All of our roles are volunteering opportunities, although sessional time for our senior officer roles will be reimbursed through your employer.
Contribute your clinical expertise to our boards and committees
Further the Federation’s work as global leaders in physician education
Standard Setting Group Opportunities
Examining Board Opportunities
There are 13 examining boards, which are split between the MRCP(UK) Part 1 and Part 2 Exams, and the Speciality Certificate Exams.
The boards review three exam papers of 100 questions each over two days. They then decide on the 100 questions to be included in the final exam and discuss the outcomes and data from the previous diet.
The two MRCP(UK) examining boards, split into a Part 1 Board and Part 2 Board, consist of both trainees and consultants, and also host representatives from our Hong Kong and Singapore partners. They meet three times a year and produce papers for the three MRCP(UK) exam diets that run yearly. The members are all volunteers however, the Board Chair and Secretary are salaried roles.
The 11 speciality examining boards are structured the same as the Part 1 and Part 2 boards, with the exception that there are no salaried roles, and three of the 11 boards include representation from Europe.
Specialist Advisory Committee Opportunities
There are 38 Specialist Advisory Committees (SACs) at the Federation. The SACs meet intermittently throughout the year to discuss the higher specialty training in their specialism for the four years of training it spans.
The SACs consist of Training Programme Directors (TPDs), speciality specific experts such as members of speciality societies, trainees, and lay representatives.
There are seven main workstreams for the SACs:
- Ensuring the quality of training including collecting data from trainers and trainees on curriculum implementation, and education and training.
- Ascertaining the scope of the workforce, role distribution across the UK, and incoming and outgoing trainee numbers.
- Curriculum and assessment work, which ensures the curriculum is up to date and relevant.
- The ePortfolio, its structure and usability/suitability for ARCPs and PYAs.
- Certification and training work, which includes singing off on CCTs, assessing Portfolio Pathway Applications, etc.
- Evaluating academic opportunities for trainees, such as research opportunities or academic posts.
- The recruitment of new trainees and their placement.
There are two groups of SACs.
- Group 1 specialities dual accredit with their speciality and General Internal Medicine.
- Group 2 specialities do not dual accredit with General Internal Medicine, and only provide a single CCT.
| Role | Closing Date |
| No roles currently available |
Question Writing Opportunities
There are two question writing groups: The MRCP(UK) (Speciality Question Group) SQG, and the SCE (Question Writing Group) QWG.
The MRCP(UK) SQG produces questions for the MRCP(UK) Part 1 and Part 2 exams. It is made up of consultants from all specialties, who have a three-year tenure. They meet once a year, across two days and work to produce and calibrate the exam questions.
The SCE QWG is made up of consultants from all specialties with a Speciality Certificate Exam. Much like the MRCP SQG, the SCE question writing group meets once a year across two days. The consultants split into their specialties and work to create a robust and quality Speciality Certificate Examination. Their tenure is also three years.
- Chairs of Specialty Question Groups (SQG)
- Chair of Specialty Certificate Examination (SCE) Question Writing Group
The tenure of board appointments is three years. Subject to the agreement of the Associate Medical Director for Written Examinations, individual tenure may be extended by up to a maximum of three years to ensure orderly succession planning.
Become a Question Writer
Scenario Writing Opportunities
The Scenario Writing Group consists of both consultants and trainees, who meet twice a year to write scenarios for the PACES Clinical Examination.
The consultants and trainees come from all specialties and have a tenure of three years.
| Role | Closing Date |
| No roles currently available |
Steering Group
| Role | Closing Date |
| No roles currently available |
Become a lay member
There is a Specialist advisory committee (SAC) for each of our 29 specialties, 3 subspecialties and for the advisory committee on Core Medical Training. Membership of SACs, with the exception of the chairman and a lay representative, is through nomination and represents the following:
- Heads of Specialty Training from each area where training is delivered (normally the TPD)
- The Royal Colleges
- Specialist Societies
- Postgraduate deaneries
- Trainees
Senior officer roles
The Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK is seeking to appoint a new Chair of the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examining Board.
The Federation of the Royal College of Physicians is committed to ensuring a diverse workforce and positively encourages applications for suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity. Applications are welcomed from those employed in less than full time posts. The possibility of a job share can be discussed.
The successful applicant will have overall responsibility for the clinical and academic leadership of the Part 2 Written Examining Board, to ensure that all academic objectives are met; ensuring that the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination meets the standards set by the General Medical Council (GMC); lead on preparation of examination papers; be responsible for the production and accuracy of all documentary and regulatory matters relating to the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination; advising the MRCP(UK) Management and Policy Board on policy and academic matters relating to the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination; support MRCP(UK) Central Office in the development and delivery of the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination, including advising on appeals, misconduct, and reasonable adjustments.
A full list of the post’s responsibilities is set out in the job description and person specification.
Applicants should meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply:
- Hold the MRCP(UK) or an equivalent postgraduate diploma. Be a fellow of one of the three colleges and be registered and in good standing with the GMC.
- Have a current licence to practise.
- Be actively engaged in the training of junior doctors within the last two years.
- Be up to date as appropriate with relevant national guidelines, CPD requirements, employer’s equality and diversity training and appraisal process.
- Have knowledge and experience(s) appropriate to this post.
- Have their employer’s permission.
The tenure of board appointments is three years in the first instance. Subject to the agreement of the Medical Director for Assessment and the Federation Executive Medical Director, individual tenure may be extended for a second term up to a maximum of three years thereafter.
The Chair of the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examining Board will normally devote one session per week to the Examining Board matters. It is anticipated that approximately 40 sessions per year will be spent on these activities. The Federation agrees to reimburse the employing Trust or Board for the appointee’s salary and associated costs. These are paid at a pro rata rate of the standard 10 PA consultant contract.
Applications for the post, including a CV and one-page covering letter outlining your suitability for the post, or enquiries about the role, should be submitted to benjamin.gillon@thefederation.uk (020 3075 1465). The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 25 July.
Interviews will take place remotely and further information about the date will be provided in due course.
The successful applicant would ideally be able to attend the meeting of the Part 2 Written Examining Board taking place on MS Teams on the 7 - 8 October 2025 before formal take up of the role from 2 November 2025.