Joining RCP
Where can I find more information about subscriptions, concessions and methods of payment?
Please refer to our payment information for more information.
What’s the difference between MRCP(UK) and RCP membership?
The MRCP(UK) exam is also known as the membership exam or membership. It is an exam in general medicine that is co-ordinated and run by the federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians (Edinburgh, Glasgow and London). For more information about the MRCP(UK) exam please visit the MRCP(UK) website.
RCP membership on the other hand means membership by subscription; it is not mandatory and it is not a qualification, but offers many benefits that can support your professional lives.
RCP currently offers six categories of membership by subscription. Find out more about how you can join RCP.
My RCP member-only access
I cannot access the My RCP member-only content of the website
Members and fellows can login to this website to access exclusive content.
If you have forgotten your password, you can reset it and an email will be sent to the email address that we hold for you. If you do not receive one within ten minutes, please contact the infocentre and they will reset it for you.
If you are a subscribing member but don't have a user name and password please visit the registration page. You can register by entering your name and date of birth; RCP code and GMC numbers are optional.
New members and fellows will not be able to log into the website until their application form/acceptance paperwork has been processed. Once processed, your status will be changed and access will be granted.
New fellows who do not attend one of the summer ceremonies may have to wait until June/ July for access; we process the acceptance paperwork for new fellows who attend a ceremony first.
Access to the ‘members only’ areas of the website (plus CPD access and delivery of the Clinical Medicine journal) will be put on hold for existing members and fellows that are six or more months in arrears. Once the balance has been settled, access will resume.
How do I change my contact details?
Please login to the website to update my contact details.
For amendments to name, qualifications and date of birth please send the change request along with some proof to support the request (a copy of the marriage certificate, passport, diploma etc.) to the membership department.
How do I change my mailing preferences?
Please refer to our guide to managing your communications (PDF) to understand what you can change, and how to block certain RCP communications.
Please contact the membership department in the first instance to amend your mailing preferences.
Retirement
I am a member/ fellow and I am about to retire
If you are a member or fellow who has fully retired from remunerative medical practice (no working sessions - NHS work, private practice, teaching and research) please email or write to the membership department so that we may amend your record and your subscription rate. Your record will be updated only when we have received written confirmation of your current working status. Please note retired individuals are expected to pay the existing subscription rate in the year of their retirement.
For £50 per year you can continue to receive Clinical Medicine journal, use your Athens account and the private area of the website, maintain your CPD diary, enjoy discounts on RCP conferences, publications and other events, and (where applicable) continue to use your RCP post nominal. RCP will continue to send you RCP papers, Commentary magazine and e-bulletins.
If you no longer wish to pay a subscription to RCP, you will be able to use many benefits free of charge including your Athens account and the private area of the website, enjoy discounts on selected RCP conferences, publications and other events, and can still use your RCP post nominal. RCP will continue to send you college papers, Commentary magazine and e-bulletins. You will not receive Clinical Medicine journal, and you will not be able to access the CPD diary.
If you are a fellow and you are retiring from the NHS but continuing reduced working sessions, please refer to our payment information to see if you are eligible for a concession on your current subscription; there are various concessions available for fellows working 7 or fewer NHDs (notional half days) or PAs (programmed activities) per week.
I am a retired physician and I want to resign my GMC registration; will this affect my membership?
If retired individuals choose to resign their GMC registration, this does not affect their membership by subscription to RCP. Their status will remain as a member/ fellow in good standing - similar to our overseas members/ fellow who are not linked to the GMC.
Is there a retired association?
Yes, for £5 a year you can join the retired association and enjoy scientific, cultural educational and social events.
I am a member and I am thinking about cancelling
Please contact the membership department for advice in the first instance. If you decide to cancel, you will lose the benefits of membership. Collegiate members will lose any eligibility to designate themselves MRCP(London).
If RCP is monitoring your JRCPTB training through the membership scheme, it is likely you will have to pay an additional fee to the JRCPTB department.
If RCP is monitoring your CPD, it is likely you will have to pay an additional fee to the CPD department.
If you wish to cancel your membership, your record will be updated only when we have received written confirmation of your decision.
I am a fellow and I am thinking about resigning
Please contact the membership department for advice in the first instance. If you decide to cancel, you will lose the benefits of fellowship. Fellows will lose any eligibility to designate themselves FRCP.
This information should help you before you make a decision:
- Are you eligible for a lower subscription rate? If you are also a fellow of a non-mainstream specialty college or faculty, or working 7 or less PAs (formerly NHDs) a week you may be eligible for a discount. For all concession information, please refer to our ‘payment information’.
- If you are suffering personal financial difficulties, please email or write to the membership department and we will ensure your correspondence is forwarded to the treasurer, Professor Linda Luxon.
- If you wish to cancel your fellowship, your record will be updated only when we have received written confirmation of your decision. If you wish to reinstate your fellowship, you will need to apply to the Professional and Regional Affairs Board (PRAB) and pay any arrears. If you held MRCP(UK) you will revert to this post nominal.
Requesting information
How do I find out about past fellows?
RCP has an almost complete collection of obituaries of its past fellows, known as Munk’s Roll.
How do I request a replacement diploma or a verification letter?
Please supply the following information:
- Full name – the spelling must reflect the name on the original diploma
- Previous qualifications
- Address – as it was at the time of the qualification
- Type of qualification
- Date of qualification – please be as accurate as possible; we ask that a maximum range of three years be given
- Date of birth – useful for post-1977 requests
- RCP code or GMC number – useful for post-1977 requests
- Current address – useful for post-1977 requests
All pre-1977 verification requests should be directed to the archivist & records manager:
pamela.forde@rcplondon.ac.uk
All MRCP(UK) verification and duplicate MRCP(UK) diploma requests should be directed to the examinations department:
MRCPverification@rcplondon.ac.uk
All other diploma, licentiate and fellowship verification requests and duplicate fellowship diploma requests should be directed to the membership department:
membershipqueries@rcplondon.ac.uk
Verification letters will be sent to existing members and fellows at no charge. Medical staffing and recruitment agencies will need to pay an administration fee of £12.00 (cheques made payable to The Royal College of Physicians).
Duplicate MRCP(UK) and fellowship diplomas will incur a fee. These details will be sent to you following your initial enquiry.
