Membership exams

This page gives details of the Royal Colleges and other colleges and faculties that require you to pass membership exams in order to complete specialty training. 

In order to complete specialty training you will need, in some cases, to pass relevant membership exams. These are widely regarded as challenging, and some candidates may need to sit exams more than once to be successful. You must also be aware of the demands of combining a full-time job with the level of study required to pass these exams.

Membership exams are offered by the following Royal Colleges, colleges and faculties responsible for groups of specialties. You are required to pass membership exams to gain the qualifications indicated below.

(M = member, F = Fellow, n = new)

  • The majority of exams consist of a:

    • written exam – to test your knowledge of the science behind a particular specialty
    • clinical exams – to assess your competency in history-taking, communication skills and examination of patients. These use real patients, actors or video.  

  • Check individual Royal Colleges, colleges and faculties for fees.

Make a comment or report a problem with this page

Help us improve

This form is for you to tell us about something that could be improved about the website or if there's anything wrong, incorrect or inaccurate with what you see. 

If you have a query about a career in the NHS, please visit our contact us page and call or email us.