Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

In addition, many countries worldwide recognize the qualification as a postgraduate degree in internal medicine and designate its holder as a specialist physician.

[1] The 3 parts of the MRCPI examinations are held throughout the Republic of Ireland and its overseas centers (Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman).

[5] In 1879, the RCPI introduced membership in the college, as a step between licentiateship and fellowship, in response to an increasing number of medical practitioners in Ireland.

Ten years later, the RCPI and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland established the Irish Conjoint Board.

To cope with the global advancement in technology, in January 2016, the part I written examination of the MRCPI in general internal medicine was conducted for the first time using a computer-based testing system.

[7] On March 30, 2021, the RCPI announced that the General Medical Council (GMC) of the United Kingdom has recognized five qualifications (including the MRCPI in general internal medicine awarded after January 1, 2007) issued by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland on their list of acceptable postgraduate qualifications for the purposes of full GMC registration.

As of January 2019, the maximum number of times a candidate can sit any part of an MRCPI examination will be limited to six attempts.

Currently, this part is conducted in Ireland and some of the RCPI's overseas centers (Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Oman).

However, such candidates are not considered members of the RCPI and are not entitled to use the post-nominal letters "MRCPI" until they have been conferred and awarded their diplomas.

[15] As of January 2022, there are 6,039 collegiate members (holders of the MRCPI in general internal medicine who have paid their annual subscription fees).