MRCP(UK) Examination Exemptions – notice to existing and prospective candidates

Exemption arrangements applicable from 2010

From 2010 the Royal Colleges of Physicians will no longer offer the exemption route to any part of the MRCP(UK) Examination based on any of the following:

  • Fellowship of the College of Medicine of South Africa
  • Fellowship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan – Medicine
  • Fellowship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bangladesh
  • Masters in Medicine (MD (Medicine)/Clinical MD (Medicine) Khartoum) /Clinical MD (Sudan))
  • Master of Medicine (Singapore) – Internal Medicine
  • Doctor of Medicine (Colombo) – Medicine
  • Doctor of Medicine (West Indies) – Internal Medicine
  • Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
  • Membership of the Royal College of Pathologists
  • Fellowship or Membership of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.*

Prospective candidates for MRCP(UK) Examinations should note that the last MRCP(UK) Examination diets to which new entrants will be admitted through the exemption route will be the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written and PACES Examinations in 2009/3. Once the application periods for these examinations are closed, no further exemptions will be granted to new entrants and new entrants will be required to progress through the MRCP(UK) by entering and passing all parts of the examination.

*Fellowship or Membership of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians only will be accepted up to the 2010/1 diet for candidates applying PACES through the exemption route.  

Existing arrangements will be honoured where candidates have already been granted exemption at Part 1.

Exemption arrangements applicable pre 2010

Overseas graduates who hold a postgraduate diploma which is recognised by the Royal Colleges of Physicians and which requires a comparable period of training may be admitted to the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination / PACES Examination with exemption from the MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examination without the need for further training.

Holders of the following diplomas may apply for exemption from the MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examination (providing they have obtained the exempting qualification within the seven years prior to sitting the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written / Part 2 Clinical Examination):

  • Membership of the Royal College of Pathologists
  • Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
  • Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
  • Fellowship of the College of Medicine of South Africa
  • Fellowship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan - Medicine
  • Master of Medicine (Khartoum)
  • Clinical MD in Internal Medicine (Khartoum)
  • Clinical MD (Sudan)
  • Master of Medicine (Singapore) - Internal Medicine
  • Doctor of Medicine (Colombo) - Medicine
  • Doctor of Medicine (West Indies) - Internal Medicine
  • Fellowship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bangladesh.


Exemption from the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination

Holders of the European Diploma in Internal Medicine (EDIM) seeking to obtain MRCP(UK) will be granted exemption from the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination but must pass the MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examination before they will be permitted to attempt the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Clinical Examination (PACES).



Exemption from the MRCP(UK) Part 1 and MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examinations

Members and Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and those who have passed the FRACP Examination may apply for exemption from the MRCP(UK) Part 1 and MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examinations.

How to claim exemption

Unless full details of their qualifications appear in the current (annual) edition of the Medical Register of the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom, holders of the diplomas listed above must submit, along with the appropriate application form and other documentation (see the application checklist within the Application page):

  • their original Medical Registration Certificate or their Diplomas of Primary Medical Qualification
  • their postgraduate diplomas.

Irish Medical Registration Certificates do not give sufficient details of qualifications held and are not therefore acceptable.

Photocopies of certificates and/or official translations will only be accepted if they have been prepared and/or authenticated by one of the following:

  • the issuing University or Medical School
  • a British Consulate or British Council
  • the candidate's own Embassy or High Commission in the United Kingdom.