Membership Exams
Another aspect of working and progressing toward
consultant level is the requirement on Postgraduate Doctors to pass
relevant membership exams. These are widely regarded as the
most challanging to pass as they all set high
standards and they are characterised by:
- A number of exams need to be passed.
- Some candidates may not pass at least one
exam.
- Combining a full-time job with hard academic
revision.
Membership exams are offered from the following Royal Colleges,
Colleges and Faculties. The following conventions apply:
M = Member
F = Fellow
n = new
- Anaesthetics (FRCA)
- Emergency medicine (MCEM)
- General practioners (nMRCGP)
- Obstetrics and gynaecology (MRCOG)
- Occupational medicine (MFOM)
- Ophthalmology (MRCOphth)
- Paediatrics and child health (MRCPCH)
- Pathologists (FRCPath)
- Physicians (MRCP)
- Psychiatry (MRCPsych)
- Public Health (MFPH)
- Radiology (FRCR)
- Surgeons (MRCS)
There is variation in the exact format of
membership exams however broadly speaking the majority of the exams
will consist of:
Written exams:
comprise multiple choice questions, extended
matching or best of five. These look at the science behind the
particular specialty.
Clinical exams:
Multiple station exams involving real
patients, actors or video to assess competency in history taking,
communication and examination skills. These exams will be testing a
specific skill.
When you take the exams varies between
specialties and some can be taken straight after medical
school.
Costs vary for the exams undertaken and by
Royal College and you should check with your Royal
College for the most current fees applicable.