Frequently Answers Question
Q.1 What is the eligibility criterion to apply for the examination?
The details of the all three categories of the eligibility criteria are given below.
Either:
- Certification of completion of a structured two years training course inclusive of experience in Family Medicine/General Practice and accredited by the South Asia Region MRCGP [INT] Board.
Or:
- Certification of completion of an accredited one year programme in Family Medicine with an additional two years clinical experience. This should consist of either two years in FM or a minimum of one year in FM with a further year in a speciality/-ies allied to Family Medicine/General Practice that are certified by the local accrediting organisation and approved by the regional MRCGP [INT] Board.
Or
- Minimum of five years clinical experience of which a minimum of three years should be in Family Medicine/General Practice and the other years in speciality/-ies allied to Family Medicine/General Practice certified by the local accrediting organisation and approved by the regional MRCGP [INT] Board.
Q.2 What are the other sub-specialties accepted by the South Asia Board?
The acceptable sub-specialties for the remaining required clinical experience in eligibility criteria 2 & 3 include Internal medicine, Obs & Gynae, Paeds, Psychiatry, and Emergency Medicine. Up to six months of Surgery experience is also accepted.
Q.3 I have four years of clinical experience and one year house job / internship experience; Am I eligible to apply?
The internship experience is not counted in the required clinical experience duration so one another 1 year of clinical experience is required to apply under criteria 3.
Q.4 Tell me the dates of the Part I & OSCE examination in the current year, the fee structure and the registration dates.
Details of all examinations scheduled in the current year are available in examination calendar on the website. The registration opening dates and fee details are also available in the same document.
Q.5 How can I get the application form and where should I submit it?
Application form is published on the website on the registration opening date and can be downloaded. Form along with the required documents can be sent directly to the South Asia admin office in Karachi or to any of the regional offices (details of all the offices are available on the website).
Q.6 Does the South Asia Board offers exemption from any part of the exam on the basis of any qualification?
The MRCGP [INT] South Asia Board does not offer any exemption on any basis.
Q.7 I have cleared Part I exam from MRCGP [INT] UAE / (any other approved site), Can I apply for the South Asian Part II OSCE exam?
All parts of the examination are to be cleared from one accredited site.
Q.8 Please confirm the documents to be submitted along with the Part I application form.
An application guide is published on the website on the examination registration opening date and contains the details of all the documents to be attached with the application form.
Q.9 I have previously appeared / cleared Part I exam. Do I need to send all experience certificates again with the next part I or OSCE application.
Candidates already registered only need to send a filled and signed updated version of the application form, copy of any valid medical license, photograph and the bank draft. OSCE candidates must attach part I passing email.
Q.10 All queries regarding the International Membership of Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).
All membership queries are dealt by the membership department at RCGP and queries should be sent to membership.services@rcgp.org.uk
Q.11 I belong to a south Asian country but permanently based in the UK and would like to take the South Asia exam.
South Asian candidates based in UK can apply for the exam subject to fulfilling the eligibility criteria.
Q.12 I am interested to work as a GP in the UK in future; can I apply for the South Asian examination?
The qualification does not guarantee a working opportunity in the UK. Please visit the RCGP website www.rcgp.org for the required version of the MRCGP exam for working in UK.
Q.13 I am not satisfied with my result and would like my examination paper to be scrutinized again?
As per the rules and regulations of the South Asia Board, the result announced is final and the Board does not accept any request / appeal for rechecking of paper or the change of marks.
Q.14 Can I pay the fee online / through direct bank transfer?
The fee can be paid through a bank draft in GBP or USD and can also be paid through bank transfer. The routing for direct bank transfer is published on the website with the exam registration opening. Note that bank drafts in GBP must have a MICR code as without that they are not accepted for clearance. Online payments through credit card is currently not available.
Q.15 Can I apply online for the examination?
Currently online application facility is not available and the candidates are required to send duly filled and signed hard copy of the application form along with the required documents.
Q.16 Please suggest the reading material for the examination preparation.
See the exam resources page on our website. Sample MCQs and model videos have also been published on the website. Exam preparation guidelines are also mentioned in the rules and regulations document on the website.
Q.17 Can I know my result on phone?
As per the policy, result is ONLY communicated through email on the candidates registered email ID.
Q.18 Is it mandatory to attend a preparatory course?
Attending preparatory course is recommended by the South Asia Board but it is not mandatory. The MRCGP [INT] South Asia does not accredit any preparatory course run by various organizations / individuals. The South Asia Board runs its own OSCE orientation course available twice a year.
Q. 19 I am interested in attending the OSCE orientation course run by the MRCGP [INT] South Asia Board. Please provide the details.
The MRCGP [INT] South Asia Board organize two OSCE orientation courses every year in June/July and December/January. Exact dates are published on the website. Usually the course venue is Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Q.20 For examination registration, Is it mandatory to get membership from any of the family medicine organization?
Membership of any family medicine organization is not mandatory for application.
Q. 21 I have a medical problem, Can special arrangements be made for me during the examination?
Candidates must inform the South Asia admin office in writing well before the exam date. Based on the nature of the problem, possible arrangements could be made (like giving some extra time to candidate with dyslexia) during the part I examination. Due to the OSCE examination format such arrangements cannot be made. However, OSCE examiners are informed beforehand if any candidate has any related medical problem and it is considered while marking the candidate. Candidates will be required to submit supporting evidence by an appropriate qualified authority with the request for special arrangements.
Q. 22 What are the maximum number of attempts for the part I and part II exams?
There is no limit for the part I exam. On clearing part I exam, a maximum of three attempts are allowed for the part II OSCE exam and failing to which a candidate will have to re-sit part I exam.
Q. 23 I cleared part I exam three years back. Can I apply for the upcoming OSCE?
Both parts of the exam have to be cleared within 6 years of the date of passing the part I AKT exam.
Q. 24 I cleared the last AKT exam. Can I appear in the upcoming OSCE exam?
Success in part I exam makes a candidate eligible to apply for the next subsequent part II OSCE exam.
Q. 25 I cleared the last AKT exam but could not appear in the upcoming OSCE exam. Will it be counted as an attempt?
Only those attempts will be counted in which the candidate appeared and was unsuccessful.
Q. 26 I need a certificate mentioning that I have cleared part I written exam.
Part I result is only communicated through email and no certificate is issued in this regard.
Q. 27 I want my MRCGP [INT] degree to be verified. How can I do that?
RCGP has some understanding with British Council (BC) for verification of their degrees. Please contact the local BC office or RCGP directly.
Q. 28 Can you provide old AKT examination papers / OSCE cases for preparing for the exam?
Previous examination papers and sample OSCE stations are not provided. Please visit the website for sample MCQs and model video consultations.
Q. 29 Please confirm about the do’s and don’ts for the AKT / OSCE exam? What do I need to take with me?
Both part I & OSCE candidates must bring with them a printout of the email sent by the South Asia administration office and any photo identification document on the exam day. They will be briefed before the start of each exam. Stationery is provided to the part I candidates at the exam venue. OSCE candidates are required to bring a stethoscope with them.
Q. 30 Is there a specific dress code for AKT & OSCE exam?
The required dress standard for candidates is professional attire maintaining suitable standard of appearance. Wearing white lab coat is not mandatory. Jeans, sandals, track suit and scrubs are not allowed. Candidates may not be allowed to appear in the exam in case of not following the dress code.
Female candidates wearing a scarf will be asked for face identification. This will be done by a female staff member during the OSCE. For the AKT exam, the Board shall advise British Council to make arrangements accordingly but does not guarantee for this arrangement at all centres.
Q. 31 Can the South Asia administration office help us in making the hotel reservation for the OSCE exam?
No assistance is offered by the administration office in accommodation reservation.
Q. 32 I sent my application for the upcoming exam through courier. Please confirm receipt.
Application receiving acknowledgement emails are sent after at least two weeks from the application submission deadline. However, candidates may confirm from the courier company through which they sent the application, the date of delivery and the name of receiving person.
Q. 33 I am based in KSA but can I take part I exam in Chennai?
A part I exam candidate can appear at any of the seven centres and need to mark preferred centre in the application form. OSCE exam is only held every year currently in March in Karachi, Pakistan and every September / October in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Q. 34 I am a registered candidate for the upcoming exam but unable to attend it. What about my paid fee?
Application withdrawal deadlines are mentioned in the examination calendar. In case of withdrawal without any deduction, the candidate may either choose to credit the full fee towards the next subsequent exam and will be required to pay the difference of the fee in case it is revised. In case the candidate want the application and bank draft to be returned, he / she will have to send a prepaid courier envelope for it as the charges have to be borne by the candidate. Ineligible candidates are also required to send prepaid courier envelopes for returning the application and bank draft.
Q. 35 I am interested in working abroad. How the examination can help me?
The qualification provides working opportunities in UAE, KSA and other Middle East countries.
Q. 36 How can I apply for FRCGP?
Candidates with MRCGP [INT] qualification and having good standing with RCGP for a period of at least five years may be eligible to apply for FRCGP [INT] subject to fulfilling the conditions. Further information is available on the RCGP website.
Q.37 Is the exam qualification recognized by The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council?
Yes the qualification has been recognized by PMC. for more details https://mrcgpintsouthasia.org/news-updates/
Q. 38 Please send me the details of the Continuing Medical Education (CME) sessions / programmes.
The MRCGP [INT] South Asia Board from time to time organizes various CME programmes for the Family Physicians and in future the details will also be published on the website. Various Family Medicine organizations working in the member countries also organize CME programmes throughout the year and may be contacted directly for details.