UK emergency medicine: MRCEM/FRCEM and demand
Emergency medicine is a high-pressure, chronically short-staffed UK specialty, and internationally-qualified doctors typically enter it through the Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s MRCEM and FRCEM examinations.
Last updated 2026-07-11 · figures are indicative snapshots — confirm current values with the source
How do international doctors enter UK emergency medicine, and is it in demand?
The route runs through MRCEM (Primary, an Intermediate SBA, and an OSCE) and then FRCEM for consultant-level practice, from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. Demand is high: the College’s 2024 census reported around 180 empty consultant posts across the UK, with a third of departments lacking 16 hours a day of consultant cover.
This is free information only, for internationally-qualified doctors who, of their own accord, want to understand the UK registration route. GeraClinic (Gera Services Ltd) is a telemedicine platform, not a recruitment agency: we do not place doctors into UK jobs, we do not actively recruit from countries on the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List (which includes Pakistan and Bangladesh), and we never charge you a fee for finding work. You always apply to UK employers yourself, on your own account.
The MRCEM and FRCEM exams
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine runs a staged set of exams that take a doctor from membership (MRCEM) to fellowship (FRCEM) at consultant level. MRCEM is central to UK specialty training in emergency medicine and is a recognised postgraduate qualification.
- MRCEM Primary: ~180 single-best-answer questions over 3 hours.
- MRCEM Intermediate SBA: two written papers.
- MRCEM OSCE: a practical clinical exam of multiple short stations.
- FRCEM: consultant-level written (SBA) and OSCE exams on the full emergency medicine curriculum.
Why emergency medicine is in demand
Emergency departments face persistent consultant gaps and heavy workloads, which is why internationally-qualified emergency physicians are actively sought by NHS employers (doctors apply directly).
- The College’s 2024 workforce census found around 180 empty consultant posts across the UK, with about 35% of departments lacking 16 hours a day of consultant cover.(Royal College of Emergency Medicine — training overview)
- Earlier College analysis projected a shortfall of around 600 whole-time-equivalent consultants in England within 15 years without intervention.
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Frequently asked questions
What exam do I need to work in UK emergency medicine?+
The MRCEM from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (Primary, an Intermediate SBA and an OSCE), then FRCEM for consultant-level practice. MRCEM is central to UK emergency medicine training and can support GMC registration.
Is emergency medicine in shortage in the UK?+
Yes. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s 2024 census reported around 180 empty consultant posts across the UK, with roughly a third of departments lacking 16 hours a day of consultant cover.
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