The FRCA examinations are an integral part of the College's programme of assessments.
The FRCA examinations test the knowledge, skills, behaviours and attitudes as defined by the anaesthetic training curriculum.
Our examinations remain internationally recognised for their fairness and high standards. They have evolved to reflect contemporary best educational and assessment practice and developments in anaesthesia, intensive care and pain medicine.
COVID-19 and Examinations
Postponements and revisions
The College has carefully considered the potential impact of COVID-19 on our examinations (FRCA, FFPM, FFICM) and regretfully we have had to make the difficult decision to postpone the following examinations. Revised dates for these examinations are shown in brackets.
- FFPMRCA SOE in March (to be combined with the 13 October 2020 session)
- FFICM OSCE/SOE in April (to be combined with the 19 - 21 October 2020 session)
- FRCA Primary OSCE/SOE in May (candidates booked for May have been transferred to the November session. An additional examination is scheduled for 2021, month and date tbc)
- FRCA Final SOE in June (scheduled for 2021, month and date tbc)
- FFICM MCQ in July (scheduled for November 2020, date tbc)
Examination results
FRCA Primary MCQ (March exam)
The new result date is 27 March 2020 from 2pm
Since the College is temporarily closed to staff, results letters containing a breakdown of the results will be posted later than the usual 7 working days after publication of the results list. We understand that this will be disappointing and apologise for any inconvenience this delay may cause. Additionally, without access to the building, we cannot process requests for recalculation at this time.
FRCA Final Written (March exam)
Unfortunately, the results for this exam will no longer be available on 24 April 2020 as published.
Recent government guidelines requiring all non-key workers to stay at home, has meant that access to the College is no longer possible, and as a result we are unable to complete the marking. Once this restriction is lifted, all candidates will be notified personally of the new publication date. We know this will be disappointing news and apologise greatly for the delay.
We will be advising schools that trainees should be allowed to progress through the training programme without having passed exams as an exceptional measure. For further information on training and career progression, please see the joint ICM and Anaesthesia website on COVID-19 anaesthetists and intensivists in training
The College is committed to maintaining the highest standards for its examinations. In order to maintain this position, the FRCA examiners and the examinations directorate rigorously quality assures all its processes and ongoing development work to ensure the pre-eminence of the FRCA.
The FRCA examinations provide anaesthetists in training with the opportunity to demonstrate the required outcomes of the curriculum and determine satisfactory progression at each critical progression point within their training programme. The FRCA examinations are also open to anaesthetic doctors who are not in an approved training programme (conditions apply).
As an exams candidate, you will sit the FRCA in two parts:
- the Primary examinations, which are aligned to the core level training curriculum, followed by;
- the Final examinations which are aligned to the intermediate level training curriculum.
Each examination tests different outcomes and competencies using validated assessment methods to test a broad-spectrum of knowledge, understanding, skills, behaviours and attitudes. The exams are approved by the General Medical Council (GMC) for UK postgraduate medical training and follow the UK curricula and guidelines.
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.
Fellowship is also a valued professional distinction for the many international students who come to the UK to sit the FRCA exams.
I would not have made it through the [exam] day had it not been for all the support I received from staff at the college. …. all those staff involved that day … helped make an extremely stressful situation manageable. It has reinforced how being a member of the Royal College of Anaesthetists is truly something to be proud of!
Virtual Tour of the College
To some trainees, already nervous on exam day, our building can appear intimidating at first glance. Take a quick virtual tour before you attend, it will make you feel more familiar with the layout of the College and go some way to easing your anxiety.
