FWCRS Certification in Refractive Surgery
FWCRS Certification of Ophthalmologists in Refractive Surgery will be issued by the authoritative power of the WCRS Board & Credentialing Department through recognition of an individual’s qualifications or competence in a given capacity, subject or field in Refractive Surgery.
FWCRS Certification in Refractive Surgery is indicative of the highest level of achievement of education, training, experience, and expertise in the field of Refractive Surgery.
FWCRS Certified Refractive Surgeons will be recognized as Fellows of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences.
FWCRS Certification
FWCRS Certification is only available to WCRS Ophthalmologists and Refractive Surgeons (MD, DO) through 3 paths:
- Charter Core Group Fellowship
- Associate Fellow Program
- WCRS Accredited Private Fellowship
All physician candidates for Certification in Refractive Surgery by the WCRS must have a documented MD or DO degree, have graduated from a board-accredited Ophthalmology residency program of a board-accredited Ophthalmology program, and be currently licensed to practice in their country
Charter Core Group Fellowship
Charter Core Fellows are Board nominated and receive special recognition by the WCRS Board for their experience, expertise and years mastering the core-competencies of Refractive Surgery and their recognized level of surgical skills
- 5+ years of practice in Comprehensive Refractive Surgery (corneal and lens/based surgical and medical refractive surgery)
- Recognized by the WCRS Board for approval of FWCRS certification in consideration for their leadership, outstanding contributions to the specialty of Refractive Surgery either through education, teaching, research, or clinical practice.
- Extensive Refractive Surgery Experience of:
- 500+ Refractive Cases as the primary surgeon divided as:
- 300+ total Lens-Based Procedures (Cataract Toric, Multifocal IOL, ICL)
- 200+ total Laser or Kerato-Refractive (LASIK, PRK, SMILE, LRI).
- Has published, authored or co-authored at least 5 articles
- Has taught or presented at least at 4 major meetings
- Is presently practicing Refractive Surgery or is presently active in teaching, research or leadership position in Refractive Surgery or has done so in the past and has Emeritus Status
- Found to have no outstanding unresolved ethics violations by the WCRS Ethics Committee.
Maintenance of Certification
- Must keep annual Maintenance of Certification
- $350 per year paid through Fellow Portal
- Accept the mission and purpose of the WCRS and its bylaws
- After the first year, maintenance of status for Certification and Charter Membership will require active membership in the WCRS and continue MOC (Maintenance of Certification) through documentation of 25 hours of CME/year in WCRS accredited education in Refractive Surgery
Associate Fellow Program
Base Requirements
- 3+ years of practice in Comprehensive Refractive Surgery (corneal and lens/based surgical and medical refractive surgery)
- Extensive Refractive Surgery Experience of:
- 300+ Refractive Cases as the primary surgeon divided as:
- 200+ total Lens-Based Procedures (Cataract Toric, Multifocal IOL, ICL)
- 100+ total Laser or Kerato-Refractive (LASIK, PRK, SMILE, LRI).
- Is presently practicing Refractive Surgery or is presently active in teaching, research or leadership position in Refractive Surgery.
- Personal oral interview (either virtual or in-person) with the Credentialing Committee.
- Found to have no outstanding unresolved ethics violations by the WCRS Ethics Committee.
Training
- Must complete all modules of the WCRS virtual board study guide sessions for core competencies in Refractive Surgery.
- This certificate program of all modules may be completed at your own pace, but must be completed sooner than or within 12 calendar months.
- These will cover core competencies that will be presented in the examination.
Board Examination
- Must pass 250 question examination
- Pay examination fee and all associated processing fees
- Earns full Fellowship and FWCRS Certification in Refractive Surgery upon successful completion of all requirements.
Maintenance of Certification
- Must keep annual Maintenance of Certification
- $350 per year paid through Fellow Portal
- Accept the mission and purpose of the WCRS and its bylaws
- After the first year, maintenance of status for Certification and Charter Membership will require active membership in the WCRS and continue MOC (Maintenance of Certification) through documentation of 25 hours of CME/year in WCRS accredited education in Refractive Surgery
WCRS Accredited Private Fellowship
Base Requirements
- Refractive Surgeons who have met all the standards of certification by the Board through completion of a WCRS Accredited Private Refractive Surgery Fellowship
- Private Fellowships are accredited by but function completely independent of the WCRS
- Will be credentialed and unanimously approved by the Board of the WCRS upon completion of private fellowship.
- Graduated from an accredited Ophthalmology program.
- Licensed to practice medicine in the country of origin.
- Refractive Surgery Experience of:
- 200+ Refractive Cases as the primary surgeon divided as:
- 150+ total Lens-Based Procedures (Cataract Toric, Multifocal IOL, ICL)
- 50+ total Laser or Kerato-Refractive (LASIK, PRK, SMILE, LRI).
- Attend a Private Fellowship Program that is accredited by the WCRS.
- Can participate in The WCRS match program where private fellowships may recruit refractive surgeons for their programs.
Training
- Must complete all modules of the WCRS virtual board study guide sessions for core competencies in Refractive Surgery.
- This certificate program of all modules may be completed at your own pace, but must be completed sooner than or within 12 calendar months.
- These will cover core competencies that will be presented in the examination.
Board Examination
- Must pass 250 question examination
- Pay examination fee and all associated processing fees
- Earns full Fellowship and FWCRS Certification in Refractive Surgery upon successful completion of all requirements.
Maintenance of Certification
- Must keep annual Maintenance of Certification
- $350 per year paid through Fellow Portal
- Accept the mission and purpose of the WCRS and its bylaws
- After the first year, maintenance of status for Certification and Charter Membership will require active membership in the WCRS and continue MOC (Maintenance of Certification) through documentation of 25 hours of CME/year in WCRS accredited education in Refractive Surgery
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