Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), London

MRCEM / FRCEM (Membership and Fellowship of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine)

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.

5
Parts
72
Dates listed

Awarded by: Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), London

Cost: MRCEM (Primary + SBA + London OSCE, one attempt each, 2026 fees): £1,444 UK member, £1,556 international member, £1,745 UK non-member, £1,913 international non-member. MRCEM plus FRCEM (adds FRCEM SBA + London FRCEM OSCE): £2,459 UK member, £2,627 international member, £2,965 UK non-member, £3,217 international non-member. Excludes travel to London for OSCEs and any tax RCEM adds based on country of residence.

Pass rates: RCEM Exam Pass Rate Report 2024: MRCEM Primary 57.4%, MRCEM SBA 30.9%, MRCEM OSCE 80.0%, FRCEM SBA 51.1%, FRCEM OSCE 80.6%; overall 53.3%. Candidates from the Republic of Ireland had an overall pass rate of 48.5% across all RCEM exams in 2024.

Who can sit it

MRCEM Primary: GMC-accepted PMQ and current provisional or full registration. MRCEM SBA: full registration with licence to practise, 2 years post-degree experience (internship counts) and MRCEM Primary. MRCEM OSCE: 6 months FTE EM above Foundation level and passes in Primary and SBA. FRCEM SBA/OSCE: MRCEM (or FRCEM Intermediate Certificate) within the last 7 years plus 12 months FTE EM at higher specialty training level (trainees) or 4 years FTE EM training including 1 year at higher level (non-trainees). Eligibility is assessed at the point of application. IELTS 7 is the expected English standard.

When NCHDs sit it

Entry to CSTEM (three years) is from intern year or later and does not require any RCEM exam. RCSI/ICEMT states the MRCEM Primary may be attempted in the year after qualification, and Irish trainees typically sit the Primary in intern year or CSTEM year 1, the MRCEM SBA in CSTEM year 1-2 (once the two-year post-degree requirement is met), and the MRCEM OSCE in CSTEM year 2-3. All MRCEM components must be passed by year 3 of CSTEM to be eligible for progression to ASTEM. FRCEM SBA and OSCE are sat during ASTEM once 12 months of higher-level EM experience is complete; the CSCST cannot be awarded and Specialist Register entry is not possible until FRCEM is passed. Each RCEM application window is only seven days long.

The parts

MRCEM Primary2026 theory exam fee: £429 UK member, £485 international member, £525 UK non-member, £609 international non-member. RCEM does not state on the fee page which band Republic of Ireland candidates fall into · 2 (April and October)/yr
Theory, computer-based: 180 single best answer MCQs in one paper, mapped to the RCEM Basic Sciences Curriculum · 3 hours
Eligibility: PMQ accepted by the GMC and current provisional or full registration. Delivered at Surpass/Pearson VUE test centres worldwide (Ireland included). Machine marked, no negative marking, Angoff pass mark. Maximum six attempts (one additional attempt may be requested). Seven-year currency: all MRCEM components must be passed within seven years of passing the Primary. Application windows open 10:00 UK time and close 16:00 UK time seven days later.
MRCEM SBA2026 theory exam fee: £429 UK member, £485 international member, £525 UK non-member, £609 international non-member · 3 (January, June, September in the 2026/27 calendar)/yr
Theory, computer-based: 180 single best answer MCQs across two papers, covering the full range of ED presentations (Year 1-3 SLOs) · 4 hours (2 x 2 hours with a 1 hour break)
Eligibility: GMC-accepted PMQ, current full registration with licence to practise, 2 years' medical experience post primary medical degree (internship counts), and a pass in MRCEM Primary. Angoff cut score plus 1 SEM. Maximum six attempts. Test centres worldwide.
MRCEM OSCE2026 fee: London £586 member / £695 non-member; India £987 / £1,186; Malaysia £1,121 / £1,345 · 3 in London (November, January, May) plus international diets (Malaysia, Chennai, Hyderabad)/yr
Practical clinical OSCE: 16 stations of 8 minutes with 1 minute reading time each plus 2 rest stations; domain-based marking, maximum 160 marks · 2 hours 42 minutes
Eligibility: GMC-accepted PMQ, full registration with licence to practise, 6 months FTE Emergency Medicine experience above Foundation/intern level (post full registration), and passes in MRCEM Primary and MRCEM SBA. Not held in Ireland; Irish candidates travel to London. Withdrawal within five working days of payment incurs a 30% (UK) or 50% (international) admin fee; later withdrawal forfeits the fee. Maximum six attempts.
FRCEM SBA2026 theory exam fee: £429 UK member, £485 international member, £525 UK non-member, £609 international non-member · 2 (October and May)/yr
Theory, computer-based: 180 single best answer MCQs across two papers, mapped to the full EM 2021 curriculum including research, management and QI · 4 hours (2 x 2 hours with a 1 hour break)
Eligibility: full registration, MRCEM (or equivalent) obtained within the last 7 years, and either 12 months FTE EM experience at Higher Specialty Training level (UK trainee route) or, for non-trainees, 4 years FTE EM training including 1 year at higher specialty level. FRCEM SBA and OSCE may be taken in either order. Maximum four attempts. Angoff cut score plus 1 SEM. Results approximately five weeks after the exam.
FRCEM OSCE2026 fee: London £586 member / £695 non-member (FRCEM OSCE is delivered only in London) · 2 (November/December and April/May)/yr
Practical clinical OSCE: 16 stations of 8 minutes with 1 minute reading time each plus 2 rest stations; domain-based marking, borderline regression pass mark plus 1 SEM; must pass at least one resuscitation station · 2 hours 42 minutes
Same eligibility as FRCEM SBA. Delivered only in London. Maximum four attempts (one additional attempt may be requested). Seven-year currency: first FRCEM component within seven years of completing MRCEM, and remaining component within seven years of the first FRCEM pass.

Dates

  • 7 Oct 2026SittingFRCEM SBA (test centres worldwide) (FRCEM SBA)
  • 22 Oct 2026Apply byMRCEM SBA applications open (MRCEM SBA)
  • 27 Oct 2026SittingMRCEM Primary (test centres worldwide) (MRCEM Primary)
  • 28 Oct 2026ResultsMRCEM SBA results (MRCEM SBA)
  • 29 Oct 2026Apply byMRCEM SBA applications close (MRCEM SBA)
  • 3 Nov 2026SittingMRCEM OSCE London (3-19 November, first day) (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 4 Nov 2026Apply byMRCEM OSCE London applications open (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 6 Nov 2026ResultsMRCEM OSCE Malaysia results (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 11 Nov 2026ResultsFRCEM SBA results (FRCEM SBA)
  • 11 Nov 2026Apply byMRCEM OSCE London applications close (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 30 Nov 2026SittingFRCEM OSCE London (30 November - 11 December, first day) (FRCEM OSCE)
  • 1 Dec 2026ResultsMRCEM Primary results (MRCEM Primary)
  • 6 Jan 2027ResultsMRCEM OSCE London results (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 13 Jan 2027SittingMRCEM SBA (test centres worldwide) (MRCEM SBA)
  • 18 Jan 2027SittingMRCEM OSCE London (18-29 January, first day) (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 20 Jan 2027Apply byMRCEM Primary applications open (MRCEM Primary)
  • 22 Jan 2027ResultsFRCEM OSCE London results (FRCEM OSCE)
  • 27 Jan 2027Apply byMRCEM Primary applications close (MRCEM Primary)
  • 2 Feb 2027Apply byFRCEM OSCE London applications open (FRCEM OSCE)
  • 9 Feb 2027Apply byFRCEM OSCE London applications close (FRCEM OSCE)
  • 11 Feb 2027Apply byFRCEM SBA applications open (FRCEM SBA)
  • 18 Feb 2027Apply byFRCEM SBA applications close (FRCEM SBA)
  • 22 Feb 2027SittingMRCEM OSCE Chennai (22-26 February, first day) (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 24 Feb 2027ResultsMRCEM SBA results (MRCEM SBA)
  • 25 Feb 2027Apply byMRCEM OSCE London applications open (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 4 Mar 2027Apply byMRCEM OSCE London applications close (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 12 Mar 2027ResultsMRCEM OSCE London results (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 17 Mar 2027Apply byMRCEM SBA applications open (MRCEM SBA)
  • 24 Mar 2027Apply byMRCEM SBA applications close (MRCEM SBA)
  • 20 Apr 2027SittingFRCEM OSCE London (20 April - 7 May, first day) (FRCEM OSCE)
  • 21 Apr 2027SittingMRCEM Primary (test centres worldwide) (MRCEM Primary)
  • 12 May 2027SittingFRCEM SBA (test centres worldwide) (FRCEM SBA)
  • 18 May 2027SittingMRCEM OSCE London (18 May - 4 June, first day) (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 2 Jun 2027ResultsMRCEM Primary results (MRCEM Primary)
  • 2 Jun 2027SittingMRCEM SBA (test centres worldwide) (MRCEM SBA)
  • 18 Jun 2027ResultsFRCEM OSCE London results (FRCEM OSCE)
  • 23 Jun 2027ResultsFRCEM SBA results (FRCEM SBA)
  • 23 Jun 2027Apply byMRCEM Primary applications open (MRCEM Primary)
  • 30 Jun 2027Apply byMRCEM Primary applications close (MRCEM Primary)
  • 5 Jul 2027SittingMRCEM OSCE Hyderabad (5-9 July, first day) (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 13 Jul 2027Apply byMRCEM OSCE London applications open (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 14 Jul 2027ResultsMRCEM SBA results (MRCEM SBA)
  • 16 Jul 2027ResultsMRCEM OSCE London results (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 20 Jul 2027Apply byMRCEM OSCE London applications close (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 21 Jul 2027Apply byFRCEM SBA applications open (FRCEM SBA)
  • 28 Jul 2027Apply byFRCEM SBA applications close (FRCEM SBA)
  • 4 Aug 2027Apply byFRCEM OSCE London applications open (FRCEM OSCE)
  • 11 Aug 2027Apply byFRCEM OSCE London applications close (FRCEM OSCE)
  • 15 Sept 2027Apply byMRCEM SBA applications open (MRCEM SBA)
  • 22 Sept 2027Apply byMRCEM SBA applications close (MRCEM SBA)
  • 5 Oct 2027SittingMRCEM OSCE London (5-21 October, first day) (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 6 Oct 2027SittingFRCEM SBA (test centres worldwide) (FRCEM SBA)
  • 20 Oct 2027SittingMRCEM Primary (test centres worldwide) (MRCEM Primary)
  • 2 Nov 2027SittingFRCEM OSCE London (2-18 November, first day) (FRCEM OSCE)
  • 17 Nov 2027ResultsFRCEM SBA results (FRCEM SBA)
  • 1 Dec 2027ResultsMRCEM Primary results (MRCEM Primary)
  • 1 Dec 2027SittingMRCEM SBA (test centres worldwide) (MRCEM SBA)
  • 2 Dec 2027ResultsMRCEM OSCE London results (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 6 Jan 2028ResultsFRCEM OSCE London results (FRCEM OSCE)
  • 12 Jan 2028ResultsMRCEM SBA results (MRCEM SBA)
12 past dates
  • 10 Jun 2026Apply byMRCEM SBA applications open (MRCEM SBA)
  • 17 Jun 2026Apply byMRCEM SBA applications close (MRCEM SBA)
  • 1 Jul 2026Apply byFRCEM SBA applications open (FRCEM SBA)
  • 8 Jul 2026Apply byFRCEM SBA applications close (FRCEM SBA)
  • 15 Jul 2026Apply byMRCEM Primary applications open (MRCEM Primary)
  • 22 Jul 2026Apply byMRCEM Primary applications close (MRCEM Primary)
  • 5 Aug 2026Apply byMRCEM OSCE London applications open (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 12 Aug 2026Apply byMRCEM OSCE London applications close (MRCEM OSCE)
  • 2 Sept 2026Apply byFRCEM OSCE London applications open (FRCEM OSCE)
  • 9 Sept 2026Apply byFRCEM OSCE London applications close (FRCEM OSCE)
  • 16 Sept 2026SittingMRCEM SBA (test centres worldwide) (MRCEM SBA)
  • 21 Sept 2026SittingMRCEM OSCE Malaysia (21-25 September, first day) (MRCEM OSCE)

Needed for

Emergency Medicine Training

Preparation resources

Resources for each exam part, with access details, costs and suggested priorities.

S

  • Information packs with blueprints and sample SBAs for Primary, SBA and OSCE, plus the Basic Sciences Curriculum that the Primary is set from.

  • RCEMLearningQuestion bank

    College-run modules, SBA revise sets and MRCEM Primary practice papers written by examiners; RCEM's own guide says it is sufficient for the FRCEM SBA.

  • MRCEM SuccessQuestion bankAbout £70 to £90 per 3 monthsMRCEM Primary, MRCEM SBA

    3,100+ Primary and 1,800+ Intermediate SBA questions with revision notes; the most-recommended bank on r/doctorsUK for the SBA papers.

  • FRCEMtutorQuestion bankAbout £65 to £85 per 3 monthsMRCEM Primary, MRCEM SBA, FRCEM SBA

    Established bank with 3,500+ Primary and 1,400+ Intermediate SBAs and peer benchmarking; a leading FRCEM SBA option.

A
B
  • St Emlyn's FRCEM revision guideNotesFreeFRCEM SBA, FRCEM OSCE

    Free blog series on approach and resources for the FRCEM written and OSCE components.

  • EM Final Exams FRCEM SBA bankQuestion bank£59/3 months or £29/monthFRCEM SBA

    High-volume FRCEM SBA bank with mock suite; volume-based practice for candidates who have exhausted RCEMLearning.

  • ReviseMRCEMQuestion bankFrom £30/month, £80/6 monthsMRCEM SBA, FRCEM SBA

    SLO-mapped bank with a native mobile app; cheapest per month for MRCEM SBA and FRCEM SBA.

C
  • BMJ OnExamination MRCEM PrimaryQuestion bankMRCEM Primary

    Generalist bank with a Primary module; fine if you already have institutional access, otherwise the specialist banks map better.

Tiers are editorial: S = essential and closely mapped to the exam, A = strong, B = useful supplement, C = optional. No affiliate links; prices are indicative and change.

Preparing

The MRCEM Primary is a basic-sciences paper (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, pathology, evidence-based medicine) mapped to the RCEM Basic Sciences Curriculum; RCEM publishes the blueprint and sample questions in the Primary information pack, and RCEMLearning is the only College-endorsed preparation material. Most candidates combine a question bank with targeted anatomy revision, and the 180-question, three-hour format means timing practice matters.

The MRCEM SBA and FRCEM SBA are broad clinical papers with low published pass rates, so preparation is usually spread over months, working systematically through the curriculum SLOs and RCEM guidelines rather than cramming. The OSCEs use domain-based marking across 16 stations, and candidates prepare with peer practice of resuscitation, procedural, communication and teaching stations; the FRCEM OSCE also includes critical appraisal and management scenarios. Feedback letters after each exam break down performance by station or curriculum area and are worth reviewing with a supervisor before re-sitting.

Last verified 2026-08-18. Sources: https://rcem.ac.uk/exam-calendar-fees/ https://rcem.ac.uk/mrcem-exams/ https://rcem.ac.uk/frcem-exams/ https://rcem.ac.uk/exam-eligibility-and-adjustments/ https://rcem.ac.uk/additional-attempts/ https://rcem.ac.uk/results-feedback-and-awarding/ https://rcem.ac.uk/exam-regulations-policies/ https://rcem.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/EXAM-PASS-RATE-REPORT-2024-V-2.2.pdf https://www.rcsi.com/surgery/training/emergency-medicine/cstem/exams https://www.rcsi.com/surgery/training/emergency-medicine/astem/exams

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