What is the difference between MRCS and FRCS?

Difference between MRCS and FRCS
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Difference between MRCS and FRCS

Full form of MRCS is Member of the Royal College of Surgeons

It is like a beginner degree to enter into a career of surgery. It is similar to qualifying your NEET PG entrance exam and selecting MS/ DNB General Surgery or Orthopaedics or ENT as your stream.

The MRCS examination is a crucial milestone for a surgical career in the UK; it determines whether a surgical trainee possesses the correct knowledge, skills and attributes to complete basic training and to progress to higher levels of specialist surgical training.

It doesn’t make you a consultant in any branch but opens up new avenues to pursue a full fledged career in surgery and allied specialties.

Click the links to know more  about MRCS exam preparation:

How to prepare for MRCS Part A?


How to prepare for MRCS Part B?

WHAT TO DO AFTER PASSING MRCS PART A AND PART B ?

MRCS EXAM TO STUDY ORTHOPAEDICS IN THE UK

QUESTIONS REGARDING MRCS FOR MBBS CANDIDATES

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DOING MRCS

MRCS EXAM ELIGIBILITY

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MRCS EXAM PREPARATION

PASTEST VS EMRCS VS ONE EXAM FOR PREPARATION OF MRCS PART A EXAM

OPPORTUNITIES AFTER MRCS

Full form of FRCS is Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons

It is a professional qualification required to practise as a surgeon in the United Kingdom. This post nominal can be obtained after working for 6 years in a particular subspecialty that you choose and then qualifying the FRCS exam for the same subspecialty. After obtaining this degree, you will considered a consultant in that particular surgical subspecialty.

This roughly translates to MCh ( Super speciality ) in case of India.

There are two versions of FRCS, one for domestic and other for International candidates.

  • JCIE  FRCS (Joint Committee on Intercollegiate Examinations) (domestic – UK & Ireland)
  • JSCFE FRCS (Joint Surgical Colleges’ Fellowship Examinations) (international)

JSCFE FRCS (International) can be obtained in following surgical subspecialties:

  1. Cardiothoracic
  2. General Surgery
  3. Neurosurgery
  4. Otolaryngology
  5. Trauma & Orthopaedic
  6. Urology
FRCS for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery and Vascular Surgery are not available while you are in India.
JCIE FRCS (Domestic) can be obtained in following surgical subspecialties:
  1. Cardiothoracic
  2. General Surgery
  3. Neurosurgery
  4. Otolaryngology
  5. Trauma & Orthopaedic
  6. Urology
  7. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
  8. Paediatric Surgery
  9. Plastic Surgery
  10. Vascular Surgery

Can you do FRCS after MCh Surgical Gastroenterology?

These are the FRCS specialties you can opt for while being in India:
-Cardiothoracic
-General Surgery
-Neurosurgery
-Otolaryngology
-Trauma & Orthopaedic
-Urology
FRCS for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery and Vascular Surgery are not available while you are in India.
I don’t think it will make sense doing FRCS General Surgery after doing MCh Surgical Gastroenterology.

Can I do FRCS after my MBBS?

No you cannot do FRCS after MBBS. FRCS is a specialist qualification and a person is not eligible to appear for FRCS straight after MBBS. Check out the eligibility requirements for streams of FRCS below. However, you can appear for MRCS after your MBBS with appropriate work appearance. Check out for details about eligibility for MRCS here.

Queries regarding MRCS and FRCS

Hi Sir , Saw your post in LGS about FRCS .
Just wanted to ask 1 doubt.
Myself , i completed MS General surgery and i am working here in india as Asst Prof since past 5 years.
I wish to relocate to UK.
My ultimate aim is to become a consultant there .
However , i could find that there are 2 boards of FRCS and international FRCS is not of much importance when it comes to working in UK .
Is it true sir?
Anyways i decided to appear for MRCS PART A now due to this .
But if i am wrong , i will prepare for FRCS from here itself
Can u please guide me regarding this 🙏

If relocation to the UK is your priority, clear MRCS A and B, IELTS/ OET, then get GMC registration, get a training job (matching your experience level), and then give FRCS Gen Surgery there.

References

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