Postgraduate exams

The situational judgement test (SJT) and clinical problem-solving test (CPST) the Irish College of GPs uses to select applicants for GP training. Sat online in one proctored session, CPST straight after the SJT. This is the first of three stages; a further scenario-based assessment (or interview, in earlier cycles) and reference checks follow before places are offered in rank order.

MRCPI in General Medicine is the three part membership examination of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and the exam that Irish medical SHOs sit during Basic Specialist Training. It consists of Part I (single best answer), Part II Written (two single best answer papers) and Part II Clinical (long and short cases). Passing all three parts is required to complete BST in General Internal Medicine and to enter RCPI Higher Specialist Training in the medical specialties.

MRCPI in Paediatrics is the three part membership examination of the RCPI Faculty of Paediatrics, sat by paediatric SHOs during Basic Specialist Training. It comprises Part I (single best answer), Part II Written (two single best answer papers, replacing short answer questions from March 2026) and Part II Clinical (a circuit of six short cases). Full MRCPI Paediatrics, or an accepted equivalent such as MRCPCH, is required before entry to Higher Specialist Training in Paediatrics.

MRCPI in Obstetrics and Gynaecology is the membership examination of the RCPI Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. It has no Part I of its own: candidates enter Part II Written on the basis of MRCOG Part 1, the RCPI Professional Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, or MRCPI Part I, and then sit the Part II OSCE/Clinical. Passing MRCPI O&G is required to complete Basic Specialist Training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and to enter Higher Specialist Training.

MFPHMI is the membership examination of the RCPI Faculty of Public Health Medicine and is taken during, not before, Higher Specialist Training in Public Health Medicine. It has three parts: Part I (four written papers on the public health sciences), Part II (oral assessment of two submitted Public Health Reports) and Part III (Oral Examination of Professional Competence). Passing all three parts is required for the CSCST in Public Health Medicine.

The Intercollegiate MRCS is the common membership examination of the four surgical Royal Colleges of Great Britain and Ireland, sat in two parts: Part A (a computer-based MCQ examination) and Part B (an OSCE). In Ireland it is administered by RCSI, with Part A delivered at Pearson VUE centres and Part B held in Dublin three times a year. Passing both parts is a prerequisite for transition from Core Surgical Training (ST2) to Higher Surgical Training (ST3) in all Irish surgical specialties.

The FFR RCSI is the fellowship examination of the Faculty of Radiologists and Radiation Oncologists at RCSI and is the exit examination for the Irish diagnostic radiology training programme. It has two examinations: the Primary (Part I) in the physical basis of imaging, anatomy and radiation protection, and the Final (Part II) in clinical radiology, split into Part 2A (written) and Part 2B (viva, digital reporting and rapid reporting). Both are held in Dublin, with Part 2A also offered in Kuwait.

MRCEM and FRCEM are the RCEM examinations used by the Irish Committee for Emergency Medicine Training (ICEMT, based at RCSI). MRCEM comprises the MRCEM Primary and MRCEM SBA (computer-based theory papers) and the MRCEM OSCE, and must be completed by year 3 of Core Specialist Training in Emergency Medicine (CSTEM) to progress to Advanced Specialist Training (ASTEM). FRCEM comprises the FRCEM SBA and FRCEM OSCE and must be passed before award of the CSCST and entry to the Specialist Register in Emergency Medicine.

Irish ophthalmology trainees sit the UK Royal College of Ophthalmologists' FRCOphth Part 1 as their basic sciences examination, then the collegiate MRCSI (Ophth) run by RCSI, which has three components (Clinical Optics and Refraction, Written, and Clinical) and is open only to trainees on the Irish College of Ophthalmologists' BST (surgical) and BMT (medical) programmes. FRCOphth Part 1 is scored on the ICO Basic Specialist Training application scorecard, and MRCSI (Ophth) must be passed to enter Higher Specialist Training. The FRCSI (Ophth) viva is the exit examination for surgical HST.

The MRCPsych consists of two written papers (Paper A and Paper B) and a clinical examination (CASC). Irish BST trainees must pass both RCPsych written papers and then sit the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland Clinical Membership Examination (CFME plus OSCE) rather than the CASC to complete BST; the CASC is only needed by those who want the full RCPsych diploma. Written papers are sat at Pearson VUE test centres (Dublin available) or online with approval; the UK CASC is held in Sheffield.

The MICGP is the criterion-referenced membership examination taken during the four-year National Specialist Training Programme in General Practice. For trainees who started on or after 12 July 2021 it has two modules, the Core Knowledge Test (CKT) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT); the Modified Essay Question (MEQ) module was retired with a final sitting in July 2025. Passing both modules is required for completion of GP training and the CSCST.

The MCAI (Membership) is a two-stage primary exam: an online MCQ (two SBA papers) followed by an OSCE and two structured oral examinations. The FCAI (Fellowship) is the final exam: an online written component (SAQ paper and SBA paper) followed by three clinical structured oral examinations. Both are embedded in the Irish Specialist Anaesthesiology Training (SAT) programme: MCAI is needed to progress to SAT3 and FCAI to progress to SAT6.

FRCPath by examination is a two-part qualification. In histopathology, Part 1 is a three-hour MCQ/EMQ paper and Part 2 is a two-day practical of six components; in haematology, Part 1 is an essay paper plus MCQ/EMQ paper and Part 2 is three written papers plus an oral over three days. Irish histopathology and haematology HST trainees sit the same RCPath exams as UK trainees; from autumn 2026 Part 1 papers are delivered at British Council test centres including Dublin, while Part 2 exams are held in the UK.