DCH Clinical FAQs

ELIGIBILITY

Q: What are the entrance requirements?
Q: How much Paediatric Training should I have?
Q: I have passed my Foundation of Practice Written exam. How long do I have to pass the DCH Clinical?

APPLICATIONS

Q: What if I have recently changed my name?
Q: What are the DCH Clinical Fees for 2012?
Q: How can I pay? Can I pay by Credit or Debit Card?
Q: What application forms do I need to send in?
Q: Have you received my application; I am a UK candidate.
Q: I need to inform you of a change of address; what do I do?

Q: What is waitlisting and how does it affect my seven-year registration period?

Q: If I am waitlisted what must I do?

EXAMINATIONS

Q: Where will I be placed for my DCH Clinical?
Q: When will I get my Placement Letter?
Q: I want to withdraw from the examination, what do I do?
Q: Can I transfer my fee or postpone to the next examination?
Q: What should I do if I cannot make one of the advertised dates?
Q: What identification can I take to the examination?

RESULTS

Q: When will the results be sent out?
Q: I wish to appeal against my result. What is the appeals process?
Q: Is there an appeals fee?
Q: When will I know the outcome of my appeal?

OTHER
Q: Do you recommend any courses?
 

Q: What are the entrance requirements?

A: Candidates must have passed their Foundation of Practice Written exam to be elligibile to sit the DCH Clinical exam.

Q: How Much Paediatric Training should I have?

A: It is recommended that candidates should have 4-6 months experience in paediatrics, although this is not a pre-requisite in the UK. If a candidate will be taking the exam in Hong Kong, 6 months paediatrics is required.

  Q: I have passed my Foundation of Practice Written exam. How long do I have to pass the DCH Clinical?

A: You have 7 years in which you must have taken and passed the DCH Clinical exam. After your 7 years has expired you must retake the Foundation of Practice Written exam.

Q: What if I have recently changed my name?

A: Candidates who have changed their name by marriage, deed poll or citizenship of another country must submit original documentary proof if they wish to apply under their new name. This also applies to candidates whose degree certificate contains initials or abbreviations e.g. Dr Mohd Hassan or Dr M Mahmoud Hassan.

Q: What are the DCH Clinical Fees for 2013?

A. For candidates who are applying to sit the Foundation of Practice and DCH Clinical at the same time, please send two separate payments. For 2013 the fee for the Foundation of Practice Written exam is £240 and for DCH Clinical is £386.

The fee payable for successful candidates to receive their DCH Diploma is £89.

• More information on Foundation of Practice Written exam fees
• More information on DCH Clinical fees

 Q: How can I pay? Can I pay by Credit or Debit Card?

A: You may pay by cheque (drawn on a UK bank account), which is the preferred method of payment, by bankers draft or by Credit/Debit Card. Please note there is a 4% surcharge for credit card payments. There is no surcharge for debit cards. We accept the following Credit cards: Visa, MasterCard. We accept the following Debit Cards: Switch. Solo, Visa Electron.

Q: What application forms do I need to send in?

A: If you are a new entrant and applying for the Foundation of Practice Written exam and DCH Clinical at the same time you will need to send in both Forms A, B and Form B2, payment for the exams and your degree certificates. If you are a re-entrant you will need to send in only Form B (for the Foundation of Practice Written exam  , if you have not already passed) and B2 for the DCH clinical. If you have passed Foundation of Practice Written exam  previously you only need to send in Form B2. Please note no further proof for the DCH Clinical is needed if you are a re-entrant.

For more details please use the following links:

• How to enter the Foundation of Practice Written Examination
• How to enter the DCH Clinical Examination

Q: Have you received my application; I am a UK candidate.

A: Candidates should be attaching Stamped Self Addressed Postcards that we date stamp and return to candidates once their application has been received.
These postcards can be downloaded from our website.

 Q: Do you recommend any courses?

A: Recognised preparatory material for the DCH Written paper (shared paper with MRCPCH Foundation of Practice Written exam) is the MRCPCH Mastercourse.  Further details on the MRCPCH Mastercourse.

  Q: I need to inform you of a change of address; what do I do?

A: If you need to inform us of a change of address please fax or write to the DCH Clinical Administrator on the details below at the earliest. Please include your full name, your RCPCH Code 6 digit number, your new address details and sign the letter or fax.

Address:

Royal College Paediatrics and Child Health
Examinations Team
DCH Clinical
5-11 Theobalds Road
London
WC1X 8SH

Fax number: 0044 (0)20 7092 6193

Q: What is waitlisting and how does it affect my seven-year registration period?

A: Applications for the DCH Clinical examination will be accepted dependent upon the number of places available. Consequently, applicants completing online applications may be notified that they have been waitlisted if sufficient places are not available. All candidates affected by these circumstances will have their seven-year DCH registration period extended by one examination sitting and be awarded priority status for the next exam.  Places are allocated to candidates based on date submitted.

Candidates who are not initially allocated a place will be placed on a waiting list for the exam they have applied for, in order of application status. If any placed candidates withdraw or more places are made available, candidates on the waiting list will be contacted and offered these places, in order, up to two weeks before the first day of the examination.

Q: If I am waitlisted what must I do? 

A: We should have notified you that you have been waitlisted.

Although this does not happen often, some DCH Clinical exam diets may require us to have a waitlist due to a shortage of places available.

Candidates who cannot be allocated an immediate placement will be emailed and asked whether they wish to stay on the waitlist in case any spaces become available. If candidates do not wish to do this they can opt to have priority status for the next DCH Clinical exam.

If you stay on the waitlist and we cannot offer you a place you will automatically be given priority status for the next exam if you are available to take it then. If we are able to offer you a place we will email you first before confirming this placement and taking payment. If you choose the priority option we will email you nearer to the exam application date, ask you to apply online, and your placement will be guaranteed.  

Q: Where will I be placed for my DCH Clinical?

A: Candidates cannot choose where they would like to sit the DCH Clinical exam, and the College cannot guarantee that candidates will be placed at a centre near their home or workplace. Nonetheless we do endeavour to take into consideration where candidates live, whenever and wherever possible. Candidates must be aware that the DCH Clinical exams are held in venues across England and Wales therefore candidates may be placed ANYWHERE in England and Wales. If you have any special needs you must inform us when you send in your application form. Please inform us of any particular requests of dates etc either by e-mail, letter or fax at the earliest opportunity to the DCH Clinical section.

  Q: When will I get my Placement Letter?

A: Candidates for the UK examination will be sent a placement letter, usually about 3-4 weeks before the examination. They will be sent a letter giving their placement, a timetable and map etc. This counts as an Admission Document and you must take the letter and ID with you to the examination.

Q: I want to withdraw from the examination, what do I do?

A: Withdrawals must be in writing. Withdrawals after the closing date may be entitled to a refund depending upon the circumstances (e.g. medical, bereavement etc). Evidence must be supplied if requesting a refund (e.g. medical certificate). All refund requests remain at the discretion of the Examinations Team. Difficulties in obtaining a Visa do not currently qualify for an automatic refund. If you need to apply for a Visa please apply for the exam at the beginning of the application period and state clearly that you need a letter for your Visa application.

Q: Can I transfer my fee or postpone to the next examination?

A: No. Candidates need to withdraw from the exam and request a refund.

 Q: What should I do if I cannot make one of the advertised dates?

A: If you have any special needs you must inform us before we place people for the exam, we are not responsible for placing you somewhere you cannot go or a date you cannot make if you have not informed us. In this case you will probably be asked to withdraw from the examination if you cannot make it. It is not usually possible to transfer candidates from one date, or venue, to another. It is also important that you look at the website regularly as all notices of any changes to the dates are mentioned here.

Q: What identification can I take to the examination?

A: Passport, hospital ID card or Driving Licence if it has a photo. Other forms of documentation may be acceptable provided it contains a signature and photo, (but not travel cards).

Q: When will the results be sent out?

A: Results are sent out up to 5 weeks after the examination. Please do not contact us during this time as we receive a great number of calls and this will delay us sending out results.

Examination results are also now available through candidates' online accounts. A notice will be posted in the Exam Results Look Up - All Exams section of this website when the latest results are available to view. You will then be able to access your results using your login credentials.  More information regarding online accounts for RCPCH candidates.

Please note we cannot give out results by phone. 

Q: I wish to appeal against my result. What is the process for appeals against the declared result?

A: If you wish to appeal against your result you must do it within 4 weeks of the exam result being sent out. If you miss this deadline then you will need to wait until after the next exam session (there are currently 2 exam diets per year). The board meeting to discuss appeals takes place 5-6 weeks after the results are issued.

Candidates who wish to appeal must submit a formal letter of appeal. The Appeals Panel will then consider this alongside the data and mark sheets outlining your performance in each station. Candidates should be aware that the Panel review all stations of the exam, not just the one(s) appealed against. Consequently, an appeal may result in a candidate's total overall mark being increased or reduced.

Q: Is there an appeals fee?

A: Yes, candidates who wish to appeal must submit a fee of £200.00 with their appeal letter. If your appeal is successful, this fee will be reimbursed.

If your appeal is unsuccessful, the fee is not reimbursed. The Appeals Panel reserve the right however to reimburse the fee in exceptional circumstances.

Q: When will I know the outcome of my appeal?

A: Candidates will normally be informed of the outcome of their appeal two weeks following the Appeals Panel Review Meeting. This may take longer where additional investigation is required. An explanation of the final decision will be sent in writing.