The online postgraduate Spine Surgery Education Programme comprises 9 Modules which can be attempted in any order, but candidates are advised to not enrol in more than 2 Modules at the same time. The Modules are offered in determined time intervals. Each Lecture and Module earns a number of CME credits which are related to their respective content.

Each Module has an associated subject Tutorial which candidates attend in person and work in groups together under the guidance of expert spine surgeon educators. Here, candidates apply the knowledge they have gained in their online Module Lectures to multiple real life clinical cases in a standardised format, designed to test and improve their clinical, analytical, evaluation and diagnostic skills in a collegiate and supportive environment.

The following 9 Modules are arranged by clinical subject, and comprise the basic knowledge to be acquired by spine surgery specialist candidates:

To serve the needs of patients with spinal disorders as a competent spine surgeon, qualified by objectively measurable criteria of knowledge and skills. ​

This is reached by:

• Enabling the candidate to cover the whole field of spine surgery through the guidance of basic knowledge lectures given by experts in the field by means of an “interactive textbook”.
• Enabling the candidate to access pre-selected additional knowledge resources to enhance his/her knowledge and skills in the field of spine surgery beyond the basic knowledge.
• Applying and widening the theoretical knowledge, through interactive face to face tutorials with senior experts.
• Mastering the anatomy relevant to the various surgical accesses used in spine surgery
• Enabling the candidate to analyse and accurately diagnose spinal disorders and propose appropriate and effective treatments
• Enabling the candidate to choose and apply the correct patient outcome tools for appropriate follow up
• Undertaking a Surgical Skills Assessment

1. Spine Fellows* - In Orthopaedic or Neurosurgical services or independent spine services
2. Practising spine surgeons - Independent or in Orthopaedic or Neurosurgical services for a potential re-certification
3. Orthopaedic or Neurosurgical residents - Who want to expand their general knowledge
4. Non-surgical spine specialists - Interested in expanding their spine knowledge

*Spine Fellow - An orthopaedic or neurological trainee at the end of their residency who intends to specialise in spine surgery and to practice as a specialist spine surgeon.