MRCS Examiner

MRCS examiners assess candidates taking the Part B OSCE - one of the most significant milestones in a surgeon’s career. By joining the Court of Examiners, you’ll help uphold the rigour and integrity of the MRCS exam, while contributing your own expertise to the next generation of surgeons. 

We’ll provide full examiner training, so you can step into the role with confidence. It’s a chance to give back to the profession, grow your own skills, and be part of a respected community that sets the standard - here in the UK and around the world. 

Apply to become an MRCS Examiner

Who can apply

MRCS Part B is an OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) that relies on a diverse team of examiners. There are three roles: clinical examiner, lay examiner and basic science examiner. We’re currently recruiting clinical and lay examiners.

Clinical Examiner  

Clinical examiners bring real-world surgical experience to the assessment process. To apply, you’ll need to: 

  • Be a Fellow or Member of our college 
  • Be registered with the appropriate medical regulatory body. UK applicants must hold a valid license to practice. 
  • Have at least eight years of post-MRCS experience 
  • Hold a substantive (permanent) surgical position - this must be non-training, not locum or fellowship. 
  • Be actively involved in outpatient care, inpatient management, independent operating and emergency on-call work. 
  • Currently practice surgery in the UK or internationally

This role is for surgeons who lead ward rounds, make decisions under pressure, and understand the realities of surgical care. If that sounds like you, we’d value your application. 

Lay examiners   

Lay examiners offer a vital patient perspective. You don’t need a medical or scientific background - in fact, it’s important that you don’t. You simply need to be: 

  • Over the age of 18 
  • Able to bring a clear, unbiased view to the exam process 

As a lay examiner, you’ll evaluate how candidates communicate, lead and adapt, bringing a patient’s perspective to the process and helping ensure the exam reflects real-world interactions.   

Your voice helps ensure the MRCS reflects the experience and expectations of real patients. It’s a role rooted in empathy, clarity and fairness. 

What to expect as an MRCS Clinical Examiner

The MRCS Part B is an intercollegiate exam, overseen by the Intercollegiate Committee for Basic Surgical Examinations (ICBSE). It’s identical across all surgical royal colleges, ensuring consistent standards, wherever candidates sit the exam. 

As a clinical examiner, you’ll assess candidates’ clinical and professional competencies. These candidates have already passed Part A, the written component. Part B focuses on: 

  • Anatomy and surgical pathology 
  • Applied surgical science and critical care 
  • Clinical and procedural skills 
  • Communication skills 

Responsibilities 

  • Assessing candidates taking the MRCS Part B OSCE, using your expertise to evaluate clinical skill, judgement and professionalism.
  • Joining examiner briefings to ensure every assessment is fair, consistent and aligned with College standards.
  • Providing feedback that supports continuous improvement and upholds the quality of the exam.
  • Adhering to the College’s Code of Conduct, reflecting the values and professionalism expected of all examiners. 

Time commitment 

Examiners commit to a six-year tenure, contributing a minimum of five examining days each year. 

UK diets take place in February, May and October. They typically run for 8 to 12 days. International diets are held monthly across several global locations and run for 5 to 8 days. 

Your time commitment may vary depending on where you examine and whether you travel to an international venue. We’ll share schedules in advance and ask for your availability to help you plan ahead. 

This is a meaningful commitment. Please apply only if you can dedicate the time required to supporting the role.  

Location 

  • UK exams are held at the College and in selected regional locations.  
  • International exams take place in Egypt, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Malaysia and the UAE. 
  • UK-based examiners begin by examining in the UK, and will then be invited to examine internationally. 
  • International examiners are invited to examine at their nearest exam location.  

Find out more 

The benefits of being an Examiner

As a clinical examiner, you’ll join the Court of Examiners - a respected community of surgical educators helping shape the future of the MRCS. 

As a member of the Court, you’ll receive:  

  • Invitations to the annual Court Day event 
  • Regular Examiner newsletters 
  • Opportunities to contribute to the Court of Examiners Executive Committee 

Other key benefits include:  

  • Professional recognition as an RCS England clinical examiner 
  • Leadership experience in surgical education - supporting progression into roles such as Surgical Training Programme Director 
  • Networking with peers across the Court of Examiners and the wider surgical education community 

"I got involved as an examiner because one of my senior colleagues, who was retiring, said that out of all the roles he had taken on during his career, the most rewarding was being a College examiner." Shreya, Orthopaedic Surgeon and MRCS examiner 

"Having been a candidate many, many years ago, it's lovely to now come full circle and support the candidates as they approach this really important part of their career." Lee Longstaff, Orthopaedic Surgeon and MRCS Examiner  

"As an examiner, you can invest in people who are going to take over from you. You can give your knowledge back, and you can test it" Ravi Singh-Ranger, Vascular Surgeon and MRCS examiner  

"I like examining because it's a way to give back to the surgical profession. It's a great opportunity to network with fellow examiners and to travel and meet like-minded colleagues across the globe." Fahd Khan, Urology Surgeon and MRCS examiner 

Terms of the post

  • Appointment is for a minimum of six years 
  • You may reapply after your term ends, up to a maximum of 21 years 
  • Roles are reviewed every five years, based on performance feedback 
  • Travel and subsistence costs are reimbursed at agreed rates

Apply to become an MRCS Examiner

Clinical Examiner  

To apply: 

Please note: 

  • No additional documents are required, but the form must be fully completed to be considered. 
  • In your email, include the names of any current examiners you know (not listed as referees), as they may be contacted for insight into your suitability. 
  • If your application is suitable, you’ll be asked to contact your referees to complete and return the MRCS Examiner person specification and reference form. 
  • To avoid delays, we recommend contacting your referees in advance.

Your application will be reviewed by: 

  • The Chair of the Court of Examiners 
  • The Chair of the Dental and Surgical Exams Committee 
  • The ICBSE Chair 

Final approval is made at one of our Council meetings. If appointed, you’ll complete online equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) training before attending your first exam. 

Timeline: The process takes approximately six months, depending on scheduling and reference return. 

Lay Examiner  

To apply: 

Your application will be reviewed by: 

  • The Chair of the Court of Examiners 
  • The Chair of the Dental and Surgical Exams Committee 

If approved, you’ll be invited to an online interview with: 

  • The Court of Examiners Lay Examiner Representative 
  • A Surgical Exams Lead from the College 

Following the interview, recommendations are reviewed by the ICBSE Chair, with final approval made at one of our Council meetings. 

Timeline: The lay examiner application process generally takes three months. 

There’s no fixed deadline for applications, but recruitment may close once the required number of examiners has been appointed. 

Contact us

If you have any questions about becoming an MRCS Examiner, email surgicalexaminers@rcseng.ac.uk and we’ll be happy to help. 

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