EDAIC 2026: Registration, Fees, Eligibility and Exam Dates

Planning to sit the EDAIC in 2026? The European Diploma in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EDAIC), awarded by ESAIC (the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care), is the benchmark postgraduate qualification for anaesthesiologists across Europe and increasingly worldwide. This guide collects every confirmed 2026 date, deadline and registration fact in one place — checked against the official ESAIC calendar — so you can settle the practicalities and get on with revision.

EDAIC 2026 at a Glance

EDAIC Part 1 Exam Date: Saturday, 19 September 2026

The EDAIC Part 1 written examination for 2026 takes place on Saturday, 19 September 2026. Both papers are sat on the same day, typically in morning and afternoon sessions: Paper A covers the Basic Sciences (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, physics and clinical measurement, equipment, statistics), while Paper B covers Clinical Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, including regional anaesthesia, subspecialty anaesthesia, intensive care, emergency medicine and pain.

The exam is held simultaneously at centres across Europe and selected international locations — in 2025, ESAIC reported around 100 active centres across four continents, examining in 11 languages. If you are still getting to grips with the paper structure and marking, our EDAIC Part 1 guide walks through the format in detail, and you can benchmark yourself immediately with free EDAIC practice questions before committing to a study schedule.

Exam tip: Block out mid-September 2026 now. Most successful candidates allow at least six months of focused preparation for Part 1, so revision for the September 2026 sitting should ideally begin by March or April at the latest. Our guide to building an effective EDAIC study plan shows how to spread that workload realistically.

EDAIC Part 1 Registration Deadlines: 11 June 2026 (12 May for Some Countries)

The standard registration deadline for EDAIC Part 1 2026 is 11 June 2026 (at 23:59). This is a firm cut-off — late applications are not accepted under any circumstances. Registration opens in the first quarter of the year and is completed through the official ESAIC (myESAIC) online portal.

There is one important exception: an earlier deadline of 12 May 2026 applies to candidates from countries where recognition by ESAIC is mandatory and registration must run through the national authorities. At the time of writing, ESAIC's Part 1 page lists Belgium, Indonesia, Romania and Switzerland in this category — if you train or practise in one of these countries, treat 12 May as your real deadline and confirm the exact procedure with your national society.

Do not wait until the final weeks to register. Popular examination centres can reach capacity, early registration gives you a fixed target date to structure your revision around, and it leaves time to resolve documentation issues or technical problems with the portal.

Once registered, you will receive email confirmation of your allocated examination centre. ESAIC assigns centres based on availability and your stated preferences, but the final decision rests with the organisation. If you require special access arrangements — extra time for a documented learning difficulty, or physical access requirements — declare these clearly and early during registration so ESAIC can make appropriate provision.

The OLA: 17 April 2026 and How It Relates to Part 1

ESAIC also runs an On-Line Assessment (OLA), a formative in-training assessment built from EDAIC Part 1-style multiple true/false (MTF) questions — the same two-paper, 60-question structure with five true/false statements per question. The 2026 OLA sitting fell on Friday, 17 April 2026, with individual registrations closing on 9 March 2026, so this year's window has already passed.

ESAIC describes the OLA as a computer-based test "very similar to the EDAIC Part 1 examination" that programmes can use as a mock exam, a departmental evaluation, a formal in-training assessment or a self-benchmarking exercise. Some training bodies use a supervised OLA in place of the written Part 1 for their own trainees, but this is not a universal exemption you can claim independently, and ESAIC's current OLA page does not set out a general "pass the OLA, skip Part 1" route. Treat any exemption as programme-specific: confirm with your programme director and ESAIC whether your training pathway recognises the OLA in place of the written papers. ESAIC also offers a home-based variant, the HOLA (Home On-Line Assessment), with unlimited capacity and a large benchmarking cohort, aimed at practice and self-assessment rather than a route around the written exam.

EDAIC Fees: What You Need to Budget

EDAIC examination fees are set by ESAIC and payable in euros at the time of registration. The exact amounts vary slightly from cycle to cycle and may differ depending on whether you are an ESAIC member, a trainee registered through an ESAIC-affiliated national society, or applying independently.

We do not quote specific euro amounts here because fees can change between cycles, and any figure printed today may be outdated by the time you register. As a general guide, the Part 1 fee is typically several hundred euros, and Part 2 carries a separate fee of similar or slightly higher magnitude. ESAIC members and trainees registered through national societies often qualify for a modest discount — for the 2026 cycle, ESAIC advised purchasing membership before 10 March 2026 to benefit from the member rate from the moment registration opened.

For the current, authoritative fee schedule, visit the official ESAIC/EDAIC website or contact your national anaesthesia society. A note on independence: AnesCORE is an independent revision platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to ESAIC. ESAIC's website is always the final word on dates, fees, eligibility and regulations. When budgeting, also factor in:

• Travel costs to your allocated examination centre.
• Accommodation if the centre is not local (book early).
• Revision resources — textbooks, question banks, or courses (optional but commonly used).

Key point: Examination fees are non-refundable if you withdraw after the registration deadline. Only register when you are confident you can sit the exam on the scheduled date.

EDAIC Eligibility: Who Can Apply?

Eligibility is broader than many candidates assume: you do not need to be a European citizen, nor training in Europe, to sit the EDAIC. The diploma is open to anaesthesia trainees and specialists worldwide, provided you meet the basic criteria.

Core Eligibility Requirements

• Medical qualification: You must hold a primary medical degree (or equivalent) permitting you to practise medicine in your country of training or practice.
• Anaesthesia training: You should be enrolled in an approved anaesthesia training programme, or have completed such training. The EDAIC suits trainees typically in their third year or beyond, but ESAIC does not specify an absolute minimum duration — some candidates sit Part 1 early in training, others when more senior.
• No prerequisite examinations: You do not need to have passed another exam first — the FRCA (Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists) is not required for the EDAIC, and vice versa. They are separate, independent qualifications, compared in depth in our EDAIC vs FRCA guide.
• Language: Part 1 is available in several European languages, including English, French, German and Spanish (confirm the current list with ESAIC). Part 2 is generally conducted in English, so a working command of English is essential for the full diploma.

Candidates Outside Formal Training

If you are a consultant or specialist anaesthesiologist who trained outside Europe and want the EDAIC for professional recognition or career mobility, you are generally eligible to apply. ESAIC assesses your credentials during registration and may ask for evidence of your medical degree and specialist registration, a summary of your anaesthesia training history, and a letter of good standing from your medical regulatory body (particularly if applying from outside Europe). If you are unsure whether your background meets the criteria, contact ESAIC directly before registering.

How to Register for EDAIC 2026: Step-by-Step

Registration is completed entirely online through the ESAIC portal. The process is straightforward but requires careful attention to detail and accurate documentation.

Registration Steps

1. Create an ESAIC account on the official ESAIC website if you do not already have one. You will need a valid email address.
2. Complete the online application form, providing your personal details, medical qualifications, current training programme or employment, and preferred examination centre(s).
3. Upload supporting documents as requested — requirements vary slightly by country and training pathway (see the checklist below).
4. Pay the examination fee by credit or debit card. Payment is processed securely through the portal.
5. Receive confirmation by email, usually within a few days, confirming your registration, allocated centre and candidate number. Print or save it — you will need it on exam day.

If you hit technical issues, ESAIC provides an email support contact (details on the website). Do not leave registration until the final days before the deadline; allow time to resolve problems or obtain missing documents.

Documents to Prepare in Advance

• Scanned copy of your medical degree certificate (clear, legible, full page).
• Training verification letter from your programme director or institution, on headed paper, confirming enrolment or completion of anaesthesia training.
• Passport-style photograph (digital file, typically JPEG, meeting portal specifications).
• Passport or national ID card details (you will need the physical document on exam day).
• Payment card accepted by the portal (Visa, Mastercard, etc.).
• Letter of good standing from your medical regulatory body (if applying from outside Europe or if requested by ESAIC).

Having these ready before you begin the online form makes the process smoother and reduces the risk of errors or delays.

Choosing Your Examination Centre

During registration, you indicate your preferred centre, but allocation is not guaranteed — ESAIC assigns centres based on capacity and logistical considerations. If you are allocated a centre far from home, factor in travel and accommodation costs, book flights and hotels as soon as you receive your confirmation, and arrive the day before if possible so travel disruptions cannot jeopardise your attendance.

What to Bring on Exam Day

On Saturday, 19 September 2026, bring the following to your examination centre:

• Your registration confirmation email (printed or on your phone).
• A valid photo ID (passport or national identity card — the same document you registered with).
• Several black pens (blue is sometimes acceptable, but black is standard; check the candidate instructions).

Calculators, mobile phones, smart watches, tablets and other electronic devices are not permitted in the exam hall; non-smart analogue watches are usually allowed. Confirm both in the pre-exam instructions.

EDAIC Part 2 in 2026: A Quick Summary

Part 2 is the oral stage — four structured oral examinations (SOEs) delivered by pairs of examiners — and you can only sit it after passing Part 1. For the 2026 cycle, Part 2 registration closed on 2 February 2026, so no further 2026 places are available. Sittings are spread across the year in two formats: online windows running throughout 2026, as late as 30 November–1 December, and face-to-face sittings at seven host centres — Ankara, Porto, Uppsala, Frankfurt, Erlangen, Istanbul and Cairo. Candidates receive their Part 2 result on the day of the examination.

Usefully, a Part 1 pass does not expire: once you clear the written papers, you register for a Part 2 sitting in a later cycle whenever you are ready. For the full breakdown of formats and language streams, see our dedicated guide to EDAIC Part 2 dates & centres.

What Happens After Registration?

Once registered, your focus shifts to preparation. Each Part 1 paper contains multiple true/false (MTF) questions: a clinical or scientific stem followed by five independent statements (A to E), each judged True or False.

There is no negative marking (removed in 2014). A correct answer scores a mark; an incorrect or blank answer scores zero — so attempt every statement, because there is no penalty for guessing. The pass mark is set by criterion-referenced standard setting (the Angoff method), reflecting a defined level of competence rather than a fixed percentage of candidates, so it can vary slightly from sitting to sitting.

Most successful candidates spend six to twelve months preparing, combining systematic coverage of the official ESAIC syllabus (both papers), regular MTF question practice to internalise the format and expose gaps early, textbook reading for depth, and peer study groups for discussion and accountability. For a full walkthrough of how to sequence those months, our complete EDAIC Part 1 preparation guide covers the strategy from first principles.

Missed the 2026 Deadline? What the 2027 Timeline Usually Looks Like

If you are reading this after 11 June 2026, the honest answer is that the 2026 written sitting is closed to you — ESAIC does not accept late applications. ESAIC has not yet published the 2027 examination calendar, so nothing below is confirmed. That said, the annual rhythm is remarkably consistent, and 2026 followed it closely:

• Part 2 registration for the cycle opens first and closes very early in the year (in 2026, on 2 February).
• OLA registration runs January to early March, with the assessment itself in April (17 April in 2026).
• Part 1 registration opens in the first quarter, with the membership cut-off for member-rate fees around March (10 March in 2026), an earlier national-authority deadline in mid-May (12 May in 2026), and the standard deadline in mid-June (11 June in 2026).
• The Part 1 written exam falls on a single day in September, worldwide (Saturday, 19 September in 2026).

If 2027 follows the same pattern, expect a September 2027 written exam with registration closing the preceding June — but confirm everything on the official ESAIC website once the 2027 calendar appears.

The strategic upside of missing a deadline is time: a candidate who starts now has over a year of runway, enough to cover the syllabus twice without cramming. Begin with free EDAIC practice questions to establish your baseline, then build a paced schedule so that when 2027 registration opens, you arrive as one of the best-prepared candidates in the room.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the EDAIC 2026 exam?

The EDAIC Part 1 written examination takes place on Saturday, 19 September 2026, with Paper A (Basic Sciences) and Paper B (Clinical Anaesthesia and Intensive Care) sat on the same day at centres worldwide. Part 2 oral sittings are spread throughout 2026 in online windows (running as late as 30 November–1 December) and at seven face-to-face centres.

What is the registration deadline for EDAIC 2026?

The standard Part 1 registration deadline is 11 June 2026. An earlier deadline of 12 May 2026 applies to candidates from countries where recognition by ESAIC is mandatory and registration runs through national authorities — ESAIC currently lists Belgium, Indonesia, Romania and Switzerland. Part 2 registration for 2026 closed on 2 February 2026.

How much does the EDAIC exam cost in 2026?

EDAIC fees are set by ESAIC and payable in euros at registration; as a rough guide, each part costs several hundred euros, with discounts for ESAIC members and trainees registered through national societies. Because amounts change between cycles, consult the official ESAIC/EDAIC website for the current fee schedule rather than relying on figures reproduced elsewhere.

Can I take the EDAIC Part 1 online from home?

No. ESAIC is explicit that you cannot sit the EDAIC Part 1 examination from home — you must attend an accredited examination centre. Some centres run the exam in a computer-based format rather than on paper, but that is still an in-person, invigilated sitting at the centre, not a remote one. Part 2, by contrast, does offer genuine online sittings over a secure video platform alongside its face-to-face centres, and the OLA and HOLA assessments are delivered online.

What happens if I miss the EDAIC registration deadline?

Late applications are not accepted under any circumstances, so a missed deadline means waiting for the next annual cycle. Use the extra months deliberately: ESAIC's calendar is highly consistent year to year, so you can plan a long, unhurried preparation and register the moment the next window opens.

When do EDAIC results come out?

ESAIC does not publish a fixed results date for Part 1; results are released to candidates through their myESAIC accounts in the weeks following the September sitting, so keep an eye on your account and email through the autumn. Part 2 is different — ESAIC states that candidates receive their oral examination result on the day of the exam itself.

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Whether you are racing towards 19 September 2026 or planning ahead for 2027, the preparation itself is where the diploma is won. Create a free AnesCORE account to practise with 29,000+ exam-style MTF questions, generate a study plan built backwards from your exam date, and walk into your centre knowing exactly what to expect.