European Board Certification
The FEBS Endocrine Surgery examination is the European fellowship in endocrine surgery. This guide covers the exam, its (oral) format, eligibility, the topics tested and how to prepare.
Content reviewed 26 August 2026 against current guidelines.
FEBS Endocrine Surgery is the qualification awarded on passing the EBSQ examination run by the UEMS Division of Endocrine Surgery together with the European Society of Endocrine Surgeons (ESES). Two certificate tracks exist: a narrower Neck Endocrine Surgery track (thyroid and parathyroid) and a full Endocrine Surgery track that adds adrenal and gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.
The examination provides a harmonised European standard for endocrine surgeons and is conducted entirely in English.
Oral / Viva Examination (no written MCQ)
Unlike most European surgical fellowships, FEBS Endocrine Surgery has no written multiple-choice component — assessment is by structured oral examination only.
Thyroid Cancer
ATA risk stratification, extent of surgery, lymph node management and radioiodine.
Parathyroid Disease
Primary hyperparathyroidism, localisation studies and minimally invasive surgery.
Adrenal Surgery
Adrenal masses, pheochromocytoma and preoperative alpha-blockade protocols.
Neuroendocrine Tumours
Pancreatic and GI NETs, functional syndromes and surgical indications.
MEN Syndromes
MEN1 and MEN2 genetics, RET codon-phenotype correlations and prophylactic surgery.
Benign Thyroid
Goitre, Graves disease and indications for surgery.
The examination is held roughly annually, historically tied to the ESES congress, with an eligibility step followed by the oral examination.
Exam dates, fees and eligibility details change each cycle — always confirm the current requirements on the ESES website (eses.cc) and the UEMS Division of Endocrine Surgery pages before applying.
FEBS Endocrine is the recognised European subspecialty credential in endocrine surgery and is referenced by high-volume endocrine units across Europe.
Preparation consolidates the genetics, biochemistry and operative nuance — from RET codon correlations to pheochromocytoma optimisation — that distinguish safe endocrine practice, and it is exactly the applied reasoning the oral exam probes.
Master ATA risk stratification and the extent-of-surgery debate in thyroid cancer, pheochromocytoma preoperative preparation, and the RET codon-to-phenotype correlations in MEN2. Practise timed questions and rehearse MEN1/MEN2 scenarios for the oral component.
SurgBoardsQ&A provides more than 1,900 endocrine surgery practice questions mapped to the FEBS Endocrine syllabus, each with a detailed, guideline-referenced explanation.
The exam covers thyroid cancer, parathyroid disease and hyperparathyroidism, adrenal surgery including pheochromocytoma, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours with the MEN syndromes.
Yes — start with 50 free endocrine surgery practice questions, 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-Endo 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 1,900 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.