FRCA Part 1 Exam

FRCA EXAM OVERVIEW

The FRCA (Membership of the Royal Colleges of Anaesthetists) Examinations are designed to test the skills, knowledge and behaviour of doctors in training. The FRCA consists of two parts:

• Primary examinations, which are aligned to the core level training curriculum, followed by:
• Final examinations which are aligned to the intermediate level training curriculum

On successful completion of both Primary and Final FRCA examinations, you would become a fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists by examination and can use the letters FRCA after your name.

FRCA Primary Examination

3 parts: Multiple Choice Question examination (MCQ), an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and a Structured Oral Examination (SOE).

Each exam has a pass or fail outcome.
MCQ currently comprises: 90 MCQs in three hours, 45 Multiple True False (MTF) questions and 45 Single Best Answer (SBA) questions.

Note: MTF will be slowly phased out from 2022

• September 2022, papers will comprise 30 MTF and 60 SBA questions
• From September 2023, the Primary FRCA MCQ exam will comprise 90 Single Best Answer (SBA) questions in three hours.

REQUIREMENTS:

Primary MCQ – maximum six attempts – pass valid for three years

Registered with the GMC or other National Medical Council AND

Currently registered with the RCoA as a UK trainee in Anaesthesia, or as an ACCS, a Foundation Programme trainee, ICM trainee or registered as a trainee in Anaesthesia with the College of Anaesthetists, Ireland (ACCS, FTs and ICM trainees are registered with the College on registration for exam purposes only) OR

An Anaesthetist who is registered with the College in a recognised membership category (not affiliated) (see Related Information) OR
Has previously successfully applied for Temporary Examination Eligibility (TEE)