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The MRCPI Paediatrics Part II Written exam is the second part of your journey towards becoming a specialist in paediatrics. It is currently available through remote invigilation so can be completed anywhere in the world.
Update 13 October 2025
Single Best Answer (SBA) paper to replace Short Answer Question (SAQ) paper with effect from March 2026 Examination.
MRCPI Paediatrics Part II Written examination now consists of two Single Best Answer (SBA) papers:
The questions in Paediatrics Part II Written exam test advanced knowledge, problem solving and management of emergency situations in General Paediatrics with an increased focus on specialist areas. It is expected that potential Part II Written candidates will gain a further 6 – 12 months clinical experience after successful completion of the Part I written examination. The aim of the Part II written examinations is to sample the broad breadth of knowledge that would be expected of a doctor starting in a general Paediatrics registrar post. The examination is aligned to the Basic Specialist Training in Paediatrics curriculum.
You must have passed MRCPI Paediatrics Part I or MRCPI General Medicine Part I within the last six years.
If this six-year period has expired, you must re-sit MRCPI Part I.
An attested copy of primary medical degree and equivalent qualification if applying via an exemption.
Attestation must appear on the front of the copy. Your degree can be attested by:
If your primary medical degree is in another language than English, it needs to be officially translated into English. Official translations of any documents will only be accepted if they have been prepared and/or authenticated by:
If you have one of the qualifications listed below, you are exempt from MRCPI Paediatrics Part I, which means you are eligible to apply to MRCPI Paediatrics Part II Written now. As part of the application process you will be asked to upload an attested copy of your equivalent qualification(s).
It's important to prepare for MRCPI exams and not to underestimate how long it takes to get ready. Having an understanding of how each exam is formatted and how questions are constructed will help you prepare and develop good answering strategies.
When you're preparing your study plan, make sure to refer to the following documents:
The fee to sit Part II Written exam from 01 January 2026 is €750 for Irish and overseas students.
The method of payment is credit or debit card, taken at the end of the online application process.
Don't forget: if you're working in Ireland you can claim a refund of the successful examination fee under the HSE Clinical Course and Examination Refund Scheme.
All our written examinations will be delivered by remote invigilation. Instead of travelling to an examination centre and sitting the computer-based examination with other candidates, you do the examination online in a quiet, secure place of your choosing at your own computer, e.g. at home or at work. You will also need a stable internet connection. Candidates are supervised remotely by invigilators throughout the examination.
A quiet, secure environment means:
See Remote Invigilation of Examinations for further details.
The maximum number of times a candidate can sit any part of an MRCPI examination is limited to six attempts.
This means that you have six attempts at each component of the MRCPI exams (so 18 attempts in total across the three parts).
You must pass the examination within six years of your first attempt. See the Information and Resources section for more information.
Please refer to our Information and Resources page to download our latest exam policies and procedures.
Please refer to our Information and Resources page to download the latest versions of our exam policies and procedures.
All applications need to be submitted online via an application form. Please see Exam Applications for all exam updates including application links, and our Exam Calendar for upcoming exam dates.
We have a dedicated examinations support team in our Dublin headquarters. They are there to guide you through your full exam journey, from application to MRCPI conferring. They are present at every exam and always happy to answer your questions.
Contact us at helpdesk@rcpi.ie or tel: +353 1 8639721 (open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm Irish time).