Paediatricians become full members of the RCPCH and achieve the designation MRCPCH once they have passed four separate postgraduate medical exams.

- All UK paediatric trainees sit these exams as part of their training.
- Increasing numbers of paediatricians around the world take the MRCPCH to demonstrate their standards of practice or as part of their local training programme.
- MRCPCH Examinations team

About MRCPCH exam:

an essential component of training for paediatricians in the UK
mapped to the UK curriculum
approved by the General Medical Council (GMC) as meeting the required standards
informed by the latest research and evidence-based
responsive to changes in UK training.

The MRCPCH exam parts:

Composed of 3 theory exams and 1 clinical exam:
1. Foundation of Practice (FOP): theory examination (basic child health)
2. Theory and Science (TAS): theory examination (basic scientific, physiological and pharmacological principles upon which clinical practice is based)
3. Applied Knowledge in Practice (AKP): theory examination (knowledge synthesis/evaluation, clinical decision making and management)
4. MRCPCH Clinical examination: multi-station OSCE

Candidates will normally take the three theory examinations on a computer at a test centre.
Theory examinations can be taken in any order and are non-sequential.
There are usually three sittings of each exam per year.
Candidates must pass the three theory examinations before they can sit the MRCPCH Clinical examination.
The MRCPCH Clinical exam is the last of the MRCPCH exams.
- You will normally sit this in a hospital and follow a ‘circuit’ of 12 scenarios/stations.
- Our trained examiners, who have extensive experience working in paediatrics, will be present in each station to assess your performance.
- Some of the scenarios would normally include children, young people and adults acting as patients or family members.
Some countries use the MRCPCH as part of their paediatric training programme while trainees from other countries sit the MRCPCH as an opportunity for up-skilling, to drive learning and to gain an internationally recognised postgraduate medical qualification.
Each year approximately 3,200 candidates attempt the FOP and TAS exams, 2,000 attempt the AKP, and 1,700 attempt the MRCPCH clinical exam.

Eligibility for the MRCPCH exams

Theory part:
1. You must hold a Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ) that is recognized by the GMC.
2. Overseas candidates: must hold a primary medical qualification, which is accepted by the Councils of the Colleges.
Clinica part:
1. You should have passed pass the 3 theory exams
2. You must be proposed by 2 sponsors with a certificate of a good period of training in paediatrics.
  - Minimum of 2.5 years of training (Minimum of 12 months in emergency paediatric care)
  - Minimum of 6 months in a pediatric clinic/setup after t your graduation (If you do not have thus experience then you can add up 6 more months of posting in emergency paediatric care)

MRCPCH standards

The College is committed to maintaining the highest possible standards for its exams.
The MRCPCH is modelled to accurately assess the competencies of paediatric trainees and to conform to the highest standards of assessment and medical education.
We strive to ensure that all exams are valid and reliable.
To ensure the pre-eminence of the MRCPCH, the College rigorously quality assures all processes and actively engages in research and ongoing development work.
How MRCPCH fits in with training?
- MRCPCH exams are usually taken during the period of basic specialist training, which normally lasts two to three years, and is the normal entry requirement for Core Specialist Training in paediatrics in the UK.
- In general, it is expected that all UK trainees entering ST3 will have passed at least two of the three theory exams.
  - We expect trainees entering ST4 (level 2 training) to have completed and passed all parts of the MRCPCH, including the clinical examination.
- About the curriculum for paediatric training
How children, young people and families are involved in MRCPCH?
- MRCPCH Clinical relies upon engagement from exam host centres who are responsible for recruiting patients for some clinical stations.
- Patients and parents are regularly asked for feedback on the running of these events in order to assist with development.
English language proficiency for MRCPCH?
- Candidates do not need pass English language tests. However, we recommend that your English language proficiency be equivalent to IELTS Level 7.