MRCP stands for Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom. It is a postgraduate medical qualification — not a medical test or lab investigation — that doctors sit to demonstrate the knowledge, clinical skills and judgment required for higher specialist training in internal medicine.

This page answers the short, specific questions doctors search for most: the full form, what the qualification actually means, how many parts it has, and the steps involved in getting it. For the complete breakdown of format, eligibility and cost, see our full guide: What is the MRCP Exam? The Complete Guide.

MRCP full form

The full form of MRCP is Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom, commonly written as MRCP(UK). It is jointly awarded by three institutions:

  • The Royal College of Physicians of London
  • The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
  • The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

Because all three colleges run the diploma together under a single joint body (the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK), the qualification and exam content are identical no matter which college a candidate is affiliated with.

What does MRCP actually mean as a qualification?

Holding MRCP means a doctor has passed a rigorous, internationally recognised assessment of medical knowledge and clinical reasoning at the level required to begin specialist (registrar-level) training in internal medicine or a related specialty. It sits between basic postgraduate medical training and consultant-level specialist certification.

MRCP is not a medical test performed on a patient — a common point of confusion given the name. It is a professional membership exam sat by doctors, comparable in purpose to board certification exams in other countries.

In the UK, MRCP is typically required to progress into Internal Medicine Training (IMT) and beyond. Internationally, it's one of the most widely recognised routes for overseas doctors pursuing postgraduate training or registration pathways connected to UK-style medicine.

How many parts does MRCP have?

MRCP(UK) has three parts, taken in a fixed sequence:

  1. MRCP Part 1 — a written exam testing core clinical science knowledge: pharmacology, physiology and the scientific basis of clinical medicine, assessed through best-of-five multiple-choice questions.
  2. MRCP Part 2 (Written) — a written exam testing applied clinical knowledge: diagnosis, investigation and management of realistic patient scenarios, including image-based questions.
  3. PACES — the Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills, a face-to-face clinical exam assessing examination technique, communication and clinical judgment with real and simulated patients.

A doctor becomes fully MRCP(UK)-qualified only once all three components have been passed.

What are the steps to get MRCP?

The typical sequence a candidate follows is:

  1. Meet eligibility — complete at least 12 months of postgraduate medical experience after graduation. There's no requirement to be working in the UK.
  2. Apply for and sit MRCP Part 1 — during one of the exam's scheduled "diets" (exam sittings), applying within the published application window.
  3. Pass Part 1, then apply for MRCP Part 2 (Written) — ideally within one or two diets of passing Part 1, while the foundational science knowledge is still fresh.
  4. Pass Part 2, then sit PACES — the practical clinical component, which can be taken once Part 1 has been passed; most candidates complete the written Part 2 first, though the exact sequencing relative to Part 2 is flexible.
  5. Achieve full MRCP(UK) membership — once all three parts are passed.

For exact upcoming exam dates and current fees for Part 1 and Part 2, see our guide: MRCP Exam Dates & Fees 2026/2027.

Is MRCP the same as MRCS?

No. MRCP (Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians) is for doctors pursuing medicine — internal medicine and its subspecialties. MRCS (Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons) is a separate, unrelated qualification for doctors pursuing a career in surgery. The two exams test entirely different content and lead to different training pathways, so if you're aiming for a physician (non-surgical) specialty, MRCP is the qualification you need.

Who typically takes the MRCP exam?

MRCP candidates are usually doctors who have completed foundation training and want to progress into internal medicine specialist training, along with a very large number of international medical graduates (IMGs) worldwide who use MRCP as a recognised route toward UK-aligned postgraduate training and career progression. Exams are held at centres across the UK and internationally, which is part of why MRCP is one of the most commonly sat postgraduate medical exams globally.

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