Page 1 of 1: FCPS v/s MRCP

plabo · Credits: 2147483647 My Scrapbook My Reading List 6 Books

The MRCP (UK) Examination plays an increasingly important role in the
international arena of postgraduate medical education. It provides a
professional standard against which physicians working outside the United Kingdom may measure their level of attainment. It is also being used by medical educationalists in other countries in respect of local postgraduate assessments.

Now the most commonly question in all our mind is the comparison b/wFCPS and MRCP . The first thing, FCPS is a Fellowship degree, which means one is a Specialist in the particular field in which he has done the required training and passed the FCPS part 2 exam in. On the other hand, MRCP is a Membership degree, which entitles one to after attaining it, go on and then do the required training in his/her interest of Speciality.

Let me make it more clear. The MRCP consists of 3 exams, which are MRCP Part1 Written, MRCP Part 2 Written and the PACES exam, which is a clinical exam.For entering the MRCP 1 exam, one must have passed 18 months from his/her date of graduation. One doesn’t need any hospital job experience to sit the exam. After passing one can sit the MRCP 2 exam at the next available date, but in order to sit the PACES exam, one needs minimum of 18 months of training, for more info on the training requirements, I request you to contact the Royal Colleges by email, explaining it here is simply out of my reach. For eligibility into PACES, one needs to submit testimonials from two proposers at their first attempt at MRCP PACES.

Testimonials are accepted only from Fellows of the Royal Colleges of
Physicians of the UK or from Members of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK of at least eight years’ standing. They will sign a document stating that you have done the required training under them.

Now for FCPS, if you think that the MRCP is a shorter route as compared to the 4-5 years of FCPS…….STOP right here and correct this for life. Getting a MRCP will land u nowhere. The MRCP is only equal to an Intermediate Module passed Doctor of the FCPS who after passing the module, goes into his speciality field. The same is the case with MRCP . You attain the degree, and then enter the speciality. You work (for e.g in Cardiology) for 3 years and then you come out as a specialist. You will still be called as a MRCP . In order to become a FRCP, As physicians progress through their career, they firstly become Members of the RCP by passing the Membership examination. They complete the exam while they are training to be a physician and this allows them to add the letters MRCP after their name. Later on in their career, after they have been a consultant for a few years, physicians may be eligible to become a Fellow of the College. There is no exam procedure for this, Fellows must be elected by other physicians who consider that they are eligible, having sufficiently distinguished themselves in the practice of medicine, medical science or medical literature. So the first difference which one notes is that FCPS giving you a direct Fellowship degree, whilst after getting a MRCP , it can take anywhere from 5-8 years after completing the speciality training to add the words FRCP after your name. This doesn’t mean that u will not be called as a consultant, but the degree will remain as a member until the members of the Royal College elect u as a Fellow.

Lastly, the MRCP and FCPS exams are almost the same. Except the dissertation and workshops stuff which the FCPS constitutes. The requirements are too almostthe same with respect to the time period of training. You are nothing even if u get a MRCP and you don’t go onto enter speciality training. If there are 2 doctors, one a FCPS (e.g Cardiologist) and the other a MRCP (only 18 months training, no post membership experience, then the FCPS doc is a consultant and the MRCP one still a resident.) The advantage of giving MRCP is that one can attain two degrees in one go, ofcourse u need to give the exams as well. So all of u reading this, if u think that the MRCP is a shorter route, think AGAIN! There are no short cuts in life.

Plabo

prolene · Credits: 5561 My Scrapbook

One question: I have read here that MRCP students are given priority in USA and also few countries UAE and Singapore give the MRCP Doctors priority.

If one wants to stay in Pakistan then certainly FCPS is better but in foreign countries MRCP is better, right?

We have a better chance of getting a job in foreign countries with MRCP than FCPS, right?

plabo · Credits: 2147483647 My Scrapbook My Reading List 6 Books

agreed~ but i fear u don't have first hand knowledge of the job situation especially in the UAE and Saudia Arabia. Preferred: American diplomats, then Royal Fellows/Members, then others. Now since there is a bunch of local grads coming out of their system who are giving the Royal college exams at their local centres, they are being preferred. Saudia Arabia has just announced those expatriate doctors who have been working in the Kingdom for more than 20 years to pack up their bags and make way for local grads~

prolene · Credits: 5561 My Scrapbook

Its all based on luck. Best of luck to all of us.

Or even "Break a leg" for that matter!

plabo · Credits: 2147483647 My Scrapbook My Reading List 6 Books

it ain't luck~ a doctor's career is based on sensible advice and timing~

prolene · Credits: 5561 My Scrapbook

ok.

I will keep this in mind.

doczulf · Credits: 2020 My Scrapbook

wow wat a discussionnnnn lolzzzzzz
dr ali

najafhaider · Credits: 992 My Scrapbook

in my opinion, for all the people who have planned to stay in pakistan (mean no PLAB , steps. MOH or AMC etc), the best option is to pass the fcps1 and get registered as a PG resident. Then go for the mrcp1. During prep for the Intermediate module, start prep for mrcp2 written. PACES is tricky, so dont expect that MRCP is a short cut route. u r very right plabo sir.

plabo · Credits: 2147483647 My Scrapbook My Reading List 6 Books

excellent~
after such a long time have i seen someone come up with the right plan. totally agreeing with u najaf haider~
pass fcps 1, get into PG ship, start training, give MRCP 1 in first yr, pass, start prep for IM, that preparation for IM will help one prepare for the MRCP 2 and PACES as well, give IM, then MRCP 2, continue with training, give PACES, get MRCP ....give FCPS 2 and whoila~ game over~

najafhaider · Credits: 992 My Scrapbook

thanks sir!

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