Founded by Peter Lowe after receiving a royal charter by James VI in 1599, as the Glasgow Faculty, it originally existed as a regulatory authority to ensure that physicians, surgeons and dentists In the West of Scotland were appropriately trained and regulated.

[3] The Charter was granted to Peter Lowe, a surgeon who trained in France, and author of The Whole Course of Chirurgerie (1597), and Robert Hamilton, a Scottish physician.

The Charter also mentions by name the apothecary William Spang, who was granted the power to inspect and regulate the sale of drugs in the town.

The barbers received money to the value of their share in the Faculty Hall in the Trongate and a new, separate Letter of Deaconry from the town council.

This resulted in extensive litigation in the early 19th century over the status of surgical degrees, which was eventually settled in the faculty's favour.

From that time onward the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow has concentrated on postgraduate training, professional development and examinations.

[citation needed] The four surgical colleges in the UK and Ireland received authorisation, through legislation laid out in the Dentists Act 1878 (41 & 42 Vict.

[15] 1968 saw formation of the Joint Committee for Higher Training in Dentistry by the four Royal Colleges of Edinburgh, England, Glasgow and Ireland.

The University of Glasgow then took responsibility for undergraduate education of dental surgeons and began awarding degrees in Dentistry.

[13][citation needed] As time progressed the MFDS was reconfigured into a two-part examination and eligibility to sit the exam was no longer restricted to those who had undertaken training in approved hospital or community posts.

[citation needed] Dental Specialty Trainees have undergone Fellowship assessments since 1995, each undertaking a three-year minimum duration training programme.

[citation needed] A history of examinations and the qualifications awarded by the College for the dental faculty are listed in table 5 below.

The Royal College holds an annual symposium and awards several prizes (Table 6) which include the T C white Medal for outstanding performance in the Part 2 MFDS examination.

The Faculty of Podiatric Medicine was officially formed on the 11th May 2012, following several years of negotiations between the College and representatives of the Podiatry profession.

The Faculty promotes and supports the advancement of postgraduate education and development in podiatric medicine both locally and across the UK, as well as internationally in such countries as Australia and the United States.