Blog Summary
The Royal College of Physicians (MRCP UK) conducts globally recognized specialty examinations to benchmark the clinical skills and medical knowledge needed to diagnose and manage diseases. MRCP qualification enables medical professionals to work as consultant physicians in India, the UK and Commonwealth countries. While you are preparing for the MRCP exam remember to register on time to get the right slot, check on the MRCP UK curriculum on the website and revise at least six months before the actual MRCP exam. TAUs fellowship programs provide exclusive training to clear the MRCP exam. The program provides clinical skills training at TAU-affiliated hospitals, rotations as per RC standards, guidance by RCP experts, weekly webinars, regular assessments, q-banks and mock tests to successfully qualify for MRCP exams.
What is MRCP UK Examination?
The Royal College of Physicians (MRCP UK) conducts globally recognized specialty examinations that create a quality benchmark for a medical professional’s clinical skills and medical knowledge.
The exam assesses the candidate based on their:
- Basic sciences knowledge
- Clinical skills in diagnosing and managing a disease
The Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians exam is one of the best ways for international doctors to pursue a medical career in the UK. There are only two routes for an international candidate to acquire complete GMC registration, and one of these is MRCP UK.
Therefore, any professional who wants to join as a physician in the UK needs to complete this exam. Only recently, considering the value offered by the exam, it is also being recognized in various other countries, including India. In India, MRCP UK is now deemed as equivalent to an MD degree.
Is MRCP UK Recognized in India?
The MRCP UK exam is a route to pursue a career in the UK and other countries, including the Indian sub-continent. This internationally recognized exam is completed as a PG diploma course in the UK. If, as an Indian medical student, you have completed your MBBS, you can easily take the exam.
This offers you specialty training, a chance at an international career, and better career prospects in India. Many medical institutes are also asking for MRCP UK as a mandatory qualification.
Simply put, MRCP UK is a recognized qualification in India as well. In March 2017, the Medical Council of India recognized MRCP in the UK as equivalent to DM, MS, or MD in India. For this very reason, it is common for doctors with MRCP UK Diploma (Not MD) to pursue the job post of consultant physician in hospitals situated in India.
Is MRCP UK Equivalent to MD in India?
Yes, MRCP in the UK is equivalent to MD qualification in India. So, as an MRCP UK Diploma holder, you can easily pursue a career in Indian hospitals without completing an MD.
MRCP UK Eligibility in India
The MRCP UK exam contains two parts. The eligibility criterion for all these exams is different for international candidates:
Part 1
As an international candidate, you need:
- A primary medical qualification that is recognized as per GMC.
- Medical employment PG experience of at least 12 months.
Part 2 and PACES
Similarly, an international candidate needs the following for the Part 2 and PACES exams:
- Cleared MRCP UK Part 1 in the past seven years.
MRCP UK Exam Recognized Countries
The MRCP UK Diploma is provided in 100+ locations spread across the world. More than 20,000 medical professionals and doctors take this MRCP UK exam every year.
As per the guidelines of the UK, these examinations are mandatory for specialty training in the country. In fact, the MRCP UK exam is also mandatory for assessment in other locations, such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Ireland. Similarly, Malaysia uses MRCP UK exams to identify the skills and knowledge of doctors in collaboration with other local training methods.
Various other locations have recognized the MRCP UK exam:
- Egypt
- India
- Myanmar
- Zimbabwe
- Kenya
- Jordan
- Iceland
- Bangladesh
- And many more
This list answers the question, “Is MRCP recognized in India?”
MRCP Exam
The MRCP UK exam has various benefits in India:
- Better recognition at the workplace
- Improved career prospects
- Improved international career prospects
- Better pay verticals in India
- Better pay and recognition in Gulf, European, and Asian countries
If you are willing to take the MRCP UK exam in India, then evaluate the structure and course. Here is a detailed explanation of how MRCP in the UK is conducted:
Part 1
Part 1 is the entry-level MRCP UK exam that you can take after completing 12 months of training.
It includes:
- Two papers of three-hour duration taken in one-day
- 200 MCQ questions, which have five choices
- No images are included in the paper
- Written exam
Course
The course of the MRCP UK Part 1 exam includes the following topics:
| Topics |
| Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics |
| Cardiology |
| Dermatology |
| Clinical Sciences |
| Geriatric Medicine |
| Diabetes, Endocrine, and Metabolic Medicine |
| Hematology |
| Hepatology and Gastroenterology |
| Neurology |
| Oncology |
| Infectious Diseases |
| End of Life Care |
| Medical Ophthalmology |
| Renal Medicine |
| Psychiatry |
| Rheumatology |
| Respiratory Medicine |
The clinical sciences paper includes the following topics:
| Topics |
| Clinical metabolism and biochemistry |
| Molecular, cell, and membrane biology |
| Clinical physiology |
| Clinical anatomy |
| Immunology |
| Genetics |
| Epidemiology, statistics, and evidence-based medicine |
Part 2
Part 2 of the MRCP UK exam can only be taken once you have cleared Part 1. However, it would help if you took this before completing seven years of the Part 1 exam.
It includes:
- Two papers conducted in a single day
- Each paper of three hours
- 200 MCQ questions
- Images are included in the paper
- Written exam
Course
The MRCP UK exam Part 2 contains the following topics:
| Topics |
| Dermatology |
| Cardiology |
| Gastroenterology |
| Metabolic and endocrine medicine |
| Hematology |
| Geriatric medicine |
| GUM and infectious diseases |
| Palliative medicine and oncology |
| Nephrology |
| Neurology |
| Psychiatry |
| Ophthalmology |
| Rheumatology |
| Respiratory medicine |
| Toxicology and therapeutics |
Part PACES
The PACES exam can be taken after Part 1 directly. However, according to MRCP UK guidelines, it is suggested to complete both Part 1 and 2 before taking this exam.
This is similar to the OSCE clinical skills exam.
It includes:
- Half-day MRCP UK exam
- A clinical setting exam
- Five stations with eight counters of patients
- Total ten examiners assessing the candidates
In the PACES exam, the candidate is judged based on seven skills:
Physical Assessment
Using correct, systematic, and professional methods for the assessment of a patient.
Determining Physical Signs
Correctly finding signs of illness without stating signs that are not present.
Clinical Collaboration
Identifying the clinical history of the patient in a detailed and professional manner.
Differential Diagnosis
Creating a diagnosis for a person that the candidate has evaluated or assessed.
Clinical Judgement
Based on personal clinical identification, devise a clinical treatment or plan for a medical situation or patient.
Catering to Patients’ Concerns
Directly cater to the concerns of the patients and their relatives.
Looking After Patient Welfare
Treat every patient with dignity and respect along with offering them comfort and support.
Course
The course of the MRCP UK PACES exam includes:
| Station | Topic |
| 1 | Respiratory exam Abdominal exam |
| 2 | History-knowing skills |
| 3 | Cardiovascular exam Nervous system exam |
| 4 | Ethics and communication skills |
| 5 | Integrated assessment of clinical skills |
How To Prepare For MRCP UK Exam?
When you start preparing for the MRCP UK exam, follow these tips:
- Try registering for the exam early. There are limited slots in Part 2 and PACES exams. If you register on time, you are likely to get the right slot according to your preparation.
- Once you have registered, revise the course at least six months before the actual MRCP exam. Proper training would help you clear the MPRC UK exam on the first attempt.
- Check the MRCP UK curriculum from the website for proper training.
For the MRCP UK exam, you can use a variety of sources available online. One such option is Texila American University.
Texila American University
The Texila American University provides a 3-year fellowship program for Royal College clearance. Throughout the course, you will get a chance to enhance your existing skills, knowledge, and experience. You would be able to develop mastery in basic sciences knowledge and clinical skills, which would help you in specialty training.
Here are the benefits of pursuing a Fellowship in Internal Medicine (MRCP Clinical Premier training):
- Hospital-based learning
- Department rotations as per RC standards
- Guidance by RCP certified consultant or senior consultant
- Weekly webinars conducted by certified faculties of the Royal College
- Clinical skills training and TAU-associated hospitals
- More than 2500+ MCQs for exam practice through Question bank subscription
- Regular workplace assessments
- Mock examinations for RC exam preparation
The MRCP UK exam helps Indian doctors to pursue a career at a high pay scale with better recognition. If you have completed your MBBS, it is time to start preparing for the MRCP UK exam. Register now with TAU and receive extensive training for three years. Improve your career prospects and professional value.
