European Board Certification
The FEBS Coloproctology examination is the European fellowship in colorectal surgery. This guide explains what it is, the exam format, eligibility, the topics and trials tested, and how to prepare.
Content reviewed 26 August 2026 against current guidelines.
FEBS Coloproctology is the qualification awarded on passing the EBSQ examination in Coloproctology, run by the UEMS European Board of Surgery, Division of Coloproctology, and hosted at the annual meeting of the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP). Passing awards the title Fellow of the European Board of Surgery (FEBS) in Coloproctology.
The examination provides a harmonised European benchmark for colorectal surgeons, spanning colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and the breadth of benign proctology.
Written Examination (case-based)
Oral Examination (two components)
To pass, candidates must score at least 60% on each section AND at least 66% on the overall weighted average, with the written section double-weighted.
Colorectal Cancer
Staging, surgical resection, complete mesocolic excision and multidisciplinary management.
Rectal Cancer & TME
Total mesorectal excision, neoadjuvant sequencing, watch-and-wait pathways.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Surgical management of ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease, pouch surgery.
Benign Proctology
Haemorrhoids, fistula-in-ano, pilonidal disease and functional disorders.
Pelvic Floor & Functional
Obstructed defecation, incontinence and rectal prolapse management.
Emergency Colorectal
Obstruction, perforation and anastomotic complications.
The examination is held annually at the ESCP Annual Meeting, typically in September, with the application deadline usually in early summer.
Exam dates, fees and eligibility details change each cycle — always confirm the current requirements on the UEMS Division of Coloproctology pages (uemssurg.org) and with ESCP before applying.
FEBS Coloproctology is the recognised European subspecialty credential in colorectal surgery, referenced by units across Europe when appointing colorectal specialists.
Preparation forces systematic mastery of the rapidly evolving evidence base — from total neoadjuvant therapy to organ preservation — that defines modern colorectal practice.
Prioritise total mesorectal excision technique and neoadjuvant sequencing — RAPIDO and PRODIGE 23 appear frequently — and know the ESCP and ESMO colorectal guidelines chapter by chapter. Practise timed questions and rehearse structured case presentations for the oral viva.
SurgBoardsQ&A offers more than 1,600 coloproctology practice questions mapped to the FEBS Coloproctology syllabus, each with a full guideline-referenced explanation.
The FEBS Coloproctology exam is not a multiple-choice test: it combines a case-based written paper (about 1 hour) with two oral components — a clinical case discussion and an academic paper discussion. It is held annually at the ESCP Annual Meeting, and candidates must reach at least 60% in each section and 66% overall.
Yes — 50 coloproctology practice questions are free with no credit card required.
Every question is written by Pablo Lozano Lominchar, MD, PhD, and mapped to this board’s published syllabus. Before it enters the bank it has to pass an automated check: five options, a written explanation, and a citation — a named society guideline or a named trial. Benign and functional topics cannot be published without a society guideline; oncological ones cite NCCN, ESMO or AJCC, and the classification systems that govern a topic — Bethesda, TIRADS, Atlanta, Prague, Chicago — have to appear where they apply. The author has audited the full active bank against current guideline versions: what fails is re-cited, rewritten or withdrawn. 650 questions are currently withdrawn and are served to nobody.
Scope of authorship. FEBS-Colo sits outside the author’s own subspecialty practice, which is surgical oncology — peritoneal malignancy, sarcoma, hepatopancreatobiliary and complex pelvic surgery. No diplomate of this board has signed these questions off. What they offer is traceability rather than personal authority: every answer names the current guideline or trial it rests on, so you can check it at the source before you trust it. Found an error? Tell us — it gets corrected or withdrawn.
SurgBoardsQ&A provides more than 1,600 practice questions mapped to the exam syllabus, each with a detailed explanation and guideline citation.
Start practising
50 questions free, no credit card required. Filter by board, topic, or difficulty. Explanations cite ESMO and NCCN.