Licentiateship of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine

An internationally recognised qualification in Occupational Medicine

Licentiateship of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (LFOM) is an internationally recognised qualification, valued by healthcare employers worldwide.

LFOM is achieved through examination and is accredited by the Medical Council of Ireland as a key knowledge-based assessment for Occupational Medicine in Ireland.

The qualification of LFOM shows potential employers that you can apply the principles of Occupational Medicine in a clinical setting and critically reflect on medical conditions in an occupational context.

LFOM is an essential component of Higher Specialist Training in Occupational Medicine - the final stage of training before independent practice. When you pass LFOM, it is a good sign that you are ready to take the more advanced Membership of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (MFOM) exam, which is also a requirement for Higher Specialist Training in Occupational Medicine.

New for 2021

Please note that the order of the Portfolio and Written components has been reversed, starting in 2021. Candidates must now pass the LFOM Written exam before they are eligible to sit the LFOM Portfolio.

Also note that the LFOM Written exam is being held online, via remote invigilation. Click here for more information about remote invigilation. The LFOM Portfolio Viva will also be held remotely, via teleconference.

LFOM at a glance

The Licentiateship of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (LFOM) examination tests core competencies in Occupational Medicine.

The exam consists of three components:

LFOM Written
LFOM Portfolio
LFOM Portfolio VIVA: As well as your submission, candidates will be called forward to defend, by a viva voce examination (VIVA), any of your 5 submitted cases

You do not need to pass the Portfolio before you take the written exam.