Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners

MRCGP is an integrated assessment system, success in which confirms that a doctor has satisfactorily completed specialty training for general practice, and is competent to enter independent practice in the United Kingdom without further supervision. Satisfactory completion of the MRCGP is a pre-requisite for the issue of a certificate of completion of training (CCT) and full Membership of the RCGP.

MRCGP comprises three separate components: an Applied Knowledge Test (AKT), a Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) and Workplace Based Assessment (WPBA), each of which tests different competences using validated assessment methods and which together cover the spectrum of knowledge, skills, behaviours and attitudes defined by the GP Specialty Training curriculum.

MRCGP complies with General Medical Council (GMC) standards on validity, reliability, feasibility, cost effectiveness, opportunities for feedback and impact on learning. It also follows best practice in assessment, quality assurance and standard-setting.

The Applied Knowledge Test is a summative assessment of the knowledge base that underpins independent general practice in the United Kingdom within the context of the National Health Service. Trainees who pass this assessment will have demonstrated their competence in applying knowledge at a level which is sufficiently high for independent practice.

The CSA is a summative assessment of a doctor’s ability to integrate and apply clinical, professional, communication and practical skills appropriate for general practice. Simulating a typical NHS surgery clinic the CSA assesses a range of scenarios from general practice relevant to most parts of the curriculum which can also target particular aspects of clinical care and expertise.

WPBA evaluates the trainee’s progress in areas of professional practice best tested in the workplace and:

• provides an opportunity for gathering evidence and reflecting on performance
• evaluates aspects of professional behaviour that are difficult to assess in traditional examinations
• provides constructive feedback on areas of strength and developmental needs, identifying trainees who may be in difficulty
• drives learning in important areas of competence
• determines fitness to progress to the next stage of training
• WPBA assessments take place throughout GP Specialty Training.

MRCGP examination fees

The following fees apply for examinations with effect from 1 August 2014 until further notice.

Applied Knowledge Test (AKT)

For each attempt at the AKT

Full rate: £530.00

AiT rate (discounted by 10%): £477.00

Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA)

For each attempt at the CSA:

Full rate: £1780.00

AiT rate (discounted by 10 per cent): £1602.00

If you had registered as an Associate in Training (AiT) on or after 1 July 2012 and before March 2014 a total of £405 was built into your AiT training package. The inbuilt elements (£135 per year) are collected over 3 training years as part of your annual AiT fees payable on 1 April each year. These amounts will be made available to you as part of the online booking process when you apply to sit the AKT and CSA.

More information can be found here: GP trainees.

Please refer to the MRCGP exam cancellation and refunds policy.