MRCPCH Clinical exam preparation

Please note: When you book this course you will automatically get access to the MRCPCH Clinical online learning, which you will be required to complete before the day of the course. If you have already purchased this online learning in the last three months, please contact us for a discount code for this course at safeguardingcourses@rcpch.ac.uk.

Overview 

The MRCPCH Clinical exam is an essential part of training for paediatricians and is mapped to the UK curriculum, RCPCH Progress+. This hybrid course comprises:

• online learning, which you can engage with at your own pace (you must complete this before the day of the course)
• a day with in-person workshops, where you get the opportunity to put what you have studied online into practice. 

The teaching faculty are highly experienced paediatricians. This elite team will help you to have a better grasp of the assessment criteria as well as identifying and explaining the skills needed to succeed at each station. It will also address areas of practice you may find difficult, such as how to conduct a developmental assessment. This course also provides a safe learning environment to encourage you to ask questions and share good practice with others preparing for the exam.

The highlight of the course was the practical focus and real-life clinical examples.

Online learning

When you register for this course you will be given 90 days access to the online learning content. Please allow between 6-7 hours to complete this. You can complete at your own pace however you must complete before attending the course as this will allow you to get the most out of the face to face day. 

The online learning helps exam candidates to prepare for the exam through pre-recorded lectures by experienced examiners who talk through each station and provide tips and tricks for passing.

The online learning also includes video demonstrations of different stations by professional actors and examiners. 

The online learning includes content on: 

• Child development
• History taking and management planning
• Video
• Communication
• Short clinical (note this video is not a demonstration but rather case studies on various conditions) 

In-person workshops

These will give you the opportunity to practice the following stations:

• Communication
• Child development
• Video
• History taking and management planning

Please note: We will not be holding practice stations for the short clinical station because we do not wish for children to be missing nursery/school to participate in the course. However, the online learning includes video content on this station.

All workshops (except video) will involve actors, just as in the exam, and you will receive feedback from our expert clinicians on your performance. There will also be an opportunity to discuss final concerns with faculty at the end of the day.  

Excellent learning experience—I enjoyed it a lot. Among all the RCPCH exam preparation courses I’ve attended, this has been my favourite. 

Aim

To equip paediatric trainees with the knowledge and skills to succeed in the MRCPCH Clinical exam.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, you will:

• Be fully aware of the exam format and what to expect in their assessment on the various stations
• Have developed a clear understanding and familiarity of the assessment criteria and its application in the exam
• Have a clearer understanding of what is required to pass each station through knowledge of the assessment criteria
• Understand the common pitfalls and how to avoid them
• Be able to reflect on the content, knowledge and further revision needed to ensure success in the MRCPCH Clinical exam

The content was well structured and relevant to clinical practice. The delivery was clear and engaging, and the speakers demonstrated strong subject knowledge.

Audience

MRCPCH Clinical exam candidates preparing for the 2026-2 exams.

Technical requirements (for online learning)

• Computer (laptop/desktop or tablet) or smartphone
• An internet connection – recommended broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE). Minimum bandwidth is 600kbps (up/down) and recommended is 1.5 Mbps (up/down)