Royal College of Surgeons launches postgraduate surgical certificate

The Royal College of Surgeons has launched an online postgraduate certificate in surgery for foundation and core surgical trainees.

The college said that the certificate would be beneficial for foundation trainees who were preparing to take the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland exam and for core surgical trainees who were applying for specialty selection.1

The nationally recognised certificate has an online programme, which the college said would allow trainees to study flexibly at their own pace over one to two years. Standard enrolment onto the programme costs £400, or £360 for members of the royal college.

The certificate has a range of modules including those in breast surgery, colorectal cancer, paediatric surgical emergencies, and research methodology. Trainees will work towards 60 credits by completing online modules that suit their career path. They will also be able to gain up to 20 credits by taking selected practical courses offered by the college.

Alan Horgan, professor of surgical education at the college and programme director, said, “Our new qualification will offer surgical trainees a high quality, flexible, and interactive way to build their surgical knowledge and skills.

“We’ve listened to what trainees want. In a busy world, where so much of life is lived on the move and online, we feel a programme that enables users to learn at their own speed, using any device, wherever and whenever it suits them, answers the needs of the modern trainee.”