Paper A£568 (PMPT trainee/affiliate) or £630 (non-PMPT) (2026 fee) · 3 (April, July, November in 2026)/yr
Written paper on the scientific and theoretical basis of psychiatry: 150 questions, approximately two-thirds MCQ and one-third EMI, worth 150 marks. Covers behavioural science and sociocultural psychiatry, human development, basic neurosciences, clinical psychopharmacology, and classification and assessment. · 3 hours
Eligibility: any fully registered medical practitioner (can be taken from FY2/intern-equivalent, but that early attempt does not count toward Paper B or CASC eligibility). Sat at Pearson VUE test centres (booking window opens about two weeks after applications close; Dublin centres available) or online at home only if approved by the College. Pass mark set by modified Angoff plus 2 SEM; Paper B 2026-1 pass mark was 64.86% for reference. Once the first written paper is passed, all remaining components must be completed within 6 years of the results date (extended from 4.5 years for passes from 2020 onward). New syllabus published September 2026, in effect from January 2027. No attempts limit published on the exam pages; see regulations PDF.
Paper B£511 (PMPT trainee/affiliate) or £567 (non-PMPT) (2026 fee) · 3 (February, May, October in 2026)/yr
Written paper on critical review (one-third, 50 marks) and clinical topics (two-thirds): 150 questions, approximately two-thirds MCQ and one-third EMI, worth 150 marks. Clinical sections: general adult, old age, psychotherapy, child and adolescent, substance misuse, forensic, learning disability, organisation and delivery of services. · 3 hours
Eligibility: must be on an approved training programme (RCPsych recommends 12 months' psychiatry experience first) or in a post with recognised contracted educational time. Same Pearson VUE / approved-online delivery as Paper A. February 2026 sitting was affected by a technical fault; a resit diet was run in March 2026. Overall pass rate May 2026: 51.69% (trainee 69.26%).
CASC (Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competencies)UK CASC £1,129 (PMPT) or £1,254 (non-PMPT); Singapore or Middle East CASC £1,465 (PMPT) or £1,628 (non-PMPT) (2026 fee) · 2 UK diets (January and September) plus international diets (Singapore June and December 2026; Doha diet moved to Singapore for 2026)/yr
OSCE-style clinical exam of 16 stations in two circuits on one day: circuit 1 has 6 management, 1 examination and 1 history station (4 minutes reading, 7 minutes task); circuit 2 has 4 examination and 4 history stations (90 seconds reading, 7 minutes task). · One day; each station 7 minutes plus reading time (about 16 stations)
Eligibility: 23 months whole-time-equivalent post-foundation/post-internship psychiatry experience, a pass in Papers A and B, sponsorship (College Tutor, Educational Supervisor etc.) and a successful ARCP/ARP or equivalent portfolio including psychotherapy and child/LD competencies. Held in Sheffield (UK diets). Not required for Irish BST completion; Irish trainees sit the CPsychI Clinical Membership Examination instead and only need CASC if they want the RCPsych diploma. If failing with 4 or fewer stations passed the result letter is copied to the sponsor. Overall pass rate January 2026 UK CASC: 52.50% (trainee 68.48%).
CPsychI Clinical Membership Examination (CFME + OSCE) - Irish clinical component in place of CASCCFME €600 + OSCE €600 (Winter 2026 sitting fees) · Up to 3 per calendar year; one sitting listed for 2026 (November)/yr
Two components run by the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland: (A) CFME (Clinical Formulation and Management Examination, two cases, both must be passed) and (B) OSCE (12 stations, at least 8 must be passed plus overall pass mark). Both must be sat together at first attempt; a failed component can be resat alone. · Two consecutive days (CFME one day, OSCE the next)
Eligibility: registered CPsychI BST trainee, Outcome 1 or 2 at Foundation Year ARP, and passes in all MRCPsych written papers (evidence uploaded at application). Eligibility lasts the shortest of 7 years from BST start or the written-paper validity (6 years from first written-paper result for passes 2022 onward). Must be passed within 2 years of completing BST. Standard setting by borderline regression / Angoff. Winter 2026: CFME Friday 20 November 2026 (Croke Park, Dublin 3), OSCE Saturday 21 November 2026 (RCSI, York Street, Dublin 2); applications 28 August to 11 September 2026. Fees refundable via HSE TSS/CCERS. Appeal fees €100/€500/€600 by stage.