Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical doctor who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician, or paediatrician. Pediatricians work both in hospitals, particularly those working in its subspecialties such as neonatology, and as outpatient primary care physicians.
Paediatrics and Child Health: Advanced Paediatrics
Gain an understanding of the principles of evidence-based paediatrics, and of the impact of molecular genetics on diagnosis and management of the child and family. Awareness of current and future developments in pediatric medicine and child health and gain the skills necessary to critically appraise practice and policy, and undertake independent Master’s-level research.
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH)
Diploma in Child Health (DCH)
The DCH is:
- mapped to a syllabus developed by a diverse range of medical professionals including paediatricians and GPs.
- informed by the latest research and evidence based
- responsive to changes in UK training.
The DCH (Diploma in Child Health) comprises two exams. You must achieve a pass mark in both in order to be awarded DCH.
- Foundation of Practice (FOP) theory exam – this is shared with the MRCPCH (membership exam)
- DCH Clinical exam
Candidates take the FOP theory examination on a computer at a test centre. The FOP and DCH Clinical examinations can be taken in any order and are non-sequential. There are usually three sittings of the FOP exam both in the UK and overseas each year. There are usually two exam weeks set for holding the DCH Clinical in the UK each year.
Eligibility
You must have a primary medical qualification or be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC).
Candidates do not need pass English language tests. However, we recommend that your English language proficiency be equivalent to IELTS Level 7.
We recommend that candidates working in the UK have four to six months’ experience in paediatrics, though this is not required. If you are taking the exam overseas, we recommend you have six months’ paediatrics experience.
Membership of Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH)
Paediatricians become full members of the RCPCH and achieve the designation MRCPCH once they have passed four separate postgraduate medical exams.
The MRCPCH is:
- an essential component of training for paediatricians in the UK
- mapped to the UK curriculum
- approved by the General Medical Council (GMC) as meeting the required standards
- informed by the latest research and evidence based
- responsive to changes in UK training.
The MRCPCH comprises:
- Foundation of Practice (FOP) – theory exam
- Theory and Science (TAS) – theory exam
- Applied Knowledge in Practice (AKP) – theory exam
- MRCPCH Clinical exam
Candidates take the three theory examinations on a computer at a test centre. Theory examinations can be taken in any order and are non-sequential. There are usually three sittings of each exam per year.
Candidates must pass the three theory examinations before they can sit the MRCPCH Clinical examination.
The MRCPCH Clinical exam is the last of the MRCPCH exams. You will sit this in a hospital and follow a ‘circuit’ of 12 scenarios/stations. Our trained examiners, who have extensive experience working in paediatrics, will be present in each station to assess your performance. Some of the scenarios include children, young people and adults acting as patients or family members.
Some countries use the MRCPCH as part of their paediatric training programme while trainees from other countries sit the MRCPCH as an opportunity for up-skilling, to drive learning and to gain an internationally recognised post graduate medical qualification.
Regulations and rules for MRCPCH and DCH examinations
MRCPCH Diploma of Membership
In order to pass the examination for Membership of the College in accordance with the Regulations and Rules candidates must:
- Successfully complete all parts of the Membership Examination;
- Pay the membership fee as may be prescribed from time to time by council.
The examinations
MRCPCH
(a) The MRCPCH Examination shall consist of:
- Foundation of Practice (FOP) theory examination (basic child health)
- Theory and Science (TAS) theory examination (basic scientific, physiological and pharmacological principles upon which clinical practice is based)
- Applied Knowledge in Practice (AKP) theory examination (knowledge synthesis/evaluation, clinical decision making and management)
- MRCPCH Clinical examination (multi station OSCE)
(b) The theory examinations can be taken in the candidate’s order of preference. On successful completion of the 3 theory examinations, candidates are eligible for entry to the MRCPCH Clinical Examination.
DCH
(a) The DCH Examination shall consist of:
- Foundation of Practice theory examination (basic child health, the same examination paper as MRCPCH FOP)
- DCH Clinical examination
(b) From 2017, the theory and clinical examination elements of the DCH can be taken in the candidate’s order of preference.
