer questions in 180 minutes and 10 structured short-answer questions in 200 minutes. Both components are sat on the same day, and you must pass each one separately.
How long is the FCAI clinical exam, and is it in person?
The clinical stage is in person and consists of three structured oral examinations. Each has six short cases at five minutes per case, for 30 minutes per examination and 90 minutes of testing in total.
What are the FCAI eligibility criteria?
For the written exam, candidates need an MCAI pass within the preceding seven years or an accepted exemption, 36 months of anaesthesia practice, clinical work within the preceding 12 months, and good standing with their regulator. Candidates on Ireland’s National Anaesthesiology Training Programme must complete all 36 months within that programme.
Is there a fixed FCAI pass mark?
The written cut scores use Modified Angoff standard setting, so the guide does not give one fixed percentage to apply to every paper. You must pass the SBA and SAQ separately; the minimum clinical SOE grades are 3, 3 and 2.
When are FCAI results released?
Written results follow marking and quality assurance; candidates are notified of the release date, and pass lists appear on the CAI Recent Results page. Clinical SOE results are issued on the day after the examiners’ meeting.
References
Exam rules, dates and fees change. Always confirm the details with the awarding body before you apply.