What Is EDAIC? Exam Format, Eligibility and Next Steps

EDAIC stands for European Diploma in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care. ESAIC awards it through a written Part I and an oral Part II, subject to the diploma's eligibility and award requirements. It assesses specialist-level knowledge; holding it does not automatically provide a licence to practise in another country.

This guide explains the two parts, who can apply and where to find current dates. AnesCORE is an independent preparation platform, not an ESAIC examination authority.

What Is the EDAIC and Why Do Anaesthesiologists Take It?

The EDAIC is the European Diploma in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, awarded by ESAIC — the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care. ESAIC describes it as a multilingual, end-of-training, two-part examination covering the basic sciences and clinical subjects expected of a specialist anaesthesiologist. It is endorsed by the European Board of Anaesthesiology and aligned with the UEMS European Training Requirements, which is what gives it its pan-European weight.

The EDAIC is a supranational credential. Its role in training differs by country; some national systems make use of part or all of the examination. It does not, on its own, license you to practise as a consultant in any given country — national medical councils still set their own registration rules. What it does do is demonstrate that you have met a rigorous, internationally benchmarked standard. That is why anaesthetists take it: for CV credibility in competitive selection, for smoother mobility between European countries, for academic and research opportunities, and — for trainees in systems without a strong national exit exam — as a respected benchmark of competence. If you want the full picture of what the diploma means professionally, we cover it in depth in our guide on what the EDAIC means for your career.

Start by understanding the format and eligibility, then build a study plan around your own training and available time. Our EDAIC Part 1 guide covers preparation in more detail.

The Two Parts of the EDAIC: Part 1 vs Part 2

The EDAIC is sat in two sequential stages. You clear Part 1 first, then progress to Part 2.

Part 1 is a written examination made up of two multiple true/false (MTF) papers, sat on the same day: Paper A covers the basic sciences, and Paper B covers clinical anaesthesia and intensive care. In the MTF format, each question presents a stem followed by five independent statements (A–E), and you mark each one True or False. Per the format AnesCORE prepares candidates against, each paper carries 60 questions × 5 true/false statements, which works out to 300 individual true/false decisions per paper. The single most important marking rule: there is no negative marking — a wrong or blank answer simply scores zero. Never leave a statement unanswered; always commit to True or False.

Part 2 is oral. It consists of four structured oral examinations (SOEs) held in a single day — two in the morning and two in the afternoon, covering two basic-science domains (physiology and pathophysiology with relevant anatomy, and applied pharmacology) and two clinical-anaesthesia domains. The Diploma Guide describes a 0/1/2 marking scale and aggregate requirements; use the current official scheme for the exact pass conditions. Part 2 tests not just recall but clinical reasoning and the ability to articulate a safe, structured plan out loud.

The exact per-paper question count and the definitive SOE breakdown are set out in ESAIC's Diploma Guide, so treat the current guide on esaic.org as the final authority if any detail has changed for your sitting.

EDAIC Eligibility: Who Can Sit the Exam?

Eligibility is one area where candidates most often get tripped up, so read the current rules on esaic.org carefully. In broad terms, the two parts have different entry requirements.

For Part 1, ESAIC's position is refreshingly open: candidates are admitted provided they are medical graduates. You do not need to be a European citizen, and you do not need to have passed another exam first. This makes Part 1 accessible relatively early in training. One important caveat ESAIC flags directly: it is the candidate's responsibility to make sure he or she is eligible for Part 2 before registering for the Part 1 examination — so check the Part 2 rules before you pay for Part 1.

For Part 2, the bar is higher because it is an end-of-training assessment. In addition to passing Part 1, you must hold an eligible specialist diploma allowing unrestricted anaesthesiology practice in its country of issue, or meet the final-year anaesthesiology training route in a European WHO member state or Brazil. Final-year trainees typically have to upload a completed ESAIC Trainee Letter to prove eligibility.

ESAIC also offers OLA (On-Line Assessment) and HOLA (Home On-Line Assessment) for assessment and preparation using Part 1-style content. An assessment result does not pass or exempt you from Part 1, even if your national training authority uses it for a local requirement. See ESAIC OLA/HOLA guidance for those purposes and the ESAIC Diploma Guide for separate qualification-based exemptions.

Pass rate and pass mark are different

A pass rate describes how many candidates passed a particular sitting. A pass mark is the threshold applied to that examination. A historical percentage cannot predict your result, and a practice-bank score is not an official pass prediction.

For the current marking framework, use the ESAIC Diploma Guide. Both Part I papers must be passed. Our pass rate and pass mark guide explains the distinction without treating an internet percentage as a guaranteed target.

The next EDAIC dates and how to register

The next Part I written examination is Saturday, 11 September 2027. The registration period is still to be announced on the official Part I page as checked on 6 November 2026. Part II has a separate calendar and application process; do not use a Part I deadline for an oral application.

Before registering:

1. Check the current eligibility requirements for both parts.
2. Prepare the medical diploma and any required translation or training evidence.
3. Confirm the year, language, centre and fee in the official application portal.
4. Save the confirmation and follow the instructions issued to you.

See the 2027 dates and registration guide and eligibility/document checklist. Older 2026 dates are historical and cannot be used to plan a new application.

How to Prepare for the EDAIC

Preparation is where the diploma is won or lost. ESAIC itself signposts several official tools — the EDAIC Trainer app, the BCSAC and VIVAC courses, the (H)OLA self-assessments, ESAIC Academy e-learning, and sample question papers. These are the authoritative first-party resources, and we encourage you to use them.

Alongside the official route, most candidates rely heavily on MTF question practice, because the Part 1 format rewards precise knowledge of individual statements rather than pattern-matching a single best answer. This is exactly what AnesCORE is built for: a large, syllabus-mapped bank of EDAIC Part 1-style questions, with every true/false statement individually explained. To get started, work through our EDAIC Part 1 guide for the format and strategy, then drill against the EDAIC question bank to expose and close your knowledge gaps. If you are building a revision timetable from your exam date backwards, our post on an effective EDAIC study plan will help you structure the months ahead.

To be completely clear: AnesCORE is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ESAIC. We are a third-party study platform. ESAIC's own resources are the official option; we exist to complement them with high-volume, explained practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does EDAIC stand for?

EDAIC stands for the European Diploma in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care. It is a two-part, end-of-training examination awarded by ESAIC (the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care) and endorsed by the European Board of Anaesthesiology.

Is the EDAIC hard, and what is the pass rate?

It covers a broad specialist syllabus. Pass rates vary by sitting and are different from the pass mark. Use the current ESAIC rules and any dated official results when interpreting a percentage; no question-bank score or historical rate guarantees your outcome.

Who is eligible to sit the EDAIC?

Part I is open to medical graduates. Part II requires a Part I pass and the additional specialist-diploma or eligible final-year training conditions. Check your full route with ESAIC before applying.

When is the next EDAIC Part I examination?

The next announced date is 11 September 2027. The registration period remains to be announced on the official Part I page as checked on 6 November 2026. See our 2027 guide for the current planning information.

Is AnesCORE affiliated with ESAIC?

No. AnesCORE is an independent revision platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to ESAIC. ESAIC's own tools — such as the EDAIC Trainer and (H)OLA — are the official resources; AnesCORE complements them with a large bank of explained, EDAIC Part 1-style practice questions.

Start Preparing Today

The EDAIC is demanding but entirely achievable with structured, honest preparation. If you want to see where you stand and start closing your knowledge gaps against thousands of explained MTF statements, create a free AnesCORE account — no card required — and begin practising in the real exam format today.

Correction — 7 October 2026: OLA/HOLA assessment does not grant a Part 1 exemption. Checked against the ESAIC Diploma Guide and ESAIC OLA/HOLA guidance.