The Place of the MRCP(UK) in Training
The General Internal Medicine 2009 (GIM 2009) training curriculum for Physicians has been approved by the General Medical Council (GMC). The MRCP(UK) Examination provides valid, reliable evidence of attainment in knowledge, clinical skills and behaviour, and is a mandatory component of assessment for Core Medical Training (CMT).
The Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) has accepted that, from August 2011, possession of the full MRCP(UK) Diploma should become a mandatory requirement for ST3 entry into any of the medical (physicianly) specialties.
Please note that the MRCP(UK) Central Office will provide confirmation of trainees’ examination performance to their Deaneries to assist them with monitoring progress.
Trainees Completing Core Medical Training (CMT) in 2009 and 2010
Trainees who complete CMT in 2009 and 2010 (those who entered training before August 2009) will, as a minimum, be required to pass Part 1 as the knowledge-based assessment for core training (core medical training – CMT; acute care common stem – ACCS) before progressing to ST3. The remaining elements of the MRCP(UK) Examination, Part 2 Written and PACES, will be mandatory elements for the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in all specialties. However, the Colleges advise trainees to complete the MRCP(UK) qualification as soon as possible after they start core training. Attainment of MRCP(UK), although not essential to progress to ST3, is likely to inform the allocation into continuing specialty training.
If not completed during core training, the MRCP(UK) Examination should be completed before the end of ST3 so that trainees can focus on other specialty assessments. Failure to gain MRCP(UK) by this stage (some time during ST3) may lead to recommendations for additional training (ARCP outcomes 2, 3 or 4). Having gained their MRCP(UK) qualification, trainees are further assessed as part of their career progression in their chosen specialty (e.g. gastroenterology, dermatology, etc.) in two ways:
Trainees Starting Core Medical Training (CMT) During or After August 2009
Trainees who started CMT during or after August 2009 will not be able to obtain confirmation of their CMT competences and exit successfully from the programme until they have the full MRCP(UK). They may need to have further training to achieve this (after negotiation with Programme Directors and their Postgraduate Dean).
Junior doctors are strongly advised to plan their attempts for MRCP(UK) in such a way that they can ensure completion of the diploma before they complete their CMT years.
Candidates expecting confirmation of any MRCP(UK) Examination results in time for application to ST3 posts will need to refer to the MRCP(UK) website for information about result release dates. For further information please see: MRCP(UK) – News.
Further information about CMT, Specialty Training, Acute Care Common Stem (ACCS/M) or Fixed-Term Specialist Training Appointments (FTSTAs) is available from the JRCPTB website.
For information about the place of the Specialty Certificate Examinations in training please see: MRCP(UK) - Specialty Certificate.