Overview

Irish postgraduate medical examinations are conducted by the specialist Royal Colleges. Many Irish examinations align closely with their UK counterparts — RCPI examinations in particular are jointly recognised with UK Royal Colleges of Physicians.

RCPI Examinations

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) conducts postgraduate examinations in Medicine, Paediatrics, Pathology, Psychiatry and several other specialties.

MRCPI — Membership of the RCPI

  • Part 1: Best-of-five MCQ paper; jointly administered with UK Royal Colleges of Physicians (MRCP Part 1 UK)
  • Part 2 Written: Data interpretation and clinical knowledge
  • Part 2 Clinical (PACES): Shared PACES OSCE with UK — same exam, international sittings
Note: MRCP UK and MRCPI are jointly recognised — passing MRCP UK also confers MRCPI and vice versa.

RCSI Examinations

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) conducts surgical examinations including membership (MRCSI) and fellowship (FRCSI) examinations aligned with UK intercollegiate surgical standards.

MRCSI

  • Part A: Applied Basic Sciences (aligned with MRCS Part A)
  • Part B: OSCE-based clinical assessment
  • Recognised across UK and Ireland

ICGP — Irish College of General Practitioners

General practice training in Ireland leads to MICGP (Membership of the ICGP) through workplace-based assessments, a written MCQ examination and a video consultation assessment during the 3-year GP training programme (increasing to 4 years).

CAI — College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland

Anaesthesiology training in Ireland leads to FCAI (Fellowship of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland), with structured written and clinical examinations throughout 6-year specialist training.

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