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Exam Eligibility and Adjustments

Exam Eligibility and Adjustments

Eligibility and adjustment criteria for all RCEM Exams

Exam Eligibility

Eligibility criteria for all RCEM Exams

The eligibility criteria for each of the RCEM Exams is summarised below. All exams are conducted in English and, candidates are expected to have an understanding of English of at least IELTS Level 7.

MRCEM Primary

MRCEM Primary exam applicants must hold a medical qualification approved by the General Medical Council (GMC) for the purposes of registration. No previous experience in Emergency Medicine is required for the MRCEM Primary exam.

MRCEM SBA

MRCEM SBA applicants must hold a medical qualification approved by the General Medical Council (GMC) for the purposes of registration and are required to have completed the UK medical foundation training programme or equivalent. Candidates must have passed the MRCEM Primary exam (or equivalent) prior to applying for the MRCEM SBA.

MRCEM OSCE

MRCEM OSCE applicants must hold a medical qualification approved by the General Medical Council (GMC) for the purposes of registration and are required to have completed the UK medical foundation training programme or equivalent. Applicants are also required to have 24 months experience, including six months experience in Emergency Medicine at a level above Foundation Year one (post full registration). Candidates must have passed the MRCEM Primary and MRCEM SBA exams (or equivalent) prior to applying for the MRCEM OSCE.

FRCEM SBA and FRCEM OSCE

Candidates may choose to apply for the FRCEM SBA or FRCEM OSCE in either order.

FRCEM applicants must hold a medical qualification approved by the General Medical Council (GMC) for the purposes of registration and have completed MRCEM (or equivalent) after August 2012.

UK or Irish trainees must have completed 12 months (or full-time equivalent) of training in Emergency Medicine at ST4/ST5 or equivalent.

Non trainees must have completed six years of training post-qualification; four years (or full-time equivalent) of which must be in Emergency Medicine, and one year (or full time equivalent) of which must be at a level above ST3/SHO.

Reasonable Adjustments

Reasonable adjustments to exam sittings

The College is committed to ensuring candidates have fair opportunities at undertaking exams. Candidates wishing to request a reasonable adjustment for their exam sitting must indicate so within their application form and provide supporting evidence from a relevant professional outlining their specific needs and the adjustments recommended. All requests must be submitted with the exam application and will be reviewed as part of the application process. Each request will be considered on a case by case basis by the College and candidates will be notified the outcome of their application in writing. Exam adjustments which may be approved with the appropriate supporting evidence include:

  • Extra exam time
  • Rest breaks
  • Access to medication, food, drink and/or toilet facilities
  • A scribe or reader
  • Separate exam room
  • Screen overlays or adjustments

Candidates who will be pregnant or have given birth within the prior 26 weeks at the time of the examination can request reasonable adjustments according to their specific needs and these will be considered on an individual basis. Candidates requiring facilities to breastfeed or express (for children of any age) while they are at their examination centre should contact the Exams Department so that arrangements can be facilitated as best as possible.

Full details of reasonable adjustments and the process can be found in the regulations for each exam as follows:

FRCEM SBA & FRCEM OSCE

MRCEM PRIMARY

MRCEM SBA

MRCEM OSCE

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