Basic Specialist Training (BST) Clinical Examination – Open

The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland > Postgraduate Training > Basic Specialist Training > Basic Specialist Training (BST) Clinical Examination – Open

Postgraduate Training

This section provides information and help to those qualified doctors seeking to undertake specialist training in psychiatry, medical students and doctors in training considering it and for the general public.

The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland (CPsychI) is responsible for all aspects of postgraduate training in psychiatry in Ireland. It aims to provide the best possible training for qualified doctors at both basic and higher ‘Specialist’ level in psychiatry.

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Contacts for Postgraduate Training

Kellie Myers
Senior Manager, PGT Operations

Caroline Keyes
Examinations & BST Recruitment Manager

Karrie Byrne
Examinations & BST Recruitment Administrator

Jennifer Kavanagh
HST Recruitment & Allocations Administrator

Kevin Costello
Continuous Assessment Manager

Yomna Khalil
Accreditation Administrator

Fiona Halsberghe-Murphy
Continuous Assessment Administrator

Emma Lindsay
Courses and E-Learning Co-ordinator

Iryna Pariyarath
Trainee Committee & Courses Administrator

College of Psychiatrists of Ireland Clinical Exam   Applications Now Invited 

The Spring 2024 BST Clinical Examination will take place on FRIDAY, 1st March (CFME) at Croke Park Stadium and SATURDAY, 2nd March (OSCE) at RCSI, 26 York Street, Dublin 2.  Applications will be accepted from 10:00am on Thursday, 30th November 2023.

You can apply online for the Autumn Exam below. The closing date for applications is 5:00 p.m. on FRIDAY, 15th DECEMBER.

Both the CFME and OSCE will be held in-person.  There is no online component to this exam sitting. 

Spring 2024 Dates: Exam Component: Venue:
FRIDAY, 1st March  CFME CROKE PARK STADIUM, DUBLIN 3
SATURDAY, 2nd March OSCE RCSI, 26 YORK STREET, DUBLIN 2

 To register to sit the Spring 2024 Clinical Examination, all eligible applicants must (at the time of application):

  1. Have passed all written components of the MRCPsych (and submit documented proof of same).
  2. Have received a decision ‘Progress (Outcome 1 or 2)’ from the Foundation Year ARP.
  3. Complete and submit the application form below.

If the number of applications exceeds the exam places we can offer for this sitting, places will be prioritised.  Applicants will be updated on their exam application status before Friday, 22nd December.   The College has introduced a third exam sitting per year to cater for the potential increase in candidate numbers.

NOTE: We do not accept paper applications

    REGISTER BELOW









    TCDUCD SVUHUCD MMUHNUIGNUIG RCSIRCSIUCCUL



    BST 1BST 2BST 3Finished BST in last 2 YearsOther please specify below

    Paper A result (Must upload as a PDF. If you received your results via email you must save it as a PDF before uploading

    Paper B result (Must upload as a PDF. If you received your results via email you must save it as a PDF before uploading


    YesNo


    OSCECFMEOCSE & CFMENot Applicable





    Please note:

    • The fee for the Clinical Exam is €900 (€450 per component) which is fully refundable for individuals holding the 2010 NCHD Contract – please see this link for more details re same).

    • If your application is accepted, you will be sent an invoice to your email address provided.

  • If you do not attend on the day/cancel within 8 weeks of the exam day, the College will not refund the fee even if you are unable to apply for a refund from the HSE.

  • Exceptions can only be made in the case of illness and where documentation from a GP is supplied to the College.

    • View the Chief Examiner’s presentation Introducing the Clinical Exam (Moodle login required)Please read the BST Clinical Exam Proposal for further information on the structure of the Exam and the Regulations for Basic and Higher Specialist Training for information regarding Examination processes and procedures. The curriculum and syllabus for this clinical exam will be the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland Curriculum and Syllabus and is the same as for the continuous assessment process.

    For Examination queries, please contact exams@irishpsychiatry.ie