Primary FRCA

The Primary FRCA is more fully called the Primary Examination of the Diploma of Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

Trainee anaesthetists in the United Kingdom are required to pass this examination before applying for Higher Specialist Training (a Specialist Registrar post) in Anaesthesia. (In addition to the FRCA, trainees require a minimum of 21 months' Anaesthesia training and 3 months' Intensive Care training before they would be considered for a Specialist Registrar post in Anaesthesia. There may also be additional requirements, at the discretion of each individual Deanery). With the introduction of MMC in August 2007, the Primary FRCA will become a requirement for application to Specialist Training Year 3, known generally as ST3.

The Primary FRCA examination syllabus covers: The examination takes the form of a Multiple Choice Question paper and, for candidates successful in this, an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and Viva Voce (oral) examination. Successful Candidates are informed the same day, after the OSCE and Viva exams.
 * Anatomy
 * Physiology
 * Clinical Anaesthesia
 * Pharmacology
 * Physics
 * Anaesthetic Equipment
 * Clinical Measurement
 * Pathology
 * Practical Anaesthetic Skills
 * Resuscitation
 * Statistics

The examination is held three times a year, with the MCQ being held in regional centres around the UK (e.g. London, Manchester, and Glasgow) and the OSCE/Viva being held at Churchill House, the College headquarters in London. Only those candidates who clearly pass the MCQ are invited to participate in the OSCE/Viva. Those who fail the MCQ are deemed to have failed the entire examination.

The examination has the same marking scheme (2+, 2, 1+, 1) as the Final FRCA.