Syllabus & Exams

Your complete guide to the MRCEM & FRCEM exams.

What each exam tests, when it runs and what it costs — mapped to the 2025 RCEM curriculum, and matched to the UK's largest EM question bank so you revise exactly how you're examined.

Explore the question bank →   See pricing

The exams

MRCEM vs FRCEM: the whole pathway.

Two qualifications, five exams. MRCEM (Membership) is the gateway into higher specialty training (ST4+). FRCEM (Fellowship) is the exit exam you complete during higher training to earn your CCT.

MRCEM · Membership
Step 1PrimaryBasic sciences
Step 2SBAClinical knowledge
Step 3OSCEClinical & comms
MRCEMEnter ST4+
FRCEM · Fellowship
Either orderSBAFull curriculum
Either orderOSCEComplex EM + CLA
FRCEMAwarded CCT
Order & currency

MRCEM components must be passed in order — Primary, then SBA, then OSCE. FRCEM SBA and OSCE may be sat in either order. You have seven years to complete MRCEM, then further seven-year windows to start and to finish FRCEM.

Each exam in detail

What every component examines.

Formats, content and eligibility for all five exams. Fees are confirmed for 2026 (UK rates shown); international and centre-specific fees differ — see the RCEM calendar.

MRCEM

Primary

180 SBA · 3 hrs

Formerly FRCEM Primary (2016–2021)

Format
180 single-best-answer questions, 3 hours, computer-based at test centres worldwide.
Examines
Basic sciences — anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, pathology and evidence-based medicine.
Eligibility
A GMC-accepted primary medical qualification and current medical registration.
Standard set
Angoff method · no negative marking.
2026 fee
£429 member · £525 non-member.
How EMF prepares youPractise 3,600+ MRCEM Primary basic-sciences SBAs — anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, pathology and EBM — filtered by topic with progress tracking. Start MRCEM Primary →
MRCEM

SBA

180 SBA · 4 hrs

Replaced the FRCEM Intermediate SAQ (2021)

Format
180 SBAs in two sections, 4 hours total (2 × 2 hrs with a break), computer-based.
Examines
The full range of conditions and presentations seen in the ED — the Year 1–3 clinical SLOs.
Eligibility
Full registration with a licence, two years' experience since your primary degree, and a pass in MRCEM Primary.
Standard set
Angoff + 1 SEM · no negative marking.
2026 fee
£429 member · £525 non-member.
How EMF Premium prepares youPractise against 40,000+ SBAs tagged to the exact SLOs and clinical categories MRCEM SBA examines. Explore Premium →
MRCEM

OSCE

16 stations · 2h 42m

In-person clinical exam

Format
16 stations of 8 minutes (plus reading time) and 2 rest stations — about 2 hours 42 minutes, in person.
Examines
Clinical and communication skills at the level expected to start higher training.
Eligibility
Full registration, six months' EM experience above Foundation level, and passes in MRCEM Primary and SBA.
Centres
London, Kuala Lumpur, Chennai and Hyderabad.
2026 fee
UK £586 member · £695 non-member (higher at India and Malaysia centres).
Our OSCE station library is now live — it is part of EMF Premium.
FRCEM

SBA

180 SBA · 4 hrs

Replaced the FRCEM Final SAQ (2021)

Format
180 SBAs in two sections, 4 hours total, computer-based.
Examines
The full RCEM curriculum — including research, management and quality improvement.
Eligibility
Completed MRCEM plus the required higher-training experience (UK trainees: 12 months at ST4+ level).
Standard set
Angoff + 1 SEM · no negative marking.
2026 fee
£429 member · £525 non-member.
How EMF Premium prepares youEMF Premium spans the full curriculum the FRCEM SBA blueprints — clinical, plus research, management and QI. Explore Premium →
FRCEM

OSCE

16 stations · 2h 42m

London only

Format
16 stations of 8 minutes (plus reading) and 2 rest stations — about 2 hours 42 minutes, in person in London.
Examines
Complex and challenging EM situations, including a critical-appraisal station with a journal article.
Eligibility
Same as the FRCEM SBA — completed MRCEM plus higher-training experience.
Standard set
Domain-based; borderline regression + 1 SEM. You must pass overall and at least one of the three resuscitation stations.
2026 fee
£586 member · £695 non-member.
Our OSCE station library is now live — it is part of EMF Premium.
Dates & fees

Confirmed 2026 exam diets.

Application windows open at 10am UK and close seven days later at 4pm UK. Theory results follow in about 6–8 weeks, OSCE results in about 5. Dates and fees are confirmed for 2026 — always confirm on the RCEM exam calendar before booking.

Exam2026 sittingsApplications closeFee · UK member / non-member
MRCEM Primary22 Apr · 27 Oct18 Dec 2025 · 22 Jul 2026£429 / £525
MRCEM SBA21 Jan · 16 Sep5 Nov 2025 · 17 Jun 2026£429 / £525
MRCEM OSCEJan · May–Jun · Nov (London) + India & Malaysia windowsSee calendar£586 / £695
FRCEM SBA20 May · 7 Oct25 Feb · 8 Jul 2026£429 / £525
FRCEM OSCE6–19 May · 30 Nov–11 Dec (London)4 Feb · 9 Sep 2026£586 / £695

Always-current dates & fees → RCEM calendar

Mapped to the 2025 RCEM curriculum

Structured across all 12 SLOs.

Every question tagged to a Specialty Learning Outcome, so your revision mirrors the exam.

SLO1Stable adults in the ED
SLO2Answering clinical questions
SLO3Resuscitation & stabilisation
SLO4The acutely injured patient
SLO5Children of all ages
SLO6Key procedural skills
SLO7Complex & challenging situations
SLO8Lead the ED shift
SLO9Support, supervise & educate
SLO10Research & data
SLO11Quality & safety improvement
SLO12Lead & manage
SBA coverage

130+ categories across every specialty.

40,000+ single-best-answers, filed against the SLOs and clinical categories you'll be examined on. Counts are approximate and grow as the bank expands.

Adult MedicineSurgeryMajor TraumaPaediatric EMCritical CareToxicologyMental HealthObstetrics & GynaecologyPOCUSPractical ProceduresCritical Appraisal / Research / QIEM Hot Topics
SLOFocusApprox. SBAs
SLO1Adults in the ED~14,000
SLO3Resuscitation & critical care~6,000
SLO4Major trauma~3,500
SLO5Paediatric EM~5,000
SLO6Practical procedures~2,000
SLO7Complex & difficult situations~2,500
SLO8Leading the ED shift~2,000
SLO10 / 11Critical appraisal, QI & research~3,000
SLO12Management & governance concepts~2,000

Note: SLO2 (clinical decision support) and SLO9 (supervision and teaching) are cross-cutting outcomes assessed throughout the curriculum rather than as standalone SBA categories, so they are not listed separately above.

OSCE coverage Now live

1,200+ stations across 20 categories.

OSCE stations are now live — included in EMF Premium. The station library mirrors the real OSCE mix — resuscitation, history-taking, communication, examination, procedures and more.

Resuscitation

Adult · Paediatric · Trauma

History-taking

Adult · Paediatric · Mental health · Safeguarding

Communication

Breaking bad news · Conflict

Clinical examination

Systems · Musculoskeletal

Paediatrics

Non-resus presentations

Mental health

Assessment & risk

Safeguarding

Adult & child

Procedures

Practical skills stations

The injured patient

Assessment & management

Critical literature appraisal

Evidence & statistics

Ethics & professionalism

EPIC · insight · capacity

Management & teaching

Leadership · Teaching
Kept current

Content is written and peer-reviewed by a practising UK Emergency Medicine Consultant and senior trainees, and re-checked whenever a relevant RCEM or NICE guideline changes.

EM Final Exams is an independent revision resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM). FRCEM and MRCEM are referenced for descriptive purposes only.

Revise exactly how you’re examined.

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