MRCPsych (Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists) is a postgraduate qualification awarded to doctors who have completed the prescribed training requirements and membership examinations mandated by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
To sit MRCPsych you must be registered with the GMC or if you are an international doctor wanting to sit MRCPsych you must be registered with a recognised medical board from your home country and you should have undergone three years of training.
As an international Recruitment agency, BDI Resourcing recommend that Doctors wanting to practice Psychiatry within the NHS, take the MRCPsych route to GMC Registration.
There are three parts to MRCPsych: Paper A, Paper B and CASC.
The MRCPsych Paper A is a written examination on the scientific and theoretical basis of Psychiatry. You are eligible to take Paper A if you are fully registered medical practitioner.
Paper A comprises of the following syllabus:
The MRCPsych Paper B is a written paper which assesses critical review and the clinical topics in psychiatry. You are eligible to take Paper B if:
You are on an approved training programme. The Royal College recommend that you have 12 months’ experience in psychiatry before attempting Paper B
OR
You are in a post recognised by your hospital as having contracted time and funding for educational training. Your job plan must include dedicated time for academic and educational activities, such as study leave.
Paper B will follow the following sections of the syllabus:
This part of your exam tests your clinical skills in a range of clinical situations.
We advise for you to pass a GMC approved English Language Exam prior to sitting your CASC Exam as this will give you an advantage when communicating in English – IELTS or OET. To sit the CASC you must have previously passed Paper A and Paper B.
What is the format for the CASC?
The CASC exam is similar to an OSCE (Objective Structed Clinical Examination).
The exam comprises of two circuits of eight single stations which will test your clinical skills:
The sixteen CASC station exam is made up of:
Circuit 1 (Morning) |
6 x Stations focused on Management |
1 x Station focused on Examination |
1 x Station focused on History Taking |
4 minutes reading time |
7 minutes task |
Circuit 2 (Afternoon) |
4 x Stations focused on Examination |
4 x Stations focused on History Taking |
90 seconds reading time |
7 minute task |
If you are interested accessing CASC support group which share links to webinars, offer weekly study sessions on Skpe, provide example questions and doctors who have sat the exam will share their experience – email us requesting the details at [email protected].