Oral specialist examination

Examination objective:
The examination determines whether the candidate fulfills the learning objectives listed in section 3 of the postgraduate training program (Weiterbildungsordnung Facharzt/Fachärztin für Chirurgie) and is therefore able to independently and competently care for patients in the field of surgery.

Examination material:
The examination material covers the entire catalog of learning objectives under section 3 of the postgraduate training program.

Type of examination:
The same examination-relevant learning objectives applie to all candidates, irrespective of which module they complete (section 3.2. of the postgraduate training program: visceral module, traumatology module or combination of the two modules).

At three stations, two cases each from the fields of visceral surgery (section 3.2), traumatology (section 3.3) and other surgical fields (section 3.4) are discussed with the candidate; the entire oral examination lasts 90 minutes. Selection of cases:

Visceral module: 4 cases from 3.2, max. 2 cases from 3.3 or 3.4
Traumatology module: 4 cases from area 3.3, max. 2 cases from 3.2 or 3.4
Combination module: 6 cases from areas 3.2-3.4

Each of the three stations must be passed. No case assessment may be unsatisfactory.
The candidate is questioned by three groups, each consisting of two examiners, on 6 standardized cases.

Duration: 3 x 30 minutes.

Time and place of the examination:
The specialist examination takes place at least once a year. The place and date are published six months in advance.

Admission requirements:
Only candidates who have successfully passed the surgical basic exam are admitted to the second part of the examination. Furthermore, it is recommended that the examination be taken at the earliest during the last year of the postgraduate training and in any case only after completion of the list of required operations.

Repeating the examination:
The oral specialist examination can be taken as often as desired.

Examination board:
The examination commission is appointed by the Swiss Society of Surgery (SGC) executive board and consists of six members (including the president). The commission appoints 30 - 40 examiners and ensures that university hospitals and other hospitals are adequately represented.

Exam dates:
Spring: Wednesday, May 22 - Friday, May 24, 2024
Fall: Wednesday, November 20 - Friday, November 22, 2024

Registration deadlines:
Spring 2024 exam: Thursday, January 18, 2024
Fall 2024 exam: Thursday, July 18, 2024

Examination venue:
Lindenhofspital, Bremgartenstrasse 119, 3012 Bern

Examination language:
The specialist examination can be taken in German or French.

Exam fee:
The examination fee is CHF 1,000 and must be transfered to the following account 4 weeks before the start of the examination:

IBAN No. CH53 0076 1500 2769 5200 6
Name of the bank: Aargauische Kantonalbank, 5001 Aarau
In favor of: Swiss Society of Surgery (SGC)
Section: Oral specialist examination in surgery

A processing fee of CHF 250.- will be charged if you withdraw from the examination.
If you cancel less than 4 weeks before the examination, the full amount of CHF 1,000 will be charged.

Confirmation of admission:
Approximately two months before the examination, after the examination board has inspected all dossiers, definitive admission to the examination can be confirmed. The definitive examination date will only be announced approximately one month before the examination.

Examination committee

President: Diego de Lorenzi, Grabs

Members (as of February 2024)
Thomas Beck, Visp
Stefan Birrer, Berne
Jürg Metzger, Lucerne
Markus Müller, Frauenfeld
Andreas Platz, Zurich
Stefan Wildi, Zurich
Tobias Zingg, Lausanne

Postgraduate training program:
The required numbers of operations can be found in the procedural catalog within the postgraduate training program dated July 1, 2022 (last revision December 2023).