Key facts
| Awarding body | Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists |
|---|---|
| Examination pathway | Intermediate Fellowship Examination and Final Fellowship Examination |
| Intermediate format | Two subjects; each has 12 short-answer questions in 2 hours and an oral examination |
| Final format | Written papers, including a 150-question / 150-minute MCQ paper, followed by oral and OSCE sections |
| Intermediate 2027 sittings | 19 February / 9–10 April and 22 July / 10–11 September |
| Final 2027 sittings | MCQ and written papers in March or August; oral and OSCE in May or October |
| Published fees | HK$8,000 for Intermediate; HK$16,000 for Final |
| Eligibility | Intermediate applicants must meet the trainee registration requirements; Final also requires passing or exemption from Intermediate and an accredited training centre |
| Progression and pass rules | Intermediate requires passes in both subjects; passing the Final written stage is required to proceed to oral and OSCE |
What the HKCA examinations assess
The Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists (HKCA) examination pathway has two stages. Intermediate is taken during Basic Anaesthesia Training and assesses the scientific foundations of clinical anaesthesia; Final is taken during Higher Anaesthesia Training and focuses on applying knowledge and skills in clinical practice.
Passing Final does not by itself complete the Fellowship pathway. HKCA also requires satisfactory completion of training and the Exit Assessment before awarding Fellowship of the College.
HKCA Intermediate and Final exam formats
Intermediate Fellowship Examination
| Component | Format |
|---|---|
| Written | Two subjects: physiology and pharmacology. Each paper has 12 short-answer questions and lasts 2 hours. |
| Oral | Two 20-minute tables for each subject. Each table has two examiners, who question the candidate for 10 minutes each. |
The written and oral parts carry equal marks within each subject. Candidates must reach an acceptable standard in the written paper to proceed to the oral examination. The written papers are in English; clear, legible answers matter.
Final Fellowship Examination
| Component | Format |
|---|---|
| Written Paper I | 12 scenario-based and standalone short-answer questions in 2 hours. |
| Written Paper II | Critical appraisal of literature, investigations and radiology. The critical-appraisal task includes time to read an article and answer questions; investigation and radiology questions are also tested. |
| MCQ paper | 150 questions in 150 minutes. The 2027 schedule lists this separately from the other written paper date. |
| Oral | Three tables, 90 minutes in total. Each table lasts 30 minutes, with two examiners taking 15 minutes each. |
| OSCE | Ten stations plus rest stations. Most stations last 10 minutes, with 2-minute changeovers; the 20-minute long clinical case carries double weighting. |
The written stage is assessed by aggregating marks across its papers. Candidates who pass it are invited to the oral and OSCE sections. The three Final sections—written, oral and OSCE—carry equal marks. The OSCE station combination can vary and may assess applied anatomy and regional anaesthesia, equipment, crisis management, investigations, examination, communication and procedural skills.
HKCA exam dates, deadlines and fees
The College’s published schedule lists two sittings for each examination in 2027. The written-result dates below are announcement deadlines; Final results are announced after the OSCE.
| Examination and sitting | Written / MCQ dates | Oral and OSCE dates | Application closes | Written results by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intermediate, February / April | Written: 19 February 2027 | Oral: 9–10 April 2027 | 8 January 2027 | 19 March 2027 |
| Intermediate, July / September | Written: 22 July 2027 | Oral: 10–11 September 2027 | 10 June 2027 | 19 August 2027 |
| Final, March / May | MCQ: 16 March; written: 23 March 2027 | Oral: 14–15 May; OSCE: 16 May 2027 | 2 February 2027 | 23 April 2027 |
| Final, August / October | MCQ: 17 August; written: 24 August 2027 | Oral: 15–16 October; OSCE: 17 October 2027 | 6 July 2027 | 24 September 2027 |
The published examination fees are HK$8,000 for Intermediate and HK$16,000 for Final. The HKCA examination page lists dates, application information and past papers.
Who can sit the HKCA examinations?
Intermediate
You may apply if you are registered as an HKCA vocational trainee, or as a vocational trainee or equivalent at a non-local postgraduate medical training institute in anaesthesiology, intensive care medicine or pain medicine approved by HKCA Council. The required registration and training fees must be paid.
Final
You must be registered with HKCA as a vocational trainee, have paid the required fees, and have passed Intermediate or received an exemption. Final is taken during Higher Anaesthesia Training, and the training guide requires candidates to be working in a College-accredited training centre.
HKCA examination syllabus
Intermediate syllabus
The Intermediate curriculum covers physiology, pharmacology, clinical measurements and statistics. Its learning outcomes include the physiological effects of anaesthesia on cardiovascular, respiratory, liver, kidney, immune, haematological and endocrine systems; fluid therapy; and the effects of pneumoperitoneum and patient positioning. Pharmacology includes receptor theory, drug interactions, dose–response relationships, potency, efficacy and pharmacokinetics. Measurement topics include physical principles and methods used for volume, flow, pressure, blood pressure and cardiac output. Statistics includes data distribution, measures of central tendency and dispersion, statistical tests, bias, confounding and risk estimation.
Final syllabus
Final assesses applied knowledge across clinical fundamentals and anaesthesia specialty modules. The curriculum includes general and regional anaesthesia, airway management, acute pain, perioperative medicine, trauma, crisis management, resuscitation, and safety and quality. Specialty learning outcomes include areas such as general, paediatric, obstetric, neuro-, cardiac, thoracic and vascular anaesthesia, pain medicine and intensive care medicine. The curriculum also covers management, medico-legal matters and research-related topics. Use the Final learning outcomes to organise revision across the curriculum rather than narrowing preparation to predicted topics.
HKCA pass mark and examination results
HKCA uses a closed marking system. Each answer is graded from 2 to 8, with 5 as the pass mark for an answer; this is not an overall percentage formula.
Intermediate requires a pass in both physiology and pharmacology. A pass in one subject may be carried forward if you pass that subject and meet the minimum-score requirement in the other. The pass can be carried forward for up to four subsequent consecutive examinations; after that, both subjects must be retaken.
For Final, marks across the three written papers are aggregated to determine whether you proceed to the oral and OSCE sections. The written, oral and OSCE sections carry equal marks. If you pass the written section but fail the oral or OSCE, HKCA allows the written pass to be carried forward for up to four consecutive examinations.
How to prepare for the HKCA exam
An eight-week revision plan works best when it follows the exam tasks rather than treating every topic and format the same way.
- Weeks 1–2: Map the curriculum and identify gaps. Intermediate candidates should divide time between physiology and pharmacology, including clinical measurements and statistics. Final candidates should map revision across clinical fundamentals and specialty modules.
- Weeks 3–5: Practise the written formats under time pressure. For Intermediate, write 12-question papers in two hours and practise explaining basic-science mechanisms in clinical terms. For Final, alternate scenario-based short answers with critical appraisal, investigation interpretation, radiology and timed MCQ blocks.
- Weeks 6–7: Rehearse oral answers aloud. Final candidates should also practise OSCE tasks such as focused examination, interpreting investigations, communication and crisis management.
- Week 8: Run timed rehearsals and review errors. Attempt every question: HKCA warns that unanswered questions are difficult to compensate for, and answers that do not address a scenario do not score.
For a separate study plan and case-practice discussion, continue to the HKCA exam preparation article.
More preparation advice: Mastering the HKCA Exams: Your Comprehensive Guide to Success
Practise for HKCA with Anesthesia Zone
Intermediate: Primary/Basic anesthesia MCQ/MTF contains 1,463 questions, including 680 in physiology and pharmacology. Use it for knowledge checks alongside timed HKCA-style SAQ and oral practice; it is an MCQ/MTF, SBA and MBA product, not an SAQ or viva bank.
Final: Final/Advanced anesthesia MCQ/MTF contains 1,281 MCQ, MTF, SBA and MBA questions. Final/Advanced anesthesia Short Answer Questions (SAQ) contains 1,135 SAQs, while Final/Advanced Anesthesia Structured Oral Examination (SOE) contains 229 SOEs. These offer practice in knowledge testing, written answers and oral discussion; the listed products do not include an OSCE bank, so practise clinical stations separately. New accounts receive a 3-day free trial after verifying their email.
- Primary/Basic anesthesia MCQ/MTF 1,463 questions
- 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 are the HKCA anaesthesia examinations?
The Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists (HKCA) runs Intermediate and Final Fellowship examinations in anaesthesiology. Intermediate tests scientific foundations; Final tests the integration and application of knowledge in clinical practice.
What is the HKCA Intermediate exam format?
Intermediate has two subjects: physiology, including clinical measurements, and pharmacology, including statistics. Each subject has a two-hour written paper of 12 short-answer questions and an oral examination with two 20-minute tables.
What are the 2027 HKCA exam dates?
Intermediate written exams are on 19 February and 22 July, with orals on 9–10 April and 10–11 September. Final MCQ and written papers are on 16 and 23 March, then 17 and 24 August; oral and OSCE dates are 14–16 May and 15–17 October.
Who is eligible for the HKCA Intermediate and Final examinations?
Intermediate applicants must be registered as an HKCA vocational trainee or as an equivalent trainee at a non-local postgraduate training institute approved by Council, and must pay the required fees. Final applicants must be registered HKCA vocational trainees, have passed Intermediate or received an exemption, and be working in a College-accredited training centre.
What is the HKCA Final exam format?
Final combines written papers, an oral examination and an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). The MCQ paper has 150 questions to complete in 150 minutes; candidates who pass the written stage are invited to the oral and OSCE sections.
What is the HKCA exam pass mark?
HKCA uses a closed marking system that grades each answer from 2 to 8, with 5 as the pass mark for an answer. Intermediate requires passes in both subjects, subject to the published carry-forward rules; a passing aggregate across the Final written papers is required to proceed to oral and OSCE.
How much does the HKCA anaesthesia examination cost?
The published fee is HK$8,000 for Intermediate and HK$16,000 for Final.
References
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Exam rules, dates and fees change. Always confirm the details with the awarding body before you apply.