LFOM Written

It is the written examination element of the Licentiate of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine. It assesses whether a doctor can apply occupational medicine knowledge in a written format, rather than testing hands-on clinical skills. Check the Faculty of Occupational Medicine's own examination pages for the authoritative description of the current syllabus and structure.

Typically doctors pursuing a career in occupational medicine who need to demonstrate specialty knowledge at an early stage. If you are unsure whether you are eligible, or whether another route suits your circumstances, ask the Faculty directly before booking, since eligibility rules and training pathways are set by them and can change.

Candidates should expect the three broad areas reflected in most occupational medicine curricula: core clinical practice, occupational health practice and service delivery, and law, ethics and health and work. Within these, anticipate questions on fitness for work, workplace hazards, rehabilitation, health surveillance, report writing and the legal framework around medical advice.

This varies between sittings and is set by the Faculty, so treat any number you hear second-hand with caution. Confirm the current duration, item count and format from official Faculty communications when you receive your candidate instructions, and plan your practice timing around that confirmed format rather than older accounts.

It is a postgraduate specialty examination, so the standard assumes solid medical knowledge plus applied occupational reasoning. Most candidates find the difficulty lies less in recalling facts and more in structuring answers, prioritising issues and justifying decisions. Deliberate practice at writing timed, structured answers is the most reliable way to close that gap.

Pass standards and retake rules are set by the Faculty and are not fixed across all circumstances. Ask the Faculty about the current pass standard, the number of permitted attempts and any re-entry requirements before you sit. Do not rely on figures quoted by other candidates, as these are frequently out of date.

Start with a topic checklist mapped to the three domains, then work through them systematically rather than revising your favourite subjects. Alternate reading with written practice, and review each answer against the question asked. Leave the final weeks for timed mock answers and consolidating weak areas rather than new material.

Typical weaknesses include answering the question you wished had been asked, listing facts without applying them to the scenario, ignoring legal and ethical dimensions, and poor time allocation that leaves later questions thin. Candidates who never practise under timed conditions often underestimate how much structure and brevity matter.

Only from the Faculty of Occupational Medicine. Their website, candidate handbook and examination office are the authoritative sources for fees, dates, venues, format and regulations. Details are revised periodically, so verify anything you read elsewhere against the Faculty's current published information before making travel or study plans.