In order to become a full member of the RCPCH (The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health), paediatricians must sit and pass four separate postgraduate medical exams to achieve the designation of MRCPCH.

The MRCPCH is an essential part of training for all paediatricians in the UK, and is approved by the General Medical Council as meeting all the required standards. It comprises four exams:

• Foundation of Practice (FOP) - theory exam
• Theory and Science (TAS) - theory exam
• Applied Knowledge in Practice (AKP) - theory exam
• MRCPCH Clinical exam

For the purposes of this guide, we’ll be focusing on the latter: the MRCPCH Clinical exam.

What is the MRCPCH Clinical exam?

The MRCPCH Clinical exam is the second part of the MRCPCH qualification, which will assess your clinical skills and ability to apply your knowledge to real-world paediatric scenarios.

The exam typically includes two components:

Clinical scenarios: Here you will be presented with case scenarios and asked to demonstrate your knowledge of diagnosis, management, and communication. This may involve:

• Taking a history from a patient
• Performing a physical examination
• Interpreting laboratory or imaging results
• Developing a management plan
• Communicating with patients and families

Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs): These are standardised assessments where you will be required to interact with simulated patients and perform specific tasks, such as:

• Examining a child with a particular condition
• Giving a presentation to a multidisciplinary team
• Talking a parent through a child's diagnosis
• Performing a procedure

The goal of the MRCPCH clinical exam is to evaluate your ability to effectively:

• Gather and interpret information
• Diagnose and manage paediatric conditions appropriately
• Communicate with patients, families, and healthcare professionals
• Demonstrate professionalism and ethical behaviour

MRCPCH Clinical exam requirements

Before you can apply to sit the MRCPCH Clinical exam, you will need to have undertaken and passed all three theory exams. The RCPCH website advises that you also have the following in order to maximise your chances of passing the clinical exam:

• That you have completed a period of training that lasted two and a half years after your medical graduation date

• Have more than 12 months’ experience in posts involving the care of emergency paediatric patients that has been gained within the five years period to your exam date
• It is also desirable that you will have at least six months in a post that has a strong emphasis on responsibility for unselected emergency admission
• The above does include clinical attachments

• Spent six months of your first year following graduation as a house paediatrician
• If the above isn’t possible, you should have an additional six months’ experience in a post involving the care of paediatric patients

• If you are based in the UK, you must not have sat the exam six or more times
• If you have sat the exam six times, you will need to contact the Clinical Assessment team on clinicalexams@rcpch.ac.uk

• Applicants must also remember that the 7-year registration applies, which is where you must pass the MRCPCH Clinical exam within 7 years of having passed your final theory examination (FOP/TAS or AKP)

MRCPCH sponsor

On your application to take the MRCPCH Clinical exam, you will be required to provide details of your sponsor; this is someone who, from personal knowledge and repute, can agree that you - the candidate - are ready to take the exam. Your sponsor should also be someone who agrees to receive email feedback on candidate performance concerns once the results are complete.

If possible, your sponsor should also be:

• Your current educational supervisor or senior colleague (whom you have worked with for at least 3 months)
• An RCPCH member or fellow (where possible)

You must also have permission from your sponsor to provide the information below, which you are required to submit:

• Full name
• Relationship to you (for example, educational supervisor or senior colleague)
• Position (for example, senior consultant or professor)
• Place of work
• Email address

MRCPCH exam centres

The MRCPCH Clinical exam takes place in hospitals across the UK - including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - as well as test centres being available in other countries, with each test centre having a fixed number of spots. The availability of UK test centres will also vary from exam diet to exam diet. Exams can be held on any date within the listed exam period, including weekends.

If you apply to sit the exam, you will receive an admissions document with the centre’s full address approximately four weeks before your exam - if your application is successful.

Countries in which MRCPCH Clinical exam takes place

Not all countries will offer the exam during each exam diet:

• UK
• Egypt
• Hong Kong
• India
• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Malaysia
• Nepal
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Singapore
• United Arab Emirates

Exams held in Myanmar and Sudan are currently on hold until further notice. Keep an eye on the RCPCH website for further details.

MRCPCH start and end times

If you are sitting your exam in the UK, the morning sessions usually take place from 10am to 12:30pm. Afternoon sessions typically start at 2pm and finish at 4:30pm. If you’re a candidate, you should plan to arrive earlier than the listed start time - the exact times will be provided in your admissions document.

If you’re taking the clinical examination overseas, start and end times may vary depending on the centre you attend; this information will be provided to candidates in their admission/placement letter.

MRCPCH Clinical exam fees for 2025

For all countries except Hong Kong, payment will need to be made online by credit card or debit card.

2025 MRCPCH Clinical exam dates

2025-1

2025-2

2025-3

How to apply for the MRCPCH Clinical exam

To apply for the MRCPCH Clinical exam, you will first need to log into your RCPCH account. Then there are a number of steps to follow:

• Find the exam you wish to apply for in your list of available books, and select ‘View’
• Click ‘Apply’
• Enter the following information so you can be placed on the exam:
• Country of residence
• Current workplace / hospital
• Start date of current employment and end date (if known)
• Past hospital / workplace (please list your previous employment if you have been in your current post for less than 18 months)
• Future hospital / workplace (if you have any confirmed future posts)
• Details of any exam preparation courses you have or are planning to attend
• Details of a sponsor who can confirm your readiness to sit the MRCPCH Clinical exam
• Details of any reasonable adjustments required.
• When complete, select ‘Submit’

On the day of your MRCPCH Clinical exam

On the day of your exam, ensure you are at the test centre well ahead of the registration time, which will be on your admissions document. If you arrive after your exam circuit has begun, you will not be permitted to sit the exam.

You will need to bring with you:

• Your final placement letter
• One form of identification that includes a signature and recent photograph such as:
• Passport
• Driving licence
• Hospital ID card

You will need to take your own stethoscope and surgical masks to the exam, the latter of which will be worn during the four Short Clinical Stations. You won’t be able to take anything else with you into the exam. You will be expected to dress in a manner appropriate to a normal working day in clinical practice. Any personal belongings you bring will be securely stored during the exam.

Receiving your MRCPCH Clinical exam results

Your results will be published on your RCPCH account within six weeks of the last date on the exam window. If you take your exam at an overseas centre, this can take up to nine weeks. A results letter with detailed feedback will follow the week after the results are published online.

Preparing for MRCPCH Clinical exam

Online resources

• The Paediatric Musculoskeletal Matters International website has a lot of useful information including examination guides and video demonstrations.
• The PediNeuroLogic Exam website has plenty of information and video demonstrations on paediatric neurological exams.
• For audio examples of heart sounds, The Auscultation Assistant is a useful resource, alongside The Easy Auscultation website which runs through the basics of heart sounds.
• For a thorough understanding of paediatric cardiology, the PECSIG RCPCH website has five tutorials outlining what would be expected of a junior registrar.
• The DragonBytes paediatric podcast is aimed at trainees and anyone with an interest in paediatric medicine. This podcast covers a range of themes including clinical topics and exam and assessment advice.

Revision resources

Pastest

The Pastest MRCPCH Clinical resource is one of the best and most comprehensive out there! The content has been recently updated and now contains more than 355 videos across 146 cases! Here’s what else you can find in our updated resource:

• 10 new high-yield Communications Cases
• 10 new Teaching Cases detailing physical examination technique
• 6 new History Taking and Management Planning Cases
• 150 Spot Diagnosis images
• An introduction to the Patientless Development Station
• 3 New Patientless Development Cases

Want to try before you buy? Sign up for a free 48 hour trial of the Pastest MRCPCH Clinical exam resource today!

London School of Paediatrics

This online resource was created by the Trainees Committee of the London School of Paediatrics and includes video tutorials for each station. There’s also revision content written by leading paediatricians, along with advice from trainees who have recently sat and passed the MRCPCH Clinical exam.

PaedsPREP

A virtual learning platform, PaedsPREP has the tools candidates need to tackle their revision effectively. It includes signposting useful resources and goes through some top exam tips for the point of view of candidates who have recently sat and passed the exam. It also highlights high-yield topics for your personal revision, and gives some practice scenarios with supporting audiovisuals.

We hope this guide has told you everything you need to know about the MRCPCH Clinical exam. With the right resources and tools at your disposal and plenty of time to prepare, we are sure you’ll be able to pass and proceed to the next stage of your medical career!