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MRCEM OSCE is the third and final hurdle before securing the coveted membership in the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. The exam is structured to evaluate the candidate’s clinical skills, patient communication, and clinical decision-making. Here, candidates are made to interact with simulated patients and take charge of emergencies, which require strong interpersonal and hands-on skills.

Eligibility for the MRCEM OSCE Exam

• To register for the MRCEM OSCE Exam you need to have a medical qualification approved by the GMC.
• The applicants must have a full medical registration with a license to practice.
• Moreover, you should complete the UK Foundation Programme or equivalent and pass the MRCEM Primary and Intermediate SBA.
• Finally, you must possess 24 months of experience post-primary medical degree level qualification including 6 months in FTE Emergency Medicine.

Format of the MRCEM OSCE Exam

This is a practical exam in which the candidate’s clinical skills will be evaluated while examining a patient in the presence of an examiner. The Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) consists of 16 sections. Candidates will have two hours and 42 minutes to complete the examination, with eight minutes for each station (16), one minute reading time after each station, and two rest stations.

How to prepare for the Exam

• Hands-on experience- MRCEM OSCE is all about assessing your clinical and communication skills. Hence the best possible preparation is to get hands-on experience. Gain practical experience by working in a busy emergency department.
• Simulated scenarios- Practice managing simulated scenarios to enhance clinical skills and decision-making.
• Get help from experienced colleagues- Moreover, the candidates can further learn from experienced physicians, who are OSCE examiners or registrars who have passed the exam recently and ask for feedback on their history taking and exam skills. This will boost confidence ahead of the exam.
• Communication and diagnosis- Communicate clearly with patients and colleagues and diagnose thoughtfully.
• Thorough practice- Start well in advance and practice 3-4 patients per shift. This will equip you to run through the most likely scenarios during the examination.
• Don’t let nervousness get into you- Calm yourself before each station and then fully read and understand the task at hand.
• YouTube videos- There is a huge collection of useful videos on YouTube. Take a look at the mock OSCE stations which will give you an idea about how the candidates go through the process.
• Grasp pie charts- Before each station, you will come across a pie chart, which explains the distribution of marks. Understand the chart very well and prioritize accordingly. And give emphasis on topics according to the weightage of marks.

If you need extra support in preparation StudyMRCEM is here to help. Our expert-led short and long-term MRCEM Courses are designed to prepare you to pass the exam confidently.  We wish you the best of luck with your MRCEM OSCE exam.

Contact our team today for more details.

Authored By: Sreejith C R