Unlocking Global Recognition: The MOMS Exam in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

The Membership in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery exam (MOMS) is an international college examination for overseas specialists-in-training (around year 2-3 of a full time Maxillofacial programme) and established specialists, who want to achieve a recognisable Royal College qualification to use as a benchmark for their experience and knowledge. The exam runs twice a year on average (spring and autumn), at one or more international locations per year. 

As an international exam, it has run from various overseas locations, including Cairo, Dubai and various facilities in India including Bangalore and Kolkata; over its lifetime other locations have been used, and it may possibly expand to new sites in future. The exam draws candidates from Asia, the Middle East and North Africa predominantly, with 20-50 candidates per sitting.

MOMS is popular among candidates who want to establish an affiliation with the College, for those who want a qualification to help their transition to training and practice outside their home country, and for candidates who want a prestigious Royal College qualification to validate and support their practice in their country of origin. Examiners are drawn from a group of highly experienced Maxillofacial specialists who are College fellows from the host region, supported by examiners based in the UK.

The exam runs over 4 days, with written papers on day one, followed by clinical scenario vivas over the following three days. Vivas are run with one local and one UK examiner per station, which helps deal with any local cultural variations and maintains equity, while developing and maintaining strong ties and college profile with alumni overseas.

The next diet of the MOMS exam will be held in Cairo 22-25 June 2026.  Applications are currently open on the College website, and will close on 13 April 2026.

Written by Mr Craig Pearce, Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at University Hospital of North Midlands.