EDIC Part I
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ExploreAbout this exam
The European Diploma in Intensive Care (EDIC) Part I is the written, theory-focused stage of a two-part diploma examination long associated with ESICM, the European society of intensive care medicine. Candidates are typically physicians training in, or recently qualified in, intensive care medicine who want an internationally recognised benchmark of core critical care knowledge, often alongside national specialty examinations. Part I tests applied basic science and clinical reasoning across the whole specialty rather than a single organ system. ESICM's own section structure shows the breadth you must cover: acute kidney injury, acute respiratory failure, anaesthesia and peri-operative medicine, cardiovascular dynamics, data science, ethics, feeding, rehabilitation, endocrinology and metabolism, health services research and outcome, infection, neuro-intensive care, pharmacology and pharmacotherapy, and systemic inflammation and sepsis. Preparation should therefore be a planned rotation through these domains, not last-minute cramming of favourite topics. Work from a current intensive care textbook and society guidelines, then convert reading into retrieval practice: single-best-answer questions with timed sittings, followed by careful review of every wrong option. Keep a running log of recurring errors and revisit those domains at intervals. Confirm all administrative details - current format, item count, duration, pass mark, fees, retake rules and certificate validity - directly with ESICM before booking, because these details are set by the examining body and change between revisions.
What you'll study
About EDIC Part I preparation
What is the difference between EDIC Part I and Part II?
Part I is the written theory paper; Part II is the separate clinical/oral assessment that follows it. This page covers Part I only. Because ESICM's EDIC pages could not be retrieved when this page was built, treat the exact structure of each part, and the order in which you may sit them, as details to confirm with ESICM rather than fixed here.
What is the exam format?
Part I is delivered as multiple-choice questions. The number of items, whether they are single-best-answer or extended-matching, the duration and the pass mark are all set by ESICM and are not published in the sources used here. Check the current candidate handbook before you plan your revision timetable or book a sitting.
How difficult is it, and how long should I study?
It is a broad specialty-level paper, so difficulty comes from breadth rather than trick questions. Most candidates need several months of structured revision alongside clinical work. Start with a diagnostic timed paper to find weak domains, then allocate study time by weakness rather than equally across all twelve domains, and re-test under time pressure monthly.
What are the common failure modes?
Three recur: ignoring low-yield-looking domains such as ethics, data science and health services research until too late; reading without retrieval practice, so knowledge is recognised but not recalled under time pressure; and misreading stems that ask for the least likely or the next best step. Review every incorrect option, not just the right answer.
Can I retake the exam, and how long is the diploma valid?
Retake rules, the number of permitted attempts, any waiting period and the validity period of the diploma are set by ESICM and were not available in the sources used to build this page. Confirm them with ESICM directly before booking, and check whether your national training programme imposes any additional conditions on attempts or timing.
How much does it cost and when are the sittings?
Fees, application windows, examination dates and venue or online arrangements are announced by ESICM each cycle and are not stated in the sources used here. Fees often differ for ESICM members, so check membership status and the current application deadline on the ESICM site before the window closes; late applications are commonly not accepted.
In what order should I study the domains?
Begin with the highest-volume clinical domains - acute respiratory failure, sepsis and systemic inflammation, cardiovascular dynamics, acute kidney injury and infection - because they underpin questions elsewhere. Then add neuro-intensive care, pharmacology and peri-operative medicine, and finish with ethics, data science and health services research, which are easier to consolidate late.
Does this page come from ESICM?
No. This is independent study material written for candidates searching for this exam; it is not affiliated with, endorsed by or produced by ESICM. The official ESICM pages for this diploma could not be retrieved when this page was built, so verify every administrative detail - format, dates, fees, retakes and validity - with ESICM before relying on it.