Diploma in Geriatric Medicine

The DGM examination is designed for individuals who have not completed higher specialty training as geriatricians, to give recognition to healthcare practitioners who have developed an in-depth critical understanding of the clinical knowledge and skills required in the field of geriatric medicine to provide expert care for older people.

The DGM examination is run in collaboration between the RCP and the British Geriatrics Society.

Eligibility

All statutorily regulated healthcare practitioners, currently registered and in good standing with the relevant regulator, and with no restrictions on their practise, are eligible to apply to take the DGM. Physician associates who are on the Managed Voluntary Register, which is held by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and Faculty of Physician Associates, are also eligible to apply.

For applicants declaring a UK registration, the RCP assessment unit will check registration with the relevant UK regulator (GMC, NMC, or Health and Care Professions Council, for example), including a check for any restriction to practise. Applicants declaring registration on the Physician Associates Managed Voluntary Register will have this registration checked with the Faculty of Physician Associates, including a check for any restrictions to practise.

Applicants who hold registration with a regulator outside the UK will be required to get their educational supervisor or line manager to submit a reference form confirming the following regarding the applicant:

Their regulatory body
Their regulatory body registration number (or equivalent)
That the applicant is in good standing in their professional practice
A general reference detailing why they are supportive of an application from the named individual

Wherever possible the registration details of the applicant will be verified with the relevant regulator, and the RCP reserves the right to contact the referee directly if further information is required.

The RCP reserves the right to verify candidate’s eligibility with their awarding institution, and to refuse entry to the examination to candidates who do not meet the eligibility criteria set out above.

Guidance for candidates

The DGM is designed to test comprehensive clinical knowledge and practical skills in geriatric medicine at a level appropriate for the provision of expert practice in the care for older people in primary and secondary care settings. As such it is advised that applicants have at least two years’ post qualification experience, at least four months of which should be in a setting where they have interacted with a large number of older people. Involvement in the production and implementation of care plans for older people should form a large proportion of any previous experience gained.

Applicants should also be aware that a maximum of six attempts are permitted at each component of the DGM and are advised to consider this when planning their first application to the written examination

If you are an overseas doctor who fulfils our entry requirements you are welcome to sit the examination. However, you should bear in mind that the examination will be held only in the UK and there will be questions related to health and social systems for older people in the UK, and to UK legislation relating to older people.

Candidates must pass the written examination before they sit the clinical examination. They have two years to pass the clinical examination and if they fail to do so they should sit the written examination again.

Proposed changes to eligibility criteria

Please read carefully the changes outlined in a guidance document which is available here.

Number of attempts

Candidates will be permitted a maximum of six attempts at the DGM examination. After six failed attempts, a candidate will be required to undertake additional educational experience for each resit and submit evidence of this. This evidence will need to be supported by a candidate’s educational supervisor, and the training programme director or equivalent.

Please note that this evidence will need to be presented on headed paper and need to be sent from the work email address of either of the educational supervisors to have signed the form. In determining whether a candidate has sufficiently satisfied the requirements to enable them to undertake a further attempt, the decision of the RCP Assessment Unit will be final.

For more information, you can download the DGM additional attempt FAQs and form, which can be found at the bottom of this page.

DGM calendar and fees

Please be aware there are limited spaces for the Part 2 clinical examination so you should get your application in as early as possible to ensure you get a place. You are advised to keep all dates of the clinical examinations free as no alterations can be made once you have been allocated a centre. Please also bear in mind that travel to provincial centres may also be necessary.

Changes to Part 1 written examinations - Online written examination delivery

Part 1 written examination:

The Royal College of Physicians is pleased to announce that the Diploma in Geriatric Medicine Written examination 2022 will take place on Wednesday 02 March 2022.

We are currently working with our online exam delivery partner. The intention is that the examination will be delivered as an online examination, following the same single paper ‘best-of-five’ type format as in previous years. The online delivery of this examination will make the Diploma in Geriatric Medicine more accessible to candidates and bypass any barriers created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

More specifications for the online exam will be distributed to applicants after the application period is closed. We encourage those who are interested to still apply to ensure an application is submitted.

For any queries regarding the online examination, please email us at dgm@rcp.ac.uk, or alternatively you can view the “DGM online exam FAQs” document at the bottom of the page.

Diet: 2022/01
Application period: 10 January – 23 January 2022
Written examination fee: £275
Written examination date: 02 March 2022
Results release date: 30 March 2022

Part 2 clinical examination

There will be 2 sets of clinical exams covered by two separate application windows, each will be held over 4 days. You will be notified which date you have been allocated to following payment. Payment will be requested once the application window has closed. You can find the dates of each set of exams below.

Should you have any specific date requests, please notify us via the application form or email dgm@rcp.ac.uk - we will endeavour to allocate you to your preferred exam dates however this can-not be guaranteed in all cases.

You must hold a confirmed pass in your Part 1 written exam in order to sit the clinical exam.

Diet 2022/1

Application period: 04 April – 19 April 2022
Payment links will be sent once eligibility has been confirmed after application window has closed.
Clinical examination fee: £525
Admission documents and allocated dates will be sent: Week commencing 25 April
*Candidates will not receive an admission document if they have not paid*

Clinical examination dates set 1: 06 June 2022 – 10 June 2022
Result release for set 1: 06 July 2022

Diet 2022/02

Application period: 19 September – 02 October 2022
Payment links will be sent once eligibility has been confirmed after application window has closed.
Clinical examination fee: £525
Admission documents and allocated dates will be sent: Week commencing 10 September
*Candidates will not receive an admission document if they have not paid*

Clinical Examination dates set 2: 07 November 2022 – 11 November 2022
Results release for set 2: 07 December 2022

The Part 2 clinical examination will take place in Liverpool, UK.

Contact

Telephone: +44 (0)151 318 2020
Email: dgm@rcplondon.ac.uk

Diplomas

Candidates are not required to complete any documentation in order to receive their diploma. However, candidates are advised that they should inform the RCP of any changes in personal details to avoid loss or delay of the item.
Diplomas are automatically issued within six weeks after result release although timescales may vary.
Candidates who require a replacement diploma are advised to submit a request to the email address below. A £35 charge will apply, unless the individual is a fellow of any of the three royal colleges, in which case no charge will apply. A replacement diploma should be issued within two weeks of the fee being processed.
If you have any queries please contact dgm@rcplondon.ac.uk.
Candidates should receive a reply within three working days of receipt.
Please note diplomas will be retained by the RCP for one year from the date of issue, after which time they will be destroyed. Every effort will be made to contact candidates should their diploma be returned undelivered to the RCP. However, candidates are advised to contact the RCP if they are not in receipt of their diploma within one year of passing the DGM exam.
Any requests received for a re-print after one year will incur a charge of £35.