This course is designed to train senior or advanced laparoscopic surgeons and to keep members up to date with recent advancements in advanced laparoscopic procedures. FALS courses are organized in various subspecialties such as Hernia, Bariatric Surgery, Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Oncology, HPB Surgery, and Robotic Surgery.

(A) FELLOWSHIP CATEGORIES

Eligibility Criteria: IAGES MEMBERSHIP IS MUST.

Those who are not members may apply for membership online. See the website www.iages.in for more details. Members of collaborating associations who have signed an MOU with IAGES are also eligible. They are expected to get their application endorsed by the respective collaborating association prior to joining the course.

1) NON-EXAMINATION CATEGORY

Surgeons who have been performing laparoscopic surgery in the chosen field for 10 or more years are eligible for the Non-Examination Category. Candidates should have performed more than 100 laparoscopic surgeries in the chosen subspecialty and need to submit a logbook to substantiate their claim. All candidates will be interviewed by the IAGES board for final assessment before the fellowship is awarded.

2) EXAMINATION CATEGORY

All surgeons with a minimum of 3 years of experience in the chosen specialty of laparoscopic surgery (this includes experience in laparoscopy as a postgraduate surgical resident). The applicant should have performed over 25 laparoscopic procedures in the chosen specialty either jointly or independently. All candidates must appear for an MCQ assessment and a viva by the IAGES FALS board for final assessment during the forthcoming annual national conference before the fellowship is awarded.

(B) NON-FELLOWSHIP CATEGORY

The FALS course is also open to non-members and all surgical postgraduates and interested surgeons worldwide under the Non-Fellowship Category. They are eligible to take this course and receive a Certificate of Completion for the FALS course. They can register and participate in the annual national conference as postgraduates or in the Nonmember Category.