Core psychiatry training in Scotland

Core psychiatry training explored

Core training in Scotland offers a structured and dynamic 3-year programme (CT1-CT3). Through a series of 6-month rotations, you'll have placements in varied clinical environments. You'll gain experience with diverse patient groups across a range of subspecialties, which could include:

• Addictions
• Child and Adolescent
• Eating Disorders (ScotFED)
• Forensic
• General Adult
• Intellectual Disability
• Liaison
• Medical Psychotherapy
• Neuropsychiatry
• Old Age
• Perinatal
• Social and Rehabilitation

You’ll learn about common psychiatric disorders and their treatment, and develop skills in a range of assessment and therapeutic approaches.

Psychotherapy training

Core psychiatry training includes mandatory psychotherapy training to help you develop essential skills in understanding and connecting with patients' emotional complexities. It also provides valuable experience and training in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). 

Learn more about the national recruitment process for core psychiatry training.

Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych) exam

The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) is the professional body for psychiatrists in the UK.

What is the MRCPsych exam?

The MRCPsych is the membership exam of the RCPsych for doctors training in psychiatry in the UK. It assesses your theoretical knowledge and clinical skills through written papers and practical assessments. 

Passing the MRCPsych exams demonstrates your competence across the breadth of core psychiatry. It is essential for your progression to higher psychiatry training and becoming a consultant psychiatrist.

Discover more about the typical training timeline for a UK psychiatrist.

MRCPsych exam format

There are 3 parts to the MRCPsych exam:

• Paper A
• Paper B
• Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competencies (CASC)

Early in your core training, you’ll sit Paper A and Paper B online. The CASC exam is a practical assessment of your clinical skills through simulated patient scenarios. You can attempt the in-person CASC exam in CT3.

Find out how to apply for the MRCPsych exam.

How to prepare for the MRCPsych exam

The MRCPsych exams cover a wide syllabus including neurosciences, clinical psychiatry, law, and ethics. Structured preparation will help you manage exam pressure. You’ll also develop your knowledge and clinical skills and show that you meet the competencies for safe and effective clinical practice.

Here are 7 top tips to help you navigate your MRCPsych exam preparation:

1. Understand the exam structure and syllabus—Knowing what to expect is vital to your preparation. Familiarise yourself with the structure and syllabus of Paper A, Paper B, and CASC.
2. Start early and be consistent—Break the syllabus down into manageable chunks. Consistent, focused study sessions over several months are far more effective than last-minute cramming.
3. Use high-quality resources and question banks—Practice with lots of multiple-choice and extended matching questions. This will test your knowledge and help you become familiar with the exam format. Discover resources to help you with theory papers.
4. Master critical appraisal—Paper B includes a significant critical review component. Dedicate specific time to understanding research methodologies, statistics, and how to appraise papers effectively.
5. Form or join a study group—Collaborating with peers can enhance understanding and provide support. You can also practice CASC scenarios in a realistic setting under timed conditions.
6. Use your clinical experience—Connect your clinical work with the exam syllabus. Reflect on cases and how they relate to theoretical knowledge and clinical guidelines.
7. Look after your health and wellbeing—Balance study with rest, exercise, and social activities. Burnout is counterproductive, so make sure you maintain your physical and mental health. This is crucial for learning and performance.

Learn more about what you need to do to prepare for Paper A, Paper B and CASC.

Higher psychiatry training recruitment

At the end of core psychiatry training, your progress will be assessed by an ARCP panel. Passing the MRCPsych and gaining a satisfactory outcome from your final review means you’re eligible to progress into higher psychiatry training. Applications for higher psychiatry training can be made prior to the outcomes of CASC and ARCP.

Recruitment for higher psychiatry training is a national process. Resident doctors apply for posts using the Oriel portal.

Here's a breakdown of the steps:

1. Meet the eligibility criteria—You must complete core psychiatry training and pass the MRCPsych examination by the time offers are made. You’ll also need to meet other criteria outlined in the national higher training person specification, including relevant experience and competencies.   
2. Apply using Oriel—You’ll apply online for an ST4 vacancy using the Oriel platform during the national application window.
3. Self-assessment and evidence—You’ll complete the self-assessment section in your application. You should include your achievements and experience using the higher training person specification as a guide. You may need to upload evidence to support your claims, which will be verified.
4. Interviews—Unlike core training recruitment, higher training applications involve standardised interviews, which could be in-person or online.   
5. Preferencing posts—After interviews and assessment, you’ll rank the available higher training posts in your preferred specialties and locations on Oriel.
6. Offers—Offers are made based on your performance in the selection process and your post preferences. All offers are managed through the Oriel portal.

For higher training posts, there are 2 recruitment rounds per year, starting in August and February. For up-to-date information and timelines, refer to Oriel and the official National Medical Specialty Recruitment website.