What is MRCPsych?
MRCPsych stands for: Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
MRCPsych is the postgraduate qualification that is awarded to physicians who have completed the prescribed training requirements and membership examinations (Paper A, Paper B & CASC) mandated by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Who can take MRCPsych?
If you are a doctor:
- in an approved training programme
- in the UK, but not in an approved training programme
- from the EU and working – or have worked – overseas
- from outside of the EU and working – or have worked – overseas
then you can apply to take the MRCPsych examinations.
Doctors in the UK must be registered with the GMC (General Medical Council) when applying for the MRCPsych examinations. Overseas doctors must be registered with their national regulatory body.
For information about the eligibility criteria for each of the MRCPsych examinations, click here.
MRCPsych: Paper A
Exam Structure
MRCPsych Paper A is a written examination which compromises of 150 multiple choice and extended matching item questions. The examination lasts for three hours and is based on the scientific and theoretical basis of psychiatry.
The following sections of the syllabus are covered in Paper A:
- Behavioural Science and Sociocultural Psychiatry
- Human Development
- Basic Neurosciences
- Clinical Psychopharmacology
- Classification and Assessment in Psychiatry
Examination Dates
MRCPsych Paper A can be taken online. For information about the upcoming MRCPsych Paper A examination dates, click here and select ‘dates of exams’.
Cost
- For PMPT Trainees and Affiliates, Paper A will cost £496.
- For non-PMPT Trainees and Affiliates, Paper A will cost £550.
Royal College Resources
MRCPsych: Paper B
Exam Structure
MRCPsych Paper B is also a three hour written exam which compromises of 150 questions. This paper assesses critical review and the clinical topics in psychiatry, and is made up of both multiple-choice questions and extended matching item questions.
The below sections of the syllabus are covered in Paper B:
- Organisation and Delivery of Psychiatric Services
- General Adult Psychiatry
- Old Age Psychiatry
- Psychotherapy
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Substance Misuse/Addictions
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Psychiatry of Learning Disability
- Critical Review
Examination Dates
MRCPsych Paper B can be taken online. For information about the upcoming MRCPsych Paper B examination dates, click here and select ‘dates of exams’.
Cost
- For PMPT Trainees and Affiliates, Paper B will cost £446.
- For non-PMPT Trainees and Affiliates, Paper B will cost £495.
Royal College Resources
- Current syllabus
- Current critical review syllabus
- Sample questions from Paper B
- How written papers are marked
MRCPysch: CASC
Exam Structure
CASC stands for: Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competencies
This examination is designed to test a candidates clinical skills in a range of clinical situations, at which candidates at a defined point of training should be competent. The exam is formatted like an OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) and to secure a seat, applicants must have passed both Paper A and Paper B previously.
The CASC compromises of two circuits of individual stations which must be completed on the same day. Each CASC station will focus on more than one area of skill and /or applied knowledge:
- The morning circuit will allow the candidate four minutes to read the instructions and seven minutes to complete the consultation task.
- The afternoon circuit will allow the candidate 90 seconds to read the instructions and seven minutes to complete the consultation task.
The sixteen CASC station exam compromises of:
- 5 x stations focused on History Taking, including risk assessment.
- 5 x stations focused on Examination – both physical and mental state, including capacity assessment.
- 6 x stations focused on patient Management.
Examination Dates
MRCPsych: CASC can be taken online. For information about the upcoming MRCPsych CASC examination dates, click here and select ‘dates of exams’.
Cost
- For PMPT Trainees and Affiliates, CASC will cost £1,024.
- For non-PMPT Trainees and Affiliates, CASC will cost £1,137.
