Here we take a closer look at the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians examinations (MRCP) for doctors who have chosen their specialism in medicine, including exam dates, fees and eligibility.
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) from any country in the world can sit the MRCP examinations, provided certain eligibility criteria are met. These are summarised below along with a broad look at the following topics:
What is MRCP(UK)?
Eligibility for overseas doctors
MRCP(UK) Part 1
MRCP(UK) Part 2
MRCP(UK) PACES
How to prepare and what resources are available
How to apply
Fees
Venues
Dates of Exams
Passed? What next?
The Royal College of Physicians is the professional body responsible for the specialty of medicine throughout the UK. Amongst many other duties, its role is to set and monitor the educational curriculum for those training to enter the profession.
What is MRCP(UK)?
The MRCP examinations assess:
knowledge of basic medical sciences
clinical skills required for the diagnosis and management of disease.
The exams are designed to test both applied basic science and principles of medicine to the level of a UK trainee with two to three years postgraduate experience.
Completion of MRCP will allow you to work in the UK from ST3 level upward (ST3+), with seniority beyond ST3 level dependent on experience.
MRCP is one of two routes an overseas doctor can take full GMC registration (postgraduate qualification or PLAB route).
For doctors who wish to take more senior roles reflective of their current practice, IMG Connect advise that MRCP would be the best route to take.
MRCP (UK) is a prerequisite to anyone wishing to go on to a specialist training post as a physician in the UK.
The MRCP exam has three parts as outlined below:
MRCP Part 1 – two written papers
MRCP Part 2 – two written papers
MRCP PACES – practical assessment in a clinical setting
Eligibility for overseas doctors:
Part 1:
To be eligible you must have a GMC recognised Primary Medical Qualification and a minimum 12 months postgraduate experience in medical employment.
Part 2 & PACES:
To be eligible you must have passed Part 1 within the last seven years.
Whilst it is not essential to successfully complete Part 2 to sit PACES, the Royal College strongly advises you to do so.
To support this, pass-rates are much lower for those who sit PACES before passing Part 2.
MRCP(UK) Part 1:
The entry-level examination is accessible to doctors with a minimum 12 months postgraduate experience in medical employment.
It consists of:
one-day examination
two three-hour papers
200 multiple-choice (best of five) questions
no imagery
sat in an examination hall
A more detailed look at Part 1 can be found here.
This will include examination centers, dates, fees and advice to give you the best chance to pass at first attempt.
MRCP(UK) Part 2
Part 2 can only be taken if you have passed Part 1 (building on the knowledge already assessed).
The format at a glance:
two papers taken on one day
papers last three hours
200 multiple choice questions
questions include images
sat in an examination hall
A more detailed look at Part 2 can be found here.
This will include examination centers, dates, fees and advice to give you the best chance to pass at first attempt.
MRCP(UK) PACES:
PACES applicants must have passed MRCP Part 1. However, we echo the Royal College guidance and strongly advise our doctors to take both Parts 1 & 2 before taking PACES.
PACES is based on a format that is similar to OSCEs, a practical assessment in a clinical setting. There are five clinical stations with either patients with a given condition, or trained stand-ins (surrogates).
The format in brief:
half-day examination
takes place in a clinical setting (hospital or clinical skills centre)
assesses seven core skills
five stations
eight patient encounters
two independent examiners at each station
each candidate is assessed independently by a total of 10 examiners
A more detailed look at PACES can be found here.
This will include examination centers, dates, fees to give you the best chance to pass at first attempt.
How do I prepare and what resources are available?
With lots of resources available online, we have discussed with IMGs the best place to start looking for materials relating to the exams. Most IMGs recommended starting with the Royal College, who have created useful resources to help you to prepare for the exams. See below:
Curriculum: Applicants are tested on a range of common and important disorders in General Medicine as set out in the Joint Royal Colleges Specialty Training Curriculum for Core Medical Training.
We recommend getting to know the curriculum as early as possible, and using it as a road map for your study plan.
MRCP(UK) mock exams: We suggest registering for the MRCP mock exams here.
These will provide you with the most accurate and relevant mock questions to prepare you for the real thing.
Sample questions: Test your knowledge using example questions from the current exam syllabus provided by the Royal College, see below:
Part 1
Part 2
PACES content: prepare and practice example questions on the topics and skills covered in the PACES exam
Preparation
Sample scenarios
PACES marksheets
For a useful overview of how to prepare for exams, including advice on study groups, online community support, best use of online resources & Royal College materials and courses, take a look at our blog: IMG Connects Top Tips for exam preparation
How do I apply?
Applications for all exams are made online via My MRCP(UK) account.
You will simply need to create an account and submit evidence of your primary medical qualification, then make a payment online to confirm your application.
Application videos from the Royal College can be found below:
Part 1 & 2
PACES
Please note, the application process is a little different for those looking to sit the exam in Hong Kong. Further information can be found on the Royal College website here.
Fees for 2019:
Exam
UK Test Centres
Overseas Test Centres
Part 1
£419
£594 *
Part 2
£419
£594 *
PACES
£657
£1202 *
*the application process and fees applicable for Hong Kong and Singapore centres are different and applicants are encouraged to submit their application directly to the administration team for this centre.
Venues:
Exam
UK Test Centres
Overseas Test Centres
Part 1
&
Part 2
Edinburgh
Glasgow
London
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Egypt
Ghana
Hong Kong
Iceland
India
Iraq
Jordan
Kenya
Kuwait
Malaysia
Malta
Myanmar
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Sudan
United Arab Emirates
United States of America
West Indies
Zimbabwe
PACES
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
Brunei
Egypt
Hong Kong
India
Kuwait
Malaysia
Myanmar
Malta
Oman
Qatar
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Sudan
United Arab Emirates
* Please note, exact locations change from each diet of PACES.
Dates of Exams:
Upcoming dates for the exams can be found using the following links:
Part 1
Part 2
PACES
Passed? What next?
First of all, congratulations! After you have passed all parts of MRCP(UK) you can apply for a full registration with a license to practice. Once the GMC have approved your application, you can work as a doctor in the UK.
For further information on MRCP exams including structure, content, preparing, procedure, dates, locations and fees, see the following articles:
MRCP(UK) Part 1 – a closer look
MRCP(UK) Part 2 – a closer look
MRCP(UK) PACES – a closer look
IMG Jobs
Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK
IMG Resources
Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!
Get in Touch
Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.
Follow us on social media for news and updates on GMC registration, the Royal College and NHS through the links below:
MRCP Part 2 is the second of three exams to attain full MRCP UK.
This article is written for overseas doctors taking the MRCP route to GMC registration, written to help you prepare fir & sit the Part 2 examination. We consider the following topics:
What is MRCP Part 2?
Am I eligible to sit MRCP Part 2?
What is the exam content & format?
Where I can take the exam?
When is the exam sat and when can I apply?
How much does it cost?
How can I prepare for the exam?
Passed? What next?
What is MRCP Part 2?
Building on the knowledge assessed in Part 1, the exam tests your acquisition of a representative sample of medical knowledge, skills and behavior as specified in the UK Specialty Training Curriculum for Core Medical Training.
It is designed to test your application of clinical understanding and capacity to make clinical judgments, including:
prioritisation of diagnostic or problem lists
investigation planning
selection of a plan for immediate management
selection a plan for long-term management
assessment prognosis
Am I eligible to sit MRCP Part 2?
You are eligible if you have passed the MRCP(UK) Part 1 examination. A reminder that to be eligible for Part 1, you require 12 months experience and a recognised Primary Medical Qualification.
The Part 2 written examination moved to a single day format at the beginning of 2018. The new examination consists of two, three-hour papers each with 100 questions.
What is the examination format and content?
A good understanding of the examination format is a great foundation for your exam preparation, so below we have summarised the Royal College’s guidance on the Part 2 examination format and content.
Format:
The exam consists of two-papers, sat over the course of one day in an examination hall. Each paper is 3 hours in duration and contains 100 multiple choice questions in ‘best of five’ format (200 questions in total).
Composition of the papers are as follows:
Specialty
Number of questions *
Cardiology
19
Dermatology
9
Endocrinology and metabolic medicine
19
Gastroenterology
19
Geriatric Medicine
9
Hematology
9
Infectious diseases and GUM
19
Neurology
17
Nephrology
19
Oncology and palliative medicine
9
Ophthalmology
3
Psychiatry
3
Respiratory Medicine
19
Rheumatology
9
Therapeutics and toxicology
18
Total
200
*This should be taken as an indication of the likely number of questions – the actual number may vary by up to 2%. A proportion of the questions will be on adolescent medicine.
Question Content:
Questions are centred on the diagnosis, investigation, management and prognosis of a patient.
They usually have a clinical scenario and may include results of investigations and images such as:
clinical photographs
pathology slides
inheritance trees
ECGs, X-rays, CT and MR scans and echocardiograms.
In addition to testing core knowledge & comprehension, the exam assesses your ability to interpret information and solve clinical problems.
Best of Five question format and marking:
There will be five options: one correct answer and four alternatives to the correct answer.
The four distracters will be closely related to the preferred option but less correct, therefore acting as plausible alternatives.
Each correct answer is awarded one mark and there is no negative marking.
A more detailed explanation of the marking system used can be found here on the exam pass mark page of the Royal College website in MRCP(UK) Regulations.
Where can I take the exam?
MRCP(UK) Part 2 can be taken in the UK and overseas, see below:
*Please note these differ slightly from MRCP(UK) Part 1 examination centers
** UK test centres dependent on availability
Exam
UK Test Centres
Overseas Test Centres
MRCP(UK) Part 2
Edinburgh
Manchester
Newcastle
Glasgow
Belfast
Birmingham
Cardiff
London
Bahrain (Manama)
Bangladesh (Dhaka)
Egypt (Cairo)
Hong Kong
Iceland (Reykjavik)
India (Chennai, Kerela, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi)
Iraq (Baghdad, Erbil)
Jordan (Amman)
Kenya (Nairobi)
Kuwait (Kuwait City)
Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
Malta
Myanmar (Yangon)
Oman (Muscat)
Pakistan (Karachi, Lahore)
Qatar (Doha)
Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Riyadh)
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Sudan (Khartoum)
United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai)
United States of America (New Jersey)
West Indies (Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad)
When is the exam sat and when can I apply?
Exam dates and their application periods can be found here.
It is important to note that you must apply for each MRCP exam during the specified application period. Application made outside the designated period will not be accepted.
How much does the exam cost?
UK applications cost £419
International applications cost £594*
Please note, the application process and fees applicable for Hong Kong and Singapore centres differ. Applications should be made directly to the administration team for this centre.
How can I prepare for the exam?
With lots of resources available online, we have discussed with IMGs the best place to start looking for materials relating to the exams. Most IMGs recommended starting with the Royal College, who have created useful resources to help you to prepare for the exams. See below:
Curriculum: Applicants are tested on a range of common and important disorders in General Medicine as set out in the Joint Royal Colleges Specialty Training Curriculum for Core-Medical Training.
We recommend getting to know this as early as possible, using it as a road map for your study plan.
MRCP(UK) mock exams: We suggest registering for the MRCP mock exams here. These will provide you with the most accurate and relevant mock questions to prepare you for the real thing.
Sample questions: Test your knowledge using example questions from the current exam syllabus provided by the Royal College, found herePart 2 sample questions
For a useful overview of how to prepare for exams, including advice on study groups, online community support, best use of online resources & Royal College materials and courses - take a look at our blog: IMG Connects Top Tips for exam preparation.
Passed? What next?
Now you have passed your MRCP Part 2 you can apply to take PACES - the practical and final examination within the MRCP set of examinations.
IMG Jobs
Search and find live specialist medicine NHS doctor jobs in the UK or Acute and General Medicine jobs here.
IMG Resources
Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!
Get in Touch
Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss specialist medicine job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.
Follow us on social media for news and updates on GMC registration, the Royal College and NHS through the links below:
In this article we will explore the MRCP Part 1 exam in more detail, including advice on eligibility, dates, centres, preparation and fees.
Designed to help you prepare and sit the exams, we consider the following MRCP topics:
What is MRCP Part 1?
Am I eligible to sit MRCP Part 1?
What is the examination content & format?
Where can I take the exam?
When is the exam sat and when can I apply?
How much does the exam cost?
How do I apply?
How can I prepare for the exam?
Passed? What next?
What is MRCP (UK) Part 1 exam?
Part 1 is the entry-level examination accessible to doctors with a minimum of 12 months' postgraduate experience in medical employment. It covers a broad range of topics appropriate to physicians at the beginning of postgraduate training.
Part 1 is the first component of a sequence of assessments intended to match the progression of trainees undertaking the Core Medical Training programme in the UK, adding unique information and building on previous assessments
Am I eligible to sit MRCP (UK) Part 1 exam?
Trainees from any country in the world can sit the MRCP Part 1 Examination providing that they meet the eligibility requirements.
As an overseas candidate you are eligible to sit MRCP Part 1 if you have a GMC recognised Primary Medical Qualification and a minimum 12 months postgraduate experience in medical employment.
What is the examination content & format?
At IMG Connect we advise that understanding the examination format is a great foundation for exam preparation. We have summarised the Royal College’s guidance on the Part 1 Examination format below:
The exam consists of two papers, sat over the course of one day in an examination hall.
Each paper is 3 hours in duration and contains 100 multiple choice questions in ‘best of five’ format.
From the five options provided, one answer is correct. The other four are plausible however you will only score a point from the correct answer. There are no negative marks and questions do not include imagery.
MRCP (UK) Part 1 is designed to assess your knowledge and understanding of the clinical sciences relevant to medical practice and of common or important disorders to a level appropriate for entry to specialist training.
Candidates will be tested on a wide range of common and important disorders in General Medicine as set out in the JRCPTB Specialty Training Curriculum for Core Medical Training and the composition of the papers is as below:
Specialty
Number of questions *
Cardiology
15
Clinical haematology and oncology
15
Clinical Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology
16
Clinical sciences **
25
Dermatology
8
Endocrinology
15
Geriatric medicine
4
Gastroenterology
15
Infectious diseases and GUM
15
Neurology
15
Nephrology
15
Ophthalmology
4
Psychiatry
8
Respiratory Medicine
15
Rheumatology
15
Total
200
*This should be taken as an indication of the likely numbers of questions – the actual number may vary
** The clinical sciences components comprises the following:
Specialty
Number of questions *
Cell, molecular and membrane biology
2
Clinical anatomy
3
Clinical biochemistry and metabolism
4
Clinical physiology
4
Genetics
3
Immunology
4
Statistics, epidemiology and evidence-based medicine
5
A detailed explanation of the marking system adopted for the MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examination can be viewed in the MRCP(UK) Regulations.
Where can I take the MRCP Part 1 exam?
MRCP (UK) Part 1 can be taken in the UK and overseas as below:
Exam
UK Test Centres
Overseas Test Centres
MRCP Part 1
Edinburgh
Glasgow
London
Bahrain (Manama)
Bangladesh (Dhaka)
Egypt (Cairo)
Ghana (Accra)
Hong Kong
Iceland (Reykjavic)
India (Chennai, Kerala, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi)
Iraq (Baghdad)
Jordan (Amman)
Kenya (Nairobi)
Kuwait (Kuwait City)
Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
Malta
Myanmar
Nepal (Kathmandu)
Oman (Muscat)
Pakistan (Karachi, Lahore)
Qatar (Doha)
Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Riyadh)
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Sudan (Khartoum)
United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi)
United States of America (New Jersey)
West Indies (Jamaica, Trinidad)
Zimbabwe (Harare)
When is the exam sat and when can I apply?
It is important to note that you must apply for each MRCP exam during the specified application period. Applications made outside of the designated period will not be accepted.
Exam dates and their application periods can be found here.
How much does the exam cost?
UK applications cost £419
International applications cost £594*
Please note, the application process and fees applicable for Hong Kong and Singapore centres differ. Applications should be made directly to the administration team for this centre.
How do I apply?
Applications for all exams are made online via My MRCP(UK) account. You will simply need to create an account and submit evidence of your primary medical qualification, then make a payment online to confirm your application.
The application video from the Royal College can be found below:
Part 1 application video
The Royal College of Physicians recommends making the first attempt at Part 1 within 1-2 years of your graduation.
How can I prepare for the MRCP Part 1 exam?
With lots of resources available online, we have discussed with IMGs the best place to start looking for materials relating to the exams. Most IMGs recommended starting with the Royal College, who have created useful resources to help you to prepare for the exams. See below:
Curriculum:
Applicants are tested on a range of common and important disorders in General Medicine as set out in the Joint Royal Colleges Specialty Training Curriculum for Core Medical Training.
We recommend getting to know the curriculum as early as possible, using it as a road map for your study plan.
MRCP (UK) mock exams:
We suggest registering for the MRCP mock exams here. These will provide you with the most accurate and relevant mock questions to prepare you for the real thing.
Sample questions: Test your knowledge using example questions from the current exam syllabus provided by the Royal College, see below:
Part 1 sample questions
For a useful overview of how to prepare for exams, including advice on study groups, online community support, best use of online resources & Royal College materials and courses - take a look at our blog: IMG Connects Top Tips for exam preparation
Passed? What next?
If you are completing the papers in order, the next step will be to apply for Paper B. For more information take a look at our blog we will explore MRCP (UK) Paper B and everything that you need to know about how to sit the exam, including syllabus, dates, results, fees and preparation.
IMG Jobs
Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK
IMG Resources
Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!
Get in Touch
Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.
Follow us on social media for news and updates on GMC registration, the Royal College and NHS through the links below:
Overseas paediatricians taking the postgraduate route to GMC Registration must attain full MRCPCH.
Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH) can be sat by international doctors from any country in the world provided certain eligibility criteria are met. These are summarised below along with a broad look at the following topics:
What is MRCPCH?
Am I eligible?
Sponsors for the Clinical Exam
MRCPCH Theory - structure and content
MRCPCH Clinical – structure and content
Where and when can I take the exams? How much will it cost me?
How do I apply?
How to prepare and what resources are available
Passed? What next?
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health is the professional body responsible for the specialty of Paediatrics throughout the UK. Amongst many other duties, its role is to set and monitor the educational curriculum for those training to enter the profession.
What is MRCPCH?
Paediatricians become full members of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and achieve the designation MRCPCH once they have passed four separate postgraduate medical exams.
The MRCPCH examinations consist of 3 theory exams and 1 clinical exam:
Foundation of Practice (FOP) - theory examination (basic child health)
Theory and Science (TAS) - theory examination (basic scientific, physiological and pharmacological principles upon which clinical practice is based)
Applied Knowledge in Practice (AKP) - theory examination (knowledge synthesis/evaluation, clinical decision-making and management)
MRCPCH Clinical examination - multi station OSCE
* Theory exams can be taken in any order of preference.
For overseas doctors relocating to the UK, the MRCPCH is one of two options to support full GMC registration (postgraduate qualification or PLAB route). For doctors who wish to take on more senior roles reflective of their current practice, IMG Connect advise that the MRCPCH would be the best route to securing their dream job in the NHS.
Am I eligible for the MRCPCH exams?
Theory Exams:
To be eligible you must hold a Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ) that is recognised by the GMC for registration purposes.
MRCPCH Clinical:
You must pass the 3 theory exams in order to be eligible for the final MRCPCH clinical examination.
All MRCPCH clinical candidates must be proposed by 2 sponsors, who will certify that you have a good period of training in paediatrics and can be considered as ready to take the exam. You can take the exams at any stage in your career, however current advice is that in order to optimise your chances of success in the MRCPCH Clinical examination you should have:
completed a period of training lasting two and a half years
spent no less than 12 months in posts involving the care of emergency paediatric patients
spent six months of your first year after graduation as a house paediatrician; if not, an additional six months in a post involving the care of emergency paediatric patients.
Sponsors for the clinical exam:
As we mentioned above, candidates for the clinical examinations must have two sponsors who will declare you have covered the required amount of training in paediatrics which matches the exam syllabus and consider you ready to take the exam. You will be asked to provide each sponsors personal and work details, and they will be notified if you receive a poor mark.
The examination is conducted in English and candidates are advised that IELTS Level 7 is the expected standard for completion of the MRCPCH examinations. Remember, you will need to have a pass of 7.5 average in all areas of IELTS to complete your GMC registration.
What is the structure and content for MRCPCH examinations?
As above, the MRCPCH examinations consists of 4 parts:
3 theory exams
1 clinical exam
Theory exams:
Candidates will sit 3 theory examinations; each test is administered on a computer and the tests can be taken in any order.
There are usually 3 sittings for each exam per year.
Each exam is 2 hours and 30 minutes, unless you have been allocated additional time.
Foundation of Practice (FOP) theory exam:
This exam assesses a candidate’s knowledge, understanding and clinical decision-making. It aims to ensure that you have reached the same standard as someone entering core training (ST1 equivalent)
Questions are typically a combination of:
Single Best Answer Questions (SBAs) – 70 questions
Extended Matching Questions (EMQs) – 10 questions
Extended Matching Questions (EMQs) require you to choose the best option from a list of ten possible options, all are feasible, but only one is completely correct.
Theory and Science (TAS) theory exam:
This tests basic scientific, physiological and pharmacological principles of clinical and evidence-based practice.
It uses the same format for questioning as the FOP exam.
Applied Knowledge in Practice (AKP):
This tests your knowledge, understanding and clinical decision-making based on a standard of someone entering their core specialist training (ST1 equivalent).
The exam uses the format N of Many - giving two or three answers that are required from a longer list.
For example, there can be more than one answer from a scenario since there may be two equally important investigations that should be complete, or three abnormalities from a scan or x-ray.
When sitting the AKP using the format N of Many, remember that each question carries its own weighting – pay attention to how many marks each question is worth in the test and answer accordingly.
Clinical examination:
The MRCPCH clinical examination forms the final part of the exams. Remember, you must have passed all 3 theory tests in order to be eligible to sit this test.
This test will be taken in a hospital setting and you will follow a circuit of 12 scenarios. You should be familiar with this type of test (OSCE) from your medical training. Examiners will assess performance during each scenario, which will include actors (children, young people and adults).
The aim of the clinical examination is to assess whether candidates have reached the standard in clinical skills expected of a newly appointed ST4 in the UK.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in:
communication
history taking and management planning
establishing rapport with both parents and children
physical examination
child development
clinical judgement
organisation of thoughts and actions
recognition of acute illness
knowledge of paediatrics and child health
professional behaviour
ethical practice
The Clinical Exam is guided by important educational principles while holding to the considerable standards of a clinical examination, including the examination of real children.
The Clinical Exam includes 10 objective assessments of each candidate. In most circumstances’ assessment is conducted by a different examiner at each clinical station, so performance at one station does not influence the next station. The test will include six ‘short case’ assessments, emphasising clinical examination. Stations are as follows:
Station 1: Child development – clinical assessment
Station 2 & 5: Communication skills
Station 3: History taking and management planning
Station 4: Clinical video scenarios
Station 6 – 10: Clinical examinations
The order in which candidates will take the circuit will vary. There are 4-minute breaks between stations, the entire circuit takes 152 minutes in total.
Where and when can I sit the exams? And how much do they cost?
Each country fee is different, please see below current exam fees (as of April 2019).
Theory exams:
Country
Theory Exams
Exam fee 2019
India, Malaysia, KSA, UAE, Oman, Myanmar, Sudan, Singapore, Jordan, Kuwait, Malta, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Trinidad
FOP - single paper
£390
TAS - single paper
£390
FOP and TAS - both papers
£653
AKP
£750
Egypt and Nepal
FOP - single paper
£363
TAS - single paper
£363
FOP and TAS - both papers
£589
AKP
£683
Hong Kong (HK)
FOP - single paper
TBC
TAS - single paper
TBC
FOP and TAS - both papers
TBC
AKP
TBC
*Not all countries will offer the exam at each sitting. If you would like to request an exam in another country, you can contact the MRCPCH
Clinical examinations:
Country
Fee
UK
£765
Egypt
£1,145
India
£1,428
KSA
£1,479
Malaysia
£1,255
Myanmar
£1,082
Oman
£1,479
Singapore (Conjoint MMED - MRCPCH Clinical fee)
£1,428
Sudan
£1,220
UAE
£1,479
Hong Kong
TBC
How do I apply for the exams?
To apply for the MRCPCH, you first need to register online for exams. You need an RCPCH online account (with an RCPCH number). Then you can complete a short registration form – you will require evidence of your primary medical qualification.
How do I register for exams?
You can register for exams at any time throughout the year. After your registration is accepted, you can apply for an exam but only during relevant open application periods. It takes at least 10 working days to process registration.During exam application periods the Royal College are not able to process registrations.
Register three to four weeks before exam application period opens to help ensure you do not miss your preferred exam diet. The best dates to register for exams are usually January, May and September.
How do I book an exam?
Log in to your RCPCH account
Go to My Account
From your dashboard, go to the Exams panel, and from your exam dashboard, follow links to apply
What do I need to bring to the exam?
You will need to bring one of the following forms of ID:
passport with photograph and signature - this must be current or no more than six months expired
valid driving license with photograph and signature
national identity card with photograph and signature.
Please note, only original documents will be accepted as proof of identification.
How can I prepare for the exams?
With lots of materials online we have discussed with IMGs the best place to start looking for resources and materials relating to the exams. Most IMGs recommended starting with the Royal College, who have created useful resources to help you to prepare for the exams. See below:
Theory Examination:
Theory Examination Syllabi: This document outlines the syllabus for MRCPCH theory examinations - MRCPCH Theory Examination Syllabi.
Theory exams structure and syllabus: Further information on FOP, TAS and AKP can be found in the theory exams structure and syllabus. This is to be read in combination with the Royal College’s Curriculum for Paediatrics. Within the Curriculum for Paediatrics you can read about the 11 domains and are able to download assessment strategy and generic syllabi for each training level.
Sample Papers: We recommend becoming familiar with the exam format and software, and you can practice with some sample papers here.
Clinical Examination:
Clinical Examination candidate guide: This is a comprehensive guide from the Royal College specifically covering the Clinical Examination. This includes station breakdowns, clinical video scenarios, general instructions and downloads among many other resources.
Anchor Statements: The Anchor Statements outline the expected standard for each station against which candidates are marked. We recommend you familiarise yourself with the criteria points for expected standards before sitting the exam.
Clinical Exam Technique: This guide covers the clinical examination in considerable depth, including:
examination technique
specifics on clinical areas
detail on short-cases
User guide for video station: A guide for Station 4: Clinical video scenarios can be downloaded here.
Clinical Exam: hints and tipsHints and tips specific to the clinical exam can be found on the MRCPCH clinical examination candidate guide (scroll down to find them).
As ever at IMG Connect, we believe in preparation. In order to succeed in the clinical exam, IMGs have told us that it is vital that you practise your clinical examinations as frequently as possible, preferably under the supervision of a senior colleague. This will give you confidence in approaching and examining children with examiners present.
Passed? What next?
First of all, congratulations! After you have passed all four parts of your MRCPCH examinations, you can apply for a full registration with a license to practice. Once the GMC have approved your application, you can work as a doctor in the UK.
IMG Jobs
Search and find live NHS paediatrics jobs
IMG Resources
In our IMG Resources library you can read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!
Get in Touch
Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss paediatrics job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.