European Board Certification
The FEBS-HPB is the European fellowship examination in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery. This guide covers what the exam is, its format, eligibility, the topics tested, the guidelines you must know, and how to prepare efficiently.
FEBS-HPB stands for Fellowship of the European Board of Surgery in Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery. It is a supranational subspecialty certification issued by the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes (UEMS) Division of HPB Surgery, developed with the European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (E-AHPBA). It certifies that a surgeon meets a harmonised European standard in the management of liver, pancreatic and biliary disease.
Because it is recognised across European member states, FEBS-HPB provides a common benchmark of HPB competency independent of national training variation. Passing it signals to institutions and colleagues that a surgeon has been assessed against a rigorous, standardised curriculum covering both benign and malignant HPB pathology.
Part 1 — Written Examination (MCQ)
Part 2 — Oral / Viva Examination
Both components must be passed to obtain the Fellowship. Candidates who pass the written but not the oral are generally permitted to resit the oral in a subsequent cycle, subject to current UEMS regulations.
Liver Tumours
Hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal liver metastases — staging, resectability and ablation.
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, resectability criteria, neoadjuvant therapy, pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Cystic Neoplasms
IPMN, mucinous cystic neoplasms, serous cystadenoma — surveillance versus resection thresholds.
Biliary Tract Disease
Perihilar and distal cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder cancer, benign biliary strictures.
Portal Hypertension & Benign Liver
Management of portal hypertension, benign liver lesions and future liver remnant optimisation.
Operative Principles
Hepatic and pancreatic resection technique, vascular reconstruction, and complication management.
The FEBS-HPB examination is held annually, with the written component and oral component scheduled through the UEMS Division of HPB Surgery. Applications open several months before each sitting; candidates should monitor the UEMS and E-AHPBA websites for the precise timeline and fees.
HPB surgery is one of the most technically demanding and highest-stakes areas of general surgery. FEBS-HPB provides a supranational credential that confirms a surgeon has been evaluated against a common European standard, which institutions increasingly reference when appointing to specialist HPB posts.
The preparation itself sharpens the exact skills the specialty demands: precise resectability assessment, guideline-based multidisciplinary decision-making, and structured operative planning for complex liver and pancreatic resections.
Concentrate on resectability criteria, staging and multidisciplinary management of hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal liver metastases, pancreatic and biliary cancers. Practise timed HPB questions and confirm each answer against the ESMO/IHPBA guideline it cites to build oral-exam-ready reasoning.
SurgBoardsQ&A provides more than 1,300 hepatopancreatobiliary practice questions mapped to the FEBS-HPB syllabus, each with a detailed, guideline-referenced explanation.
FEBS-HPB covers liver tumours (HCC, cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal liver metastases), pancreatic cancer and cystic neoplasms, biliary tract disease, portal hypertension, and the principles of hepatic and pancreatic resection.
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SurgBoardsQ&A provides 1,300+ practice questions mapped to the exam syllabus, each with a detailed explanation and guideline citation.
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50 questions free, no credit card required. Filter by board, topic, or difficulty. Explanations cite ESMO and NCCN.