Entry requirement for MRCP UK exam

Entry requirements for MRCP(UK) Examinations

Every candidate for the MRCP(UK) Diploma must hold a medical qualification awarded by an institution that awards primary medical degrees, and is recognised by the UK General Medical Council (GMC): www.gmc-uk.org. Candidates who are or have been registered with the GMC (or equivalent body), must include their GMC number (or equivalent registration number).

Candidates who are not registered with the GMC will be required to provide an authenticated copy of their primary medical qualification.

3.1 MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examination Candidates for the MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examination must have had at least 12 months’ experience in medical employment by the date of the examination, i.e. must have completed Foundation Year 1 or equivalent. Candidates will therefore not be admitted to the MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examination until 12 months after the date of graduation given on their diploma of medical qualification. Where the date of graduation is significantly later than the date of completion of training, the date on which candidates received notice of passing their final examination may be considered. In such cases, candidates must submit documentary proof.

All candidates must pass Part 1 before they are eligible to apply for the Part 2 Written and Part 2 Clinical examinations (PACES).

3.2 MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination and Part 2 Clinical Examination (PACES) Candidates for the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination and Part 2 Clinical Examination (PACES) must have passed the MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examination within the preceding seven years. Applications for these examinations can only be made once confirmation of passing the Part 1 examination has been received.

3.3 Experience requirement for PACES Candidates with less than two years’ experience after graduation are unlikely to be able to apply their clinical knowledge or demonstrate their clinical skills across the broad range of cases required in the PACES examination. It is therefore recommended that candidates should have completed their two-year foundation programme and entered Core Medical Training (or an equivalent period of training) before attempting MRCP(UK) PACES. Within these two years, not less than four months should have been spent in posts involving the continuing care of emergency medical patients.

3.4 Limited number of attempts Candidates are permitted a maximum of six attempts at each part of the MRCP(UK) diploma (as required by the GMC). After six attempts, a candidate will be required to undertake additional educational experience for each re-sit and submit evidence of this: using the form at https://www.mrcpuk.org/sites/default/files/documents/Additional-attempt-form.pdf. Evidence will need to be supported by a candidate’s Educational Supervisor, and the Training Programme Director or equivalent. In determining whether a candidate has sufficiently satisfied the requirements to enable them to undertake a further attempt, the decision of MRCP(UK) will be final.

3.5 MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination and PACES Examination eligibility period Candidates who do not pass the Part 2 Written and PACES examinations within seven years of passing the Part 1 Examination will be required to take and pass the Part 1 Examination again. Candidates who re-enter the MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examination and pass will then have a further seven years in which to pass the Part 2 Written and PACES examinations.

The limit of six attempts for each part of the examination remains before having to provide evidence of additional educational experience (see https://www.mrcpuk.org/mrcpukexaminations/regulations/limit-attempts).

It is the candidate’s responsibility, before applying for either the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written or the PACES Examination, to ensure that they have enough time to pass both examinations within the seven-year eligibility period. Candidates will not be eligible for any refund of examination fees on the grounds that they have passed one of these examinations but no longer have time left to complete the other.