DO-HNS (RCSI)

The DO-HNS is a Diploma in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, a postgraduate specialty examination. It is associated with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin. Confirm current awarding arrangements, eligibility and application routes directly with RCSI, as the official exam page was unavailable when this guide was compiled.

Expect the syllabus to reflect the breadth of otolaryngology: otology and neuro-otology, rhinology and facial plastics, head and neck surgery, paediatric otolaryngology, and the relevant basic sciences (anatomy, physiology, pathology, audiology, imaging). Weightings between these areas are not confirmed here, so plan for balanced coverage rather than guessing proportions.

This is not confirmed in the available source material. The official RCSI DO-HNS page could not be retrieved, so item counts, paper structure, duration and whether there is a clinical or viva component cannot be stated reliably. Check the current RCSI professional exams pages or contact the exams office before booking study leave.

Not confirmed. No passing standard is published in the material available here, and standards can change between sittings. Treat any figure you hear second-hand with caution and verify the current passing standard and marking scheme with RCSI directly. Plan to over-prepare rather than aim at a rumoured cut-off.

Retake and attempt-limit rules are not confirmed in the source material. RCSI sets and periodically revises its own regulations on re-sits, attempt numbers and any required interval between sittings. Ask the RCSI exams office for the current policy in writing before you rely on it for training or career planning.

Validity period is not confirmed here. Some diplomas are lifetime awards, others require ongoing CPD or have time-limited recognition, and RCSI's current position should be checked directly. Do not assume a validity period from another college's diploma, as policies differ between institutions and specialties.

Work subspecialty by subspecialty, pairing each clinical topic with its underlying basic science - for example, middle ear disease with temporal bone anatomy and audiology. Add regular self-testing under time pressure, and practise spoken explanations of management plans, since diplomas often probe applied reasoning rather than isolated facts.

Candidates most often lose marks through patchy basic science, weak paediatric or head and neck coverage because they over-focused on otology, and poor structure when explaining management. Read the question, commit to a diagnosis or plan, and justify it. Avoid one-word answers and avoid guessing at guidelines you cannot recall accurately.

Use RCSI's own channels: the rcsi.com professional exams section, or contact RCSI at 123 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland, by telephone on +353 1 402 2100 or via their contact page. Always rely on RCSI-published information for dates, fees and regulations rather than third-party summaries.