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Career Focus

What are the equivalent qualifications to MRCPsych? I have done my MD in psychiatry in India—am I eligible to apply for the post of specialist registrar in psychiatry?

BMJ 2004; 329 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7457.s12 (Published 10 July 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;329:s12
  1. Rahul Rao, consultant psychiatrist
  1. South London and Maudsley NHS Trust

Abstract

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Unfortunately, there is no equivalent to membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych) outside the United Kingdom that allows doctors from abroad to bypass the senior house officer grade. However, the Royal College of Psychiatrists does recognise training in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong as contributing to eligibility for the MRCPsych examination. Unfortunately, India is not one of the recognised countries.

Don't forget that you will also have to sit and pass both parts of the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) test organised by the General Medical Council. The only exemption in your situation would be through sponsorship from a postgraduate organisation, but such posts are becoming few and far between.

The news is not all doom and gloom in that your MD should be looked on favourably by interview panels and is likely to set you apart from other candidates from abroad.

Good luck with your endeavours in pursuing a career in psychiatry.

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