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.
3
Parts
14
Dates listed
Awarded by: RCPI
Cost: €2,345 for one attempt at each part sat in Ireland (€730 + €750 + €865, 2026 fees); €2,960 if the Clinical is sat at an international centre. Refundable to HSE employees under the HSE Clinical Course and Examination Refund Scheme.
Pass rates: Academic year July 2023 to June 2024 (RCPI, all candidates): Part I 71%, Part II Written 65%, Part II Clinical 87%. Irish trainees first attempt: Part I 91%, Part II Written 84%, Part II Clinical 97%. No later figures published as of 2026-08-18.
Who can sit it
Part I: medical graduates at least 18 months after primary medical degree. Part II Written: Part I (Paediatrics or General Medicine) passed within 6 years or a listed exemption (MRCP(UK), MRCPCH, FRACP, MRCPath, various national boards). Part II Clinical: Part II Written passed within 3 years plus 12 months post-registration paediatric experience excluding internship. RCPI HST entry guidance requires the relevant MRCPI Clinical to be passed before the HST interview date.
When NCHDs sit it
Part I is usually sat in BST Paediatrics year 1 (January or May diet), Part II Written later in year 1 or in year 2, and Part II Clinical in year 2 once 12 months of paediatric experience is accrued. MRCPI Paediatrics (or MRCPCH) is needed to complete BST and RCPI states the Clinical must be passed before the HST Paediatrics interview date, with no exceptions.
The parts
Part I€730 (2026 fee, Irish and overseas candidates) · 2 (January and May per the published 2027 schedule)/yr
Written, 100 single best answer questions with five options, one paper, remote invigilation · 3 hours
A minimum of 18 months must have elapsed between completion of the primary medical degree and the exam date, so it cannot be sat during intern year; earliest is the January diet of BST year 1. No negative marking. Maximum 6 attempts, no time limit to pass. Holders of MRCPI General Medicine Part I, MRCP(UK), MRCPCH, FRACP and equivalent boards are exempt and go straight to Part II Written.
Part II Written€750 (2026 fee) · 2 (March and August)/yr
Written, two single best answer papers of 60 questions each (SBA format from March 2026, replacing short answer questions), remote invigilation · 4 hours (2 x 2 hours, one hour break)
Must have passed MRCPI Paediatrics Part I or MRCPI General Medicine Part I within the last 6 years, or hold an exemption. RCPI advises 6 to 12 months of additional clinical experience after Part I. Overall pass required, not per paper. Maximum 6 attempts; must pass within 6 years of Part I. Pass mark not published (set by the Board of Examiners).
Part II Clinical€865 in Ireland; €1,480 at international centres (2026 fees) · 2 in Ireland (May/June and November) plus occasional international diets (Riyadh November 2026)/yr
Clinical, circuit of six short cases modelled on outpatient and admissions unit encounters, in person · Not published on the exam format page
Must have passed Part II Written within the last 3 years (FRACP holders exempt) and have at least 12 months (ideally 15) of post-registration clinical paediatric experience by the exam date, excluding internship. Assesses communication, management, recognition of normal and of the acutely unwell child. Maximum 6 attempts; must be completed within 3 years of passing Part II Written.
Dates
13 Nov 2026SittingPart II Clinical (Ireland) day 1 (Part II Clinical)
13 Nov 2026SittingPart II Clinical (Riyadh) (Part II Clinical)
20 Nov 2026SittingPart II Clinical (Ireland) day 2 (Part II Clinical)
25 Nov 2026Apply byPart I (remote) applications close (Part I)
22 Jan 2027SittingPart I (remote) (Part I)
3 Feb 2027Apply byPart II Written (remote) applications close (Part II Written)
12 Mar 2027SittingPart II Written (remote) (Part II Written)
24 Mar 2027Apply byPart I (remote) applications close (Part I)
7 May 2027SittingPart I (remote) (Part I)
7 Jul 2027Apply byPart II Written (remote) applications close (Part II Written)
20 Aug 2027SittingPart II Written (remote) (Part II Written)
3 past dates
8 Jul 2026Apply byPart II Written (remote) applications close (Part II Written)
21 Aug 2026SittingPart II Written (remote) (Part II Written)
9 Sept 2026Apply byPart II Clinical (Ireland and Riyadh) applications close (Part II Clinical)
The MRCPI Paediatric Content Outline and the clinical exam candidate information PDF define exactly what is sampled; the clinical exam format is RCPI-specific so this beats any UK guide.
One-day college course run by consultant paediatricians explaining how the Part II Clinical is structured and scored, with practice on approach to patients; the only college-run prep for the clinical.
Nearly 5,000 SBAs and 10 past papers on core paediatrics and basic science; MRCPI Paediatrics Part I is a paediatric SBA paper so this is the default bank.
Station-by-station clinical and communication guide; the MRCPI clinical uses different station structure but the case content and presentation style transfer.
UK college material; the syllabus overlaps heavily but the format differs, so use only for content not process.
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 BST Paediatrics curriculum is the blueprint. Part I is 100 clinical scenario SBAs and Part II Written moved to two SBA papers from March 2026, so older short answer question papers are of limited use as practice; treat both written parts as data and vignette based knowledge tests across general paediatrics, neonatology, growth, development and child protection.
Candidates commonly use MRCPCH question banks and paediatric SBA collections, since the exemption list treats MRCPCH as equivalent and the content overlaps. For the Clinical, the six short case circuit rewards a rehearsed system by system examination in front of children of different ages plus clear presentation of findings, so ward based practice with a registrar or consultant is the usual preparation. Check the RCPI Paediatrics Information and Resources page for the current regulations document and any sample material before applying.
Written parts are delivered by remote invigilation on TestReach; complete the device check and book a start slot at least 72 hours before the exam.
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