CICM Second Part Examination Syllabus
Curriculum domains
The CICM Second Part Examination syllabus (CICM Second Part Syllabus, Second Edition (November 2025)) is organised into 27 curriculum domains. PRIMEX maps every domain below to study topics and learning objectives so you can track coverage as you prepare.
The 27 domains
- Cardiovascular Intensive Care - Cardiogenic shock, arrhythmias, LVAD, haemodynamic monitoring, vasopressors.
- Respiratory Intensive Care - ARDS, mechanical ventilation, weaning, ECMO, asthma, COPD.
- Renal Intensive Care - AKI, RRT, electrolytes, acid-base, fluid responsiveness.
- Neurological Intensive Care - TBI, SAH, stroke, status epilepticus, meningitis, brain death.
- Sepsis and Infections - Septic shock, SSC bundles, VAP, fungal infections, antimicrobial stewardship.
- Gastrointestinal Intensive Care - ALF, GI haemorrhage, pancreatitis, abdominal compartment syndrome, nutrition.
- Haematological and Oncological Intensive Care - DIC, HIT, TMA, massive transfusion, anticoagulation.
- Endocrine Intensive Care - DKA, HHS, adrenal insufficiency, thyroid emergencies, electrolyte disorders.
- Trauma Intensive Care - Damage control resuscitation, TBI, abdominal trauma, burns.
- Environmental Injuries and Toxicology in ICU - Paracetamol, TCAs, CCBs, opioids, environmental toxins, NMS.
- Obstetric Intensive Care - Pre-eclampsia, PPH, sepsis in pregnancy, AFE.
- Paediatrics - PARDS, paediatric sepsis, paediatric neurocritical care.
- Intensive Care Procedures - POCUS, CVC, arterial line, tracheostomy, bronchoscopy.
- Applied Pharmacology in Intensive Care - Vasopressor pharmacology, PK changes in critical illness, drug dosing.
- Ethical and legal considerations in Intensive Care - Withdrawal, withholding, organ donation, consent, capacity.
- Research and Evidence Based Practice in Intensive Care - Trial design, landmark trials, quality metrics, human factors.
- Intensive Care Administration - Staffing models, family-centred care, PICS, resource allocation.
- Structure and Process - College Second Edition syllabus leaf 2.1.1 (Medical Expert).
- Decision Making - College Second Edition syllabus leaf 2.1.2 (Medical Expert).
- Immunological and Rheumatological Intensive Care - College Second Edition syllabus leaf 2.1.10 (Medical Expert).
- Organ and Tissue Donation in Intensive Care - College Second Edition syllabus leaf 2.1.15 (Medical Expert).
- Peri-operative Issues in Intensive Care - College Second Edition syllabus leaf 2.1.18 (Medical Expert).
- Radiology in Intensive Care - College Second Edition syllabus leaf 2.1.20 (Medical Expert).
- Communication and collaboration in Intensive Care - College Second Edition syllabus leaf 2.2.1 (Communicator and Collaborator).
- Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori and Pasifika Health and cultural safety - College Second Edition syllabus leaf 2.4.1 (Health Advocate).
- Professional behaviour - College Second Edition syllabus leaf 2.6.2 (Professional).
- Populations requiring special considerations in Intensive Care - College Second Edition syllabus leaf 2.1.16 (Medical Expert).
PRIMEX supplementary topics
Beyond the 27 CICM Second Part Examination curriculum domains above, PRIMEX adds 3 supplementary topics that are not part of the official CICM Second Part Examination curriculum but are high-yield for practice in this specialty:
- Retrieval and Transport Medicine - Intra/inter-hospital transport, retrieval systems.
- Sedation, Analgesia and Neuromuscular Blockade - PADIS guidelines, RASS, delirium management, NMBAs.
- Special Topics in Intensive Care - Post-cardiac arrest, drowning, heat stroke, electrical injury, oncological emergencies.
How PRIMEX maps to the syllabus
- Every domain above is mapped to PRIMEX study topics, so the curriculum tracker shows coverage domain by domain.
- AI-graded SAQ practice and viva simulation draw from these same mapped domains.
- Spaced-repetition scheduling and progress analytics surface the domains where your coverage is thinnest.
Start your 7-day free PRIMEX trial for the CICM Second Part Examination and work through the syllabus domain by domain.
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Frequently asked questions
How many domains does the CICM Second Part Examination syllabus cover?
The CICM Second Part Examination syllabus is organised into 27 curriculum domains on PRIMEX, each mapped to study topics and learning objectives.
What is covered in the CICM Second Part Examination syllabus?
The CICM Second Part Examination syllabus covers 27 domains: Cardiovascular Intensive Care, Respiratory Intensive Care, Renal Intensive Care, Neurological Intensive Care, Sepsis and Infections, Gastrointestinal Intensive Care, Haematological and Oncological Intensive Care, Endocrine Intensive Care, Trauma Intensive Care, Environmental Injuries and Toxicology in ICU, Obstetric Intensive Care, Paediatrics, Intensive Care Procedures, Applied Pharmacology in Intensive Care, Ethical and legal considerations in Intensive Care, Research and Evidence Based Practice in Intensive Care, Intensive Care Administration, Structure and Process, Decision Making, Immunological and Rheumatological Intensive Care, Organ and Tissue Donation in Intensive Care, Peri-operative Issues in Intensive Care, Radiology in Intensive Care, Communication and collaboration in Intensive Care, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori and Pasifika Health and cultural safety, Professional behaviour, Populations requiring special considerations in Intensive Care.
Does PRIMEX cover the full CICM Second Part Examination syllabus?
Yes. PRIMEX is curriculum-mapped to the CICM Second Part Examination syllabus, so every domain and learning objective above is tracked across the question banks, study notes and curriculum tracker.
Does PRIMEX add topics beyond the official CICM Second Part Examination curriculum?
Yes. Beyond the 27 curriculum domains, PRIMEX adds 3 supplementary topics that are not part of the official CICM Second Part Examination curriculum: Retrieval and Transport Medicine, Sedation, Analgesia and Neuromuscular Blockade, Special Topics in Intensive Care.