Foundation Course in the Essentials of Palliative Care (FCEPC)

The IAPC’s Certificate Course in Essentials of Palliative Care (CCEPC) was launched in November 2007 in 12 centers across the country. Over the years, the course has become popular and is currently being delivered in over 50 centers across the country. The CCEPC has been renamed as the ‘Foundation Course in the Essentials of Palliative Care‘ (FCEPC) and applications are now open for the maiden batch of the FCEPC.

This foundation course in palliative care for doctors and nurses, aims to inculcate the principles of palliative care in every day practice for doctors and nurses to improve patient care through proper communication and management of symptoms.

The course began to be offered virtually, due to the restrictions imposed by COVID-19. The course is currently offered virtually with 9 online batches being delivered successfully till date.

The 10th online batch of the course will be held in January 2025.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Doctors (MBBS, BDS)
  • Nurses (BSc Nursing, GNM)

Course Design:

  • The course will be delivered in two parts: A mandatory theory ‘Part A’ component and a practical hands-on ‘Part B’ component (recommended but optional).
  • All candidates will have to virtually submit a reflective case history and also undertake an online examination after completing the ‘Part A’ theory component of the course.
  • Candidates will have to secure 50% of the total marks in the theory examination and also secure 50% of total marks in the reflective case history to be eligible to proceed towards the ‘Part B’ component of the course.
  • The theory ‘Part A’ component:
    • These theory classes will be held as half day sessions over 3 weekends (Saturdays: 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sundays: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.).
    • The dates for the January 2025 batch: 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th January, 2025.
    • Select Clinical sessions will be held separately for Doctors and Nurses.
    • Successful completion of ‘Part A’ will make one:
      • Understand the basic concepts of Palliative Care.
      • Understand the management of symptoms in palliative care.
      • Empowered to handle difficult questions encountered in everyday practice.
  • The practical ‘Part B’ component:
    • This is an optional (though recommended) practical 10-day hands-on training that candidates can pursue at an IAPC authorised course center.
    • ‘Part B’ will need to be completed within 1 year from the date of publication of the examination results.
    • Successful completion of ‘Part B’ will:
      • Provide opportunity for hands-on understanding of pain and symptom management.
      • Enable one to manage a patient who is on opioids.
      • Make one eligible to obtain an RMI certificate for your organisation.

Course Fee

  • Doctors: Rs. 10,000/-
  • Nurses: Rs. 4,000/-
  • The course fee includes the training fee, the examination fee and the course material.

Course registration:

  • Please click here to submit the e-application form.
  • Please ensure that you hit the ‘Submit’ button at the end of the e-application page to record your submission. 
  • Please note: 
    • Once you submit your e-application, you will receive an email confirmation to denote the successful submission of your e-application. 
    • Please check your spam / junk folders as well for the same. 
    • If you don’t receive the acknowledgement email within 24 hours, then please connect with the concerned course coordinator from your preferred IAPC Authorised course center. 
  • Please keep the following documents / information handy before you begin to submit the e-application form: 
    • E copy of your educational certificates.
    • Details and the copy of the fee receipt paid towards the course.
  • Please click here to view and download the list of IAPC Authorised Course Centers.

Last date to register for the course:

  • Last date to submit application is on Tuesday, 24th December, 2024.

Course Guidelines

  • Attendance (with video) is mandatory for all the theory sessions. Those who fail to switch on their camera’s will be marked absent for the session.
  • Candidates with only 100% attendance in all of the theory sessions will be allowed to attend the examination.
  • Please note that recordings from the sessions will not be shared due to copyright issues. Please ensure that you attend the live sessions.
  • Please ensure that arrangements are made to ensure uninterrupted and good internet connectivity. Candidates unable to attend sessions due to connectivity issues will be considered as absent.
  • Theory sessions will be interactive and candidates must therefore dedicate time exclusively to attend the sessions. Please note that candidates ARE NOT allowed to participate in the sessions while they are on duty.
  • Candidates are requested to attend the theory sessions using their laptops. Please avoid attending the sessions using phones or tablets, as it will cause distraction.
  • Candidates are requested to login 10 minutes before the start of the session.
  • Classes can be attended virtually, however the online examination will need to be taken from the nearest IAPC authorised course center.
  • It is essential to attend the online examinations using a windows powered laptop or desktop only, as the examination platform does not support other devices (Android phones or tablets, Apple phones, laptops, iPads any other gadgets). Please note that smartphones, tablets and iPads are therefore not compatible for the examination platform.

FCEPC Brochure

Click here to view and download the FCEPC Brochure for the batch of January 2025.

FCEPC Schedule

Click here to view and download the FCEPC Schedule for the batch of January 2025.

FCEPC Form

Click here to apply online for FCEPC batch of January 2025.

For downloading on smartphones, please tap and hold your finger on the buttons above. This will open up a menu. Tap ‘Download link’ from that menu.