Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) is a professional qualification to practise as a surgeon in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. It is bestowed by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (chartered 1784), Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (chartered 1505), and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow though strictly the unqualified initials refer to the London College. Several Commonwealth countries have similar qualifications, among them the FRCSC in Canada, FRACS in Australia and New Zealand, FCS(SA) in South Africa, FCSHK in Hong Kong.
The original fellowship was available in general surgery and in certain specialties - ophthalmic or ENT surgery, or obstetrics and gynaecology - which were not indicated in the initials. It came to be taken mid-way through training.
There are now a range of higher fellowships, taken at the end of higher specialist training and often in narrower fields, the first of which was FRCS (Orth) in orthopaedics. Others include FRCS (Urol) in urology and FRCS (OMFS) in maxillofacial surgery.
Read more about Fellowship Of The Royal College Of Surgeons: The Membership of The Royal College of Surgeons, Mister or Doctor?, Fellows
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“Blest be the tie that binds
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Is like to that above.”
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The royal banner and all quality,
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—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Mrs. Pilletti: This girl is a college graduate.
Catherine: They’re the worst. College girls are one step from the street, I tell you.”
—Paddy Chayefsky (1923–1981)