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- Psychiatry

MRCPsych CASC exam - dates, locations and fees
International doctors (IMGs) can sit the final MRCPsych CASC exam in three locations in 2020: Sheffield (UK), Hong Kong (China), and Singapore.
Here we explore in brief the exam centres, dates, fees and how to apply online for the MRCPsych CASC exams in each venue.
2020 MRCPsych CASC Exam dates have been released, these are:
Location
Date
United Kingdom
21 – 24 January 2020
United Kingdom
8 – 11 September 2020
Hong Kong
13 – 15 May 2020
Singapore
7 – 9 October 2020
2020 fees have been released – the MRCPsych (CASC) costs £1,093 in the UK and £1,491 in Hong Kong and Singapore.
To ensure you get a space on the exam, you have to apply online during the application window. Applications submitted after the closing date will be rejected. The application windows for London are below:
Location
Application Period
UK (Diet 1)
28 October – 15 November 2019
UK (Diet 2)
8 – 26 June 2020
Singapore
9 – 20 March 2020
Hong Kong
8 – 26 June 2020
Results from the CASC examinations will be released on the following date:
Location
Publication of results
UK (Diet 1)
14 February 2020
UK (Diet 2)
2 October 2020
Singapore
TBC
Hong Kong
6 November 2020
Please note that all dates are subject to change, you can check the most up to date calendar here.
You can apply for the MRCPsych exam, or indeed the full roster of Royal College of Psychiatry examinations here.
IMGs from all over the world take the MRCPsych CASC examination in Sheffield (United Kingdom), Singapore and Hong Kong whilst on their journey towards securing a Psychiatry job in the NHS. If you want to discuss your options for MRCPsych or Psychiatry jobs in the NHS, get in touch with your IMG consultant team, who would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
To help you find a job in the NHS simply follow these easy steps:
• Register with IMG Connect
• Fill in the 'Personal details' section.
• Arrange a chat with your dedicated IMG Consultant
• Sign up to receive 'job alerts’
• Search our live Psychiatry jobs
Searching for psychiatry jobs in the NHS could not be easier
If you want to find out more about the many different psychaitry roles available within the NHS - it only takes a minute to register with IMG Connect and receive expert advice and representation. We have helped many overseas psychiatrists secure consultant, specialty doctor, registrar, clinical fellow and staff grade NHS jobs, whilst offering expert guidance to many more IMGs on NHS doctor pay, MRCPsych exams and English language testing. We’d be happy to help you!

MRCPsych CASC exam - a useful guide for IMGs
In this blog we will explore MRCPsych Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competencies (CASC) including dates, exam locations, fees and eligibility.
In our exploration of CASC, we will take a broad look at the following topics:
What is the CASC exam?
How is the CASC marked?
Am I eligible?
Assessment Portfolio for Overseas Candidates
Sponsorship requirements
How do I apply?
How much will it cost me?
Where can I sit the CASC test?
How do I prepare for the CASC exam?
Passed? What next?
For a more general overview of the MRCPsych examinations, click here.
MRCPsych CASC is a practical exam taking the format of an OSCE and tests your clinical skills in a range of competencies.
What is the CASC exam?
The Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competencies (CASC) tests your skills in a range of clinical situations.
The CASC format is like an OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination).
The CASC is made up of two circuits of individual stations which will test your clinical skills:
The morning circuit will have 4 minutes to read the instructions and 7 minutes to complete the task
The afternoon circuit will have 90 seconds to read the instructions and 7 minutes to complete the task.
The sixteen CASC station exam is made up of:
five stations focused on History Taking, including risk assessment
five stations focused on Examination - both physical and mental state, including capacity assessment.
six stations focused on patient Management
Each circuit follows the topics below:
Circuit 1:
6 stations focused on Management
1 x station focused on Examination
1 x station focused on History Taking
4 minutes reading
7 minute task
Circuit 2:
4 x stations focused on Examination
4 x stations focused on History Taking
90 seconds reading
7 minute task
How is the CASC marked?
You can find details on how the test is marked here. See also marksheets for your information.
History Marksheet
Management Marksheet
Examination Marksheet
The Royal College also suggest taking a look at Passing the MRCPsych - an insider’s guide - a useful guide to help you to get over the first steps.
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 practice your clinical examinations as frequently as possible, preferably under the supervision of a senior colleague. This will give you confidence in approaching and examining patients with examiners present.
Am I eligible for the CASC exam?
You are eligible to take CASC if you have 24 months post internship experience in Psychiatry, by the time of sitting the CASC.
AND
You have a pass in both Paper A and B
AND
You can demonstrate the following:
AND
You have sponsorship in place – sponsorship forms must be submitted by an appropriate medical education lead confirming that the eligibility requirements to sit the MRCPsych examinations have been met.
Overseas candidates must show their sponsor evidence of having achieved equivalent competencies at appropriate competency levels (year 1, 2, 3) for each component of the examination.
Assessment Portfolio for Overseas Candidates:
As above, one aspect of eligibility for CASC as to complete an Assessment Portfolio. This must demonstrate achievement of equivalent competencies to those defined in the ARCP documented on the application form, this must include competencies in Psychotherapy AND Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, or Learning Disability have been achieved by the time of applying for the MRCPsych CASC.
In addition, overseas candidates must demonstrate that they undertake the following activities as part of their structured job plans:
be observed interviewing patients in ward rounds for specified reasons
be observed interviewing patients in out-patient or community settings or other contexts for specified reasons
be assessed via formal presentation of cases with their medical notes; discuss management of cases with their Clinical or Educational Supervisor
be assessed formally in having achieved competencies in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry or Learning Disability AND Psychotherapy.
Assessments and achievement of competencies should take place in a range of settings and psychiatric specialties with structured, documented feedback on performance having been provided.
Whilst there is not an assessment criteria form available as this is incorporated into the online submission, take a look at the ARCP assessment portfolio form for CT1-3 in the UK, which should help give you a starting point for your own portfolio.
Sponsorship requirements:
International candidates must have a sponsor in place in order to support evidence that their three years of training satisfy Royal College criteria of having achieved equivalent competencies at appropriate competency levels (year 1, 2, 3) for each component of the examination.
Sponsorship is required by all applicants for entry to the CASC examination.
Your sponsor should be an appropriate medical education lead confirming you have met the requirements to sit the MRCPsych examinations.
You will be required to provide the sponsor’s title, full name and email.
Acceptable sponsors are:
College Tutor
Training Programme Director
Educational Supervisor
Head of School
Director of Medical Education (or equivalent)
Head of Department of Psychiatry
Consultant responsible for employee/trainee appraisal
Once your sponsor has authorised your application, you will receive a confirmation email from the Royal College, and you will be asked to complete your application and proceed to payment.
How do I apply?
To apply you’ll need to complete the Royal College online application form. This form is only available during the published application dates and must be submitted prior to the closing date, if you miss the cut off, your application will not be considered.
You will need to provide the following:
Personal details
Primary Medical Qualifications & Registration
Training
Written paper selection
Sponsor evidence for Assessment Portfolio for Overseas Candidates
How much will it cost me?
At the end of your application you will be directed to an online payment system where you can pay be credit or debit card, so make sure you have your details ready.
Once your application is complete you will receive two confirmation emails, one to confirm receipt of the application and one to confirm the payment has been received.
See below table of MRCPsych fees for 2020
Candidate
Paper A
Paper B
CASC
Non-PMPT Trainees and Affiliates (UK & Ireland Centres)
£518
£466
£1,093
Hong Kong, China
£661
£661
£1,491
Singapore
£661
£661
£1,491
Chennai, India
£661
£661
N/A
Muscat, Oman
£661
£661
N/A
Malta
£661
£661
N/A
Where can I sit the CASC test?
You can currently sit the CASC test in both the UK and two overseas venues, Hong Kong and Singapore.
2020 MRCPsych CASC Exam dates have been released, these are:
Location
Date
United Kingdom
21 – 24 January 2020
United Kingdom
8 – 11 September 2020
Hong Kong
13 – 15 May 2020
Singapore
7 – 9 October 2020
2020 fees have been released – the MRCPsych (CASC) costs £1,093 in the UK and £1,491 in Hong Kong and Singapore.
To ensure you get a space on the exam, you have to apply online during the application window. Applications submitted after the closing date will be rejected. The application windows for London are below:
Location
Application Period
UK (Diet 1)
28 October – 15 November 2019
UK (Diet 2)
8 – 26 June 2020
Singapore
9 – 20 March 2020
Hong Kong
8 – 26 June 2020
Results from the CASC examinations will be released on the following date:
Location
Publication of results
UK (Diet 1)
14 February 2020
UK (Diet 2)
2 October 2020
Singapore
TBC
Hong Kong
6 November 2020
How do I prepare for the CASC examination?
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:
Syllabus: We always suggest that this is the best place to start – plan your study around the curriculum topics and make a road map to your success in the exams.
Syllabus: summary of areas of core medical knowledge underpinning specialist training in psychiatry
Marking scheme (CASC): A good start with CASC preparation is to get to know how you will be assessed, take a look at the criteria for scoring a pass mark in CASC, as well as the History Marksheet, Management Marksheet and Examination Marksheet.
CASC examination guide: The Royal College have produced a helpful guide for candidates which provides information on stations, role plays and assessment.
CASC preparation videos: Here you will have the opportunity to see CASC stations in action. This will give you a good idea of what to expect and help you prepare.
CASC Blueprint: This helpful summary details stations in some detail and gives a useful overview of the exam format.
The Royal College also suggest taking a look at Passing the MRCPsych - an insider’s guide - a useful guide to help you to get over the first steps.
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 parts of MRCPsych 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.
To help you find a job in the NHS simply follow these easy steps:
• Register with IMG Connect
• Fill in the 'Personal details' section.
• Arrange a chat with your dedicated IMG Consultant
• Sign up to receive 'job alerts’
• Search our live Psychiatry jobs
Searching for psychiatry jobs in the NHS could not be easier
If you want to find out more about the many different psychaitry roles available within the NHS - it only takes a minute to register with IMG Connect and receive expert advice and representation. We have helped many overseas psychiatrists secure consultant, specialty doctor, registrar, clinical fellow and staff grade NHS jobs, whilst offering expert guidance to many more IMGs on NHS doctor pay, MRCPsych exams and English language testing. We’d be happy to help you!

How can I find a psychiatry job in the NHS?
Vacancies for psychiatrists from outside of the UK can be found in a variety of ways, which for some doctors can sometimes be time consuming and confusing. Working with IMG Connect will give you easy access to vacancies for consultants, clinical fellows, registrars, specialty doctors, trust doctors, as well as LAS posts.
The IMG Connect job search is a dedicated online recruitment service for overseas doctors looking to secure a job in the NHS. View out latest Doctor Jobs in the NHS, here.
Save time and get expert advice based on your preferences
Performing a job search online can take up a lot of your time, so at IMG Connect we are here to do the time-consuming work for you. Upon registering, you will have a dedicated consultant whose role is to find jobs that match your skills, and apply for NHS jobs on your behalf.
You can receive jobs updates by E-mail to view new posts to suit your job search every day.
Create a profile – it takes 30 seconds
It really is that easy, so why not take advantage of our resources, time and energy to find you the right job in the NHS suited to your preferences. By providing us with some key details we can quickly assess which jobs are best suited to your preferences, and even email you job alerts for new exciting roles which we think will interest you!
We understand you, and our clients
When looking for a psychiatry job in the NHS, it can be hard to try to find out key information before applying, such as:
What specialty specific training there will be?
Am I likely to get a training post after taking this role?
Can the trust support CESR applicants and is their CESR programme established enough for my needs?
What career progression is available for me within the psychiatry specialty?
What is the job plan and how much time will I spend on the ward?
What is it like to work and live there?
What salary will I get paid, and can I get extra pay for additional shifts?
It can be tricky to get all the answers you want before applying online, so we spend our time getting to know both our clients and you, finding out as much key information as possible to help you to make the right decisions. Including details on the psychiatry department, hospital & trust, as well as an overview of what it is like to live in the area, including housing and the cost of living, as well as access to schools for your children, childcare and finding work for spouses.
Making an impact
We will also provide you with top tips on CV writing, job applications and interviews, ensuring that your application and interview makes the most impact with our NHS clients.
Making it personal
Once registered, you can quickly search and apply for NHS jobs using our job search, and take advantage of many useful articles written to support you through your journey to the UK. In addition, when you sign up to 'job alerts' we will automatically email you each time a relevant Psychiatry vacancy comes available that you may be interested in.
Once logged in, you can also save job details and make applications.
By registering with IMG Connect, you will:
Have a dedicated consultant who understands your preferences and will do the time-consuming job searches and applications for you.
Find your ideal NHS position amongst thousands of unadvertised vacancies - from consultant to registrar, or specialty doctor to SHO.
Be the first to hear about new vacancies – registering with IMG Connect means that your CV will gain priority with our NHS clients, and will professionally represented by international recruitment experts.
To help you find a job in the NHS simply follow these easy steps:
Register with IMG Connect
Fill in the 'Personal details' section.
Arrange a chat with your dedicated IMG Consultant
Sign up to receive 'job alerts’
Search our live psychiatry jobs
Searching for psychiatry jobs in the NHS could not be easier
If you want to find out more about the many different psychiatry roles available within the NHS - it only takes a minute to register with IMG Connect and receive expert advice and representation. We have helped many overseas psychiatrists into consultant, specialty doctor, registrar, clinical fellow and staff grade NHS roles, whilst offering expert guidance to many more IMGs on NHS doctor pay, royal college qualifications and English language testing. We’d be happy to help you!

Psychiatry - A Doctor's Route to the UK (European & Non-European)
Which routes can overseas psychiatrists take to GMC registration and securing an NHS job?
Whether you are from inside or outside of Europe, internatioal psychiatrists will need to satisfy certain criteria to fully register with the General Medical Council before beginning their journey in the NHS. The criteria you need to meet depends on where you currently live and practice, either inside the EEA (& associated countries) or outside the EEA.
This article is designed to give you a snapshot of the steps you need to take to start your journey to the UK, no matter where in the world you live.
Inside the EEA – click here
Outside the EEA – click here
“Doctors from countries around the world play a vital and significant role in our NHS and in the delivery of safe patient care. This is not only welcome but is part of the continuous exchange of knowledge in healthcare and should be strongly encouraged. They make an invaluable contribution to the NHS.”
Joint statement from the Royal College of Physicians
Inside the EEA:
Firstly, it is important to note that where we refer to EEA in this article this refers to all countries inside the EU, including Lichtenstein, Iceland & Norway.
If you qualified as a psychiatrist inside the EEA or Switzerland, then the good news is that you don’t need to demonstrate your medical knowledge and skills to work as a doctor in the UK – you have already done this, and thanks to the EU your qualification is deemed equivalent.
In addition, you will not need to apply for a visa from the UK Home Office.
So, the main hurdle that you will face is demonstrating that your English skills are of a high enough standard to practice safely as a doctor in the UK & NHS.
English Language Testing
Any international doctor, regardless of specialty, experience or country of origin, must demonstrate they have sufficient competence of the English language.
You can do this by passing either of the following:
OET – Occupational English Test
IELTS – International English Language Testing System
Take a look at our helpful articles below for detailed information on both tests:
IELTS – a guide for overseas doctors
OET – a guide for overseas doctors
REGISTER TODAY FOR 10-20% DISCOUNT ON LANGUAGE COURSES
GMC Registration
Having passed your English Language Test, you can now apply for full registration with a licence to practice with the GMC.
For full GMC registration you must provide evidence of:
Evidence of English language capabilities (IELTS or OET)
AND
Evidence of sufficient skill and knowledge (your equivalent qualifications)
Understand the registration process in full & by reading our article: IMG Resources - GMC Registration for overseas doctors
Job search
We recommend starting the job search as early as possible. Demand for European psychiatrists in the NHS is ever increasing - the NHS welcomes you with open arms!
At IMG Connect we specialise in securing jobs for European doctors in the UK and can offer you a wider range of psychiatry jobs than are readily available online.
Our network extends to psychiatry services and HR departments across the UK, so no matter what your grade or specialty we can ensure you will be interviewing for roles well in advance of any relocation plans.
In addition, your dedicated consultant, with a speciality knowledge of Psychiatry, will negotiate on your behalf ensuring you get the most competitive salary.
Our aim is to have a job offer on the table before your GMC registration is complete, giving you the peace of mind of having an agreed contract in place - leaving you to carefully plan your relocation to the UK.
Take a look at our most recent jobs in psychiatry: Job Search
Relocation
Obviously, any doctor’s journey isn’t all exams, registrations and language tests… there’s also the small matter of relocation and settling into life in the UK.
Once you have secured your role in the UK, we focus on supporting you and your family with all your relocation plans. This can include, but is not exclusive to, securing accommodation, travel planning, setting up bank accounts & national insurance numbers – every step of the way we are here to help.
Have a read through our IMG Library and take in all the beautifully organised information on relocation and UK life to immeasurably help your first days, weeks and months in the UK. Take a look through the IMG Resource library here: IMG Resources – Relocation & UK Life
Brexit
Many psychiatrists have questioned how the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU) will affect doctors from Europe already working in the UK, and those who may wish to work here in the future.
Whilst we are still pushing for a halt to Brexit, we've been keeping a close eye on policies and developments to ensure that we keep our doctors as up to date as possible. While we await more information from the UK Government about what our future relationship with Europe will look like, what is clear is that European doctors are most welcome in the NHS with or without Brexit.
At IMG Connect we do not see Brexit as an end to EEA doctors relocating to the UK, far from it… you are in demand and we will support with all the necessary requirements for entry to the UK, whatever the outcome.
Take a look at our Brexit articles for more information: IMG Resources - Brexit
Outside of the EEA
If you qualified as a psychiatrist outside the EEA, then you will have to demonstrate that both your medical knowledge & skills and English Language capabilities meet the level required to practice safely in the UK.
In addition, you will need to apply for a visa from the UK Home Office.
Here we summarise the requirements for psychiatry doctors, looking at the following:
English Language Testing
Evidence of Knowledge & Skills - PLAB, MRCPsych or equivalents
Tier 2 Visas
Full GMC Registration
English Language Testing
Any international doctor, regardless of specialty, experience or country of origin, must demonstrate they have sufficient competence of the English language.
You can do this by passing either of the following:
OET – Occupational English Test
IELTS – International English Language Testing System
Take a look in our IMG Library for helpful articles and detailed information on both tests:
IELTS – a guide for overseas doctors
OET – a guide for overseas doctors
REGISTER TODAY FOR 10-20% DISCOUNT ON LANGUAGE COURSES
Evidence of Knowledge & Skills in Psychiatry
Overseas psychiatrists must prove to the GMC they have sufficient knowledge & skills to practice safely in the UK. For psychiatrists this can be done through three main routes:
PLAB
Royal College qualification of MRCPsych
GMC - recognised or equivalent qualifications
PLAB:
The PLAB exam is a two-part exam that assesses a doctor’s ability to work safely as an SHO in the NHS, as such it does not demonstrate ability in psychiatry specifically.
For this reason, PLAB tends to be a route for junior doctors who have not already chosen their field of specialisation in medicine.
That said, for some senior doctors PLAB can be an attractive option, offering a quicker route to the UK, whilst still securing competitive salaries. If taking this option, psychiatrists can then take up training or a more senior post once they have established themselves in the NHS.
Take a look through our comprehensive guides on PLAB in our IMG Library:
PLAB – a guide for overseas doctors
PLAB 1 – a closer look
PLAB 2 – a closer look
Royal College Qualification:
Attaining a Royal College qualification is a preferred path for doctors who have already chosen their field of specialism i.e. psychiatry.
For senior psychiatrists taking this route, they will gain access to more senior, well-paid jobs in the specialism of their choice.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the Professional Body that regulates the specialism of psychiatry in the UK, and Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych) is the full qualification attainable by examination.
For overseas doctors, attaining MRCPsych will satisfy the knowledge & skill criteria for GMC registration and facilitate application for more senior roles in UK psychiatry.
Take a look at our complete guide on Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists to understand more: IMG Resources: MRCPsych – a guide for overseas doctors
GMC - recognised or equivalent qualifications:
Some overseas qualifications are recognised by the GMC and accepted for registration purposes. This means to say these qualifications are considered as meeting the same standards as the Royal College qualifications.
There are psychiatry qualifications from several countries around the world that are currently accepted by the GMC.
Find out if your qualification is accepted by the GMC: IMG Resources: Overseas accepted postgraduate qualifications.
Tier 2 Visa
If you are a doctor applying from outside the EEA region you will almost certainly need to apply for a visa to work in the UK.
Applying as a doctor or nurse has never been easier and there is currently no-restriction on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) applications that a hospital can make.
Furthermore, the list of specialties on the shortage occupation list is due for imminent review and expansion beyond its current list of specialties, potentially widening the scope for easier immigration processes across all specialties in healthcare.
Understand Tier 2 visas and Certificates of Sponsorship in depth by taking a look at our article: Tier 2 Visa application process & documents needed
Wondering whether you can relocate with your family? Take a look at our blog on the Tier 2 dependant visa below: Tier 2 Dependant visa - can i bring my family with me to the UK?
GMC Registration
With everything in place, you can apply for full registration with a licence to practice with the GMC.
Remember, for full GMC registration you must provide evidence of:
Evidence of English language capabilities
AND
Evidence of sufficient skill and knowledge (PLAB, MRCPsych or equivalent)
Understand the registration process in full & by reading our article: GMC Registration for overseas doctors
Job search
We recommend starting the job search as early as possible. Demand for Non-EEA psychiatrists in the NHS is increasing - the NHS welcomes you with open arms!
At IMG Connect we specialise in securing jobs for overseas doctors in the UK and can offer you a wider range of jobs than is readily available online.
Our network extends to psychiatry services and HR departments across the UK, so no matter what your grade or specialty we can ensure you will be interviewing for roles well in advance of any relocation plans.
In addition, your 1-1 consultant, with a speciality knowledge of Psychiatry, will negotiate on your behalf, ensuring you get the most competitive salary.
Giving you the peace of mind of agreeing your new contract, perhaps even before your GMC registration is complete.
Take a look at our most recent jobs in psychiatry: Job Search
Relocation
Obviously, any doctor’s journey isn’t all exams, registrations and language tests… there’s also the small matter of relocation and settling into life in the UK.
Once you have secured your role in the UK, we will focus on supporting you and your family with all of your relocation plans. This can include, but is not exclusive to, securing accommodation, travel planning, setting up bank accounts & national insurance numbers – every step of the way we are here to help.
Have a read through our IMG Library and take in all the beautifully organised information on relocation and UK life to immeasurably help your first days, weeks and months in the UK: IMG Resources: Relocation & UK Life
Brexit
Many psychiatrists have questions about how the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU) will affect doctors from outside of the EEA already working in the UK, and those who may wish to work here in the future.
Whilst we are still pushing for a halt to Brexit, we've been keeping a close eye on policies and developments to ensure that we keep our doctors as up to date as possible. While we await more information from the UK Government about what our future relationship with Europe will look like, what is clear is that there are no current changes to immigration entry requirements for non-EEA doctors.
Overseas doctors are most welcome in the NHS with or without Brexit… you are in demand and we will support with all the necessary requirements for entry to the UK.
Take a look at our Brexit articles for more information: IMG Resources: Brexit
IMG Jobs
Search and find live psychiatry 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 CESR, a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable NHS jobs & hospital locations for you.

MRCPsych - a guide for overseas psychiatry doctors
For overseas psychiatrists looking to register with the GMC and find a psychiatry job in the NHS, one option is to complete the Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists examinations - MRCPsych. Here we will take a detailed look at the MRCPsych exams, dates, fees and centres.
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) from any country in the world can sit the MRCPsych examinations, provided certain eligibility criteria are met. These are summarised below along with a broad look at the following topics:
What is MRCPsych?
What is the exam content and format?
Eligibility for overseas doctors
Assessment Portfolio
Sponsorship Requirements
How do I apply?
How much will it cost me?
Where can I sit the exams?
How can I prepare for the MRCPsych examinations
Passed? What next?
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the professional body responsible for the specialty of Psychiatry 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 MRCPsych?
The MRCPsych examinations are the central component of training for psychiatrists in the UK and the examinations are designed to test your knowledge of basic medical sciences as well as the clinical skills required for diagnosis and management within psychiatry.
For international doctors, MRCPsych is one of the two main routes IMGs can take to full GMC registration - you can find an range of articles covering these routes in our resource library here: Royal College or PLAB route.
For doctors who wish to take more senior roles reflective of their current practice, IMG Connect advise that MRCPsych would be the best route to take.
Overseas doctors must be registered with a recognised medical board in their country of residence and should have undertaken 3 years of training and MRCPsych (UK) is a prerequisite to anyone wishing to go on to a specialist training post as a physician in the UK
What is the exam content and format?
The MRCPsych examinations consist of two written papers (Paper A + Paper B) and one clinical examination (CASC).
Typically, a UK Psychiatrist would sit Paper A from FY2. Candidates will then progress through MRCPsych examinations from CT1 – CT3, before going on to specially training for CCT.
Paper A – The scientific and theoretical basis of psychiatry – 3 hours.
This is a written paper, worth 150 marks and comprising of 150 questions made up of approximately two thirds multiple choice questions (MCQ) and one third extended matching item questions (EMI).
It covers the following sections of the syllabus:
Behavioural Science and Socio-cultural Psychiatry
Human Development
Basic Neurosciences
Clinical Psychopharmacology
Classification and Assessment in Psychiatry
Paper B - Critical review and the clinical topics in psychiatry – 3 hours
This is a written paper, worth 150 marks and comprising of 150 questions made up of approximately one third covering critical review and two thirds covering clinical topics.
It covers the following sections of the syllabus:
Organisation and delivery
General adult
Old age
Psychotherapy
Child & adolescent
Substance misuse
Forensic
Learning disability
Critical review
CASC - Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competencies
The CASC is based on a format that is similar to OSCEs. Specifically, the examination consists of two circuits which must be completed on the same day.
In total, the circuit includes 16 stations, made up of:
five stations on history taking, including risk assessment
five stations on examination, including physical and mental state
six stations on patient management
Stations consist of several elements with instructions provided to all candidates, marked against the examiners construct.
These have a standardised format with elements in common between stations of a similar type. Find out more here.
Eligibility for overseas doctors:
The MRCPsych examinations can be taken by both:
Doctors from the EU, who are working overseas
Non-Eu doctors who are working overseas
Each examination has different criteria, to complete the full MRCPsych an overseas doctors must be registered with a recognised medical board in their country of residence and complete the Assessment Portfolio for Overseas Candidates demonstrating that they have complete 3 years of equivalent training.
Furthermore, prior to taking CASC, overseas candidates must demonstrate competencies in Psychotherapy AND Child & Adolescent Psychiatry or Learning Disability.
For each part of the exam the Royal College suggest the following eligibility criteria:
MRCPsych Paper A:
You are eligible for Paper A if you are a fully registered medical practitioner.
MRCPsych Paper B:
It is a recommended to have at least 12 months experience in psychiatry before taking this examination.
Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competencies (CASC):
You are eligible to take CASC if you have 24 months post internship experience in Psychiatry, by the time of sitting the CASC.
AND
You have a pass in both Paper A and B
AND
You can demonstrate you have sponsorship in place. Sponsorship forms must be submitted by an appropriate medical education lead confirming that the eligibility requirements to sit the MRCPsych examinations have been met.
In addition, overseas candidates must show their sponsor evidence of having achieved equivalent competencies at appropriate competency levels (year 1, 2, 3) for each component of the examination.
Assessment Portfolio for Overseas Candidates:
As above, one aspect of eligibility for CASC as to complete an Assessment Portfolio. This must demonstrate achievement of equivalent competencies to those defined in the ARCP documented on the application form, this must include competencies in Psychotherapy AND Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, or Learning Disability have been achieved by the time of applying for the MRCPsych CASC.
In addition, overseas candidates must demonstrate that they undertake the following activities as part of their structured job plans:
be observed interviewing patients in ward rounds for specified reasons
be observed interviewing patients in out-patient or community settings or other contexts for specified reasons
be assessed via formal presentation of cases with their medical notes; discuss management of cases with their Clinical or Educational Supervisor
be assessed formally in having achieved competencies in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry or Learning Disability AND Psychotherapy
Assessments and achievement of competencies should take place in a range of settings and psychiatric specialties with structured, documented feedback on performance having been provided.
Whilst there is not an assessment criteria form available as this is incorporated into the online submission, take a look at the ARCP assessment portfolio form for CT1-3 in the UK, which should help give you a starting point for your own portfolio.
Sponsorship requirements:
International candidates must have a sponsor in place in order to support evidence that their three years of training satisfy Royal College criteria of having achieved equivalent competencies at appropriate competency levels (year 1, 2, 3) for each component of the examination.
Sponsorship is required by all applicants for entry to the CASC examination and your sponsor should be an appropriate medical education lead confirming you have met the requirements to sit the MRCPsych examinations.
Acceptable sponsors are:
College Tutor
Training Programme Director
Educational Supervisor
Head of School
Director of Medical Education (or equivalent)
Head of Department of Psychiatry
Consultant responsible for employee/trainee appraisal
Once your sponsor has authorised your application, you will receive a confirmation email from the Royal College, and you will be asked to complete your application and proceed to payment.
How do I apply?
To apply you will need to complete an online application form. It takes about 15 – 20 minutes. You can sit Paper A and B in any order. You will be required to enter contact details and training history, including your medical registration.
Payment is made by credit/debit card.
If applying for the CASC, you will also need to provide the contact details of your sponsor.
It is important to note that the online form for Paper A, B and CASC will only be available during the published application dates and must be submitted before the closing date and time. Applications submitted after, will not be accepted.
How much will it cost me?
Candidate
Paper A
Paper B
CASC
PMPT Trainees and Affiliates (UK & Ireland Centres)
£467
£420
£965
Non-PMPT Trainees and Affiliates (UK & Ireland Centres)
£518
£466
£1,072
Hong Kong, China
£661
£661
£1,462
Singapore
£661
£661
£1,462
Chennai, India
£661
£661
N/A
Muscat, Oman
£661
£661
N/A
Malta
£661
£661
N/A
Where can I sit the examinations?
You can sit the examination in several countries, with a range of locations offered. The below table shows the current examinations schedule, please note that this is subject to change.
The written papers (A and B) are held at various centres in the UK, as well as Dublin, Hong Kong, Muscat and other international venues.
UK test centres for Paper A and B:
Centre
Address
Exam times
Paper
London
Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall, London
10:00 - 13:00
Paper A - December
Paper B - April
Paper B - Oct
London
Bishopsgate Institute, London
10:00 - 13:00
Paper A - June
Birmingham
H Suite Edgbaston, Birmingham
10:00 - 13:00
Paper A - June
Paper B - April
Paper B - Dec
Paper B - Oct
Birmingham
Fazely Studios, Birmingham
10:00 - 13:00
Paper B - Oct
Manchester
Kings House Conference Centre
10:00 - 13:00
Paper B - Oct
Edinburgh
Royal College of Physicians
10:00 - 13:00
Paper A - June
Paper B - April
Paper B - Dec
Paper B - Oct
Dublin
Griffith College Conference Centre
10:00 - 13:00
Paper A - June
Paper B - Dec
Paper B - Oct
Dublin
Royal College of Physicians Ireland
10:00 - 13:00
Paper B - April
Overseas test centres for Paper A and B:
Please note the overseas venues are booked only a few weeks in advance after candidate numbers have been confirmed. All times are local.
Centre
Address
Exam Times
Paper
Hong Kong, China
TBC
17:00–20:00
Paper A
Paper B
Singapore
TBC
17:00–20:00
Paper A
Paper B
Chennai, India
TBC
14:30–17:30
Paper A
Paper B
Muscat, Oman
TBC
13:00–16:00
Paper A
Paper B
Malta
TBC
11:00–14:00
Paper A
Paper B
Where can I sit the CASC Examination?
CASC exams are currently available in three locations, however there are plans to expand this list. IMG Connect will make you aware of new venues as and when they are added.
Centre
Address
Times
Diet
Sheffield, UK
English Institute of Sport
Coleridge Road, Sheffield
S9 5DA
9:40–17:17*
CASC January
CASC September
Hong Kong
TBC
9:20–17:00*
CASC 2019-1
(date TBC)
Singapore
TBC
TBC
CASC 2019-1
(June)
*Please check admission documents for registration times.
Dates of exams (available at the time of writing)
Paper A:
Diet
Date of Examination
Application Period
Publication of Results
1
18 June 2019
29 April - 17 May 2019
16 July 2019
2
3 December 2019
7 - 25 October 2019
TBC
Paper B:
Diet
Date of Examination
Application Period
Publication of Results
1
9 April 2019
18 February - 8 March 2019
9 May 2019
2
8 October 2019
29 July - 16 August 2019
8 November 2019
CASC - UK & Ireland:
Diet
Date of Examination
Application Period
Publication of Results
1
15 - 18 January 2019
29 October - 16 November 2018
15 February 2019
2
10 - 13 September 2019
10 - 28 June 2019
4 October 2019
CASC - Hong Kong/Singapore:
Centre
Date of Examination
Application Period
Publication of Results
Singapore
15 -17 May 2019
11- 22 March 2019
TBC
Hong Kong
16 - 18 October 2019
10 - 28 June 2019
TBC
After you have complete the written exam, you have 1,643 days to sit the CASC – you can find specific time limits here.
How do I prepare for the MRCPsych examinations?
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:
Syllabus:
We always suggest that this is the best place to start – plan your study around the curriculum topics and make a road map to your success in the exams.
Syllabus: summary of areas of core medical knowledge underpinning specialist training in psychiatry
Current critical review syllabus:
For Paper B candidates will need to ensure that they make optimal use of the MRCPsych Paper B Critical review Evidence Based Practice Syllabic Content.
Sample Papers:
These will help you prepare and polish your exam techniques and are a good idea to regularly benchmark your knowledge against the syllabus. In addition sample questions will help you work quickly on the day, you will already know what to expect. Please note: you may be required to be a member to access these.
Paper A sample questions
Paper B sample questions
Marking schemes (Paper A and B):
Candidates pass or fail the written papers based on their performance, and not how well you perform against other candidates. As such, it is a good idea to understand how the exam is worked, so you can maximise your exam skills, giving you the best chance of a pass.
Marking schemes can be found here.
Marking scheme (CASC):
A good start with CASC preparation is to get to know how you will be assessed, take a look at the criteria for scoring a pass mark in CASC, as well as the History Marksheet, Management Marksheet and Examination Marksheet.
Written papers marksheet example:
Again, this is a useful tool to help you familiarise yourself with the exam format and improve your test skills. An example marksheet can be found here.
CASC examination guide:
The Royal College have produced a helpful guide for candidates which provides information on stations, role plays and assessment.
CASC preparation videos:
Here you will have the opportunity to see CASC stations in action. This will give you a good idea of what to expect and help you prepare.
CASC Blueprint:
This helpful summary details stations in some detail and gives a useful overview of the exam format.
The Royal College also suggest taking a look at Passing the MRCPsych - an insider’s guide - a useful guide to help you to get over the first steps.
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 parts of MRCPsych 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.
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