MRCP(UK) - Infectious Diseases

Specialty Certificate Examination in Infectious Diseases

Exam Date	UK Registration Period	Pearson VUE UK centre booking date	Overseas Registration Period	Results Release
11 September 2013	15 May - 7 August 2013	11 June - 28 August 2013	15 May – 12 June 2013	4 weeks after date of examination

The Specialty Certificate Examination in Infectious Diseases is delivered once a year.

Eligibility requirements

There are no entry requirements for the SCE in Infectious Diseases, although candidates in UK training posts would usually take the Specialty Certificate Examination in Infectious Diseases during higher specialty training after entering ST3. However, it is recommended that candidates wait until their penultimate year of training before sitting the examination.

Information for trainees in Tropical Medicine

The SCE in Infectious Diseases is a compulsory component for trainees in Tropical Medicine who began their training after August 2007 and wish to obtain their CCT.

Exam format

The Specialty Certificate Examination in Infectious Diseases is a computer-based two-paper test with a total of 200 questions. Each paper contains 100 questions and lasts three hours.

The papers are based on the MRCP(UK) ‘best of five’ multiple choice questions format. This format, in addition to testing core knowledge and comprehension, also assesses the ability to interpret information and to solve clinical problems. There will be five options - one correct answer and four alternatives to the correct answer. The four distractors will be closely related to the preferred option but less correct, therefore acting as plausible alternatives.

Sample questions

These questions give an indication of the type of question you can expect in the exam:

SCE in Infectious Diseases Sample Questions

Qualification: Certificate in Infectious Diseases

Trainees who have gained the Certificate in Infectious Diseases and who are recommended for a CCT will be entitled to apply for the postnominal MRCP(UK) (Infectious Diseases). For further details please see the FAQs.

Curriculum

The curriculum is published by the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB).

Blueprint

The examination is made up of questions covering the whole curriculum, selected by a predetermined blueprint. Download a copy of the assessment blueprint for more details:

SCE in Infectious Diseases Blueprint