The Fellowship has two exam components: the SBA at £429 and the London OSCE at £586 for a UK member. Each re-attempt adds that component's fee again.
FRCEM Examination Fees 2026 — Full Table
RCEM sets these fees and publishes them as one rate for all theory exams plus a per-centre OSCE rate. The figures below are RCEM's 2026 Exam Fees — always confirm on the RCEM exam calendar and fees page before paying.
| Component | Format | Member | Non-member |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRCEM SBA | 180 SBA, two 2h papers | £429 UK · £485 international | £525 UK · £609 international |
| FRCEM OSCE | 16 stations, 8 min each (London) | £586 | £695 |
FRCEM Resit Fees
Each FRCEM resit costs the full fee — no discount. In RCEM's 2024 data, 51.1% of FRCEM SBA candidates and 80.6% of FRCEM OSCE candidates passed. Plan budget accordingly:
Sittings are spaced 6 months apart. A failed OSCE doesn't just mean paying the fee again — it can mean a half-year extension to your training timeline. Treat preparation accordingly.
Employer Funding & Study Budgets
Most UK NHS trusts reimburse FRCEM exam fees through the trainee study budget. Typical study budget allocations are £600–£1,000 per training year. To maximise reimbursement:
- Submit receipts within the financial year of the exam
- Keep a record of pre-approved spend categories with your trust
- Combine exam fees with conference attendance to use the full annual allocation
- For HEE-funded trainees, check the local Deanery's specific reimbursement policy
- If you're an LED (locally employed doctor) without a study budget, fees are tax-deductible (HMRC rules)
FRCEM Cost for IMGs vs UK Trainees
RCEM's criteria do not require a UK training post: a non-trainee can sit the FRCEM with a primary medical qualification the GMC accepts, a current full medical registration with a licence to practise, MRCEM (or equivalent), and 4 years' full-time emergency medicine training, one year of it at higher specialty level. For specialist registration in the UK, IMGs usually take one of two routes:
- The GMC's portfolio pathway, which replaced the CESR equivalence route on 30 November 2023, for doctors who have not completed a GMC-approved training programme — assessed on evidence of their training, qualifications and experience; or
- An ST4 training post through national recruitment, then the standard training pathway, including the FRCEM.
Either way, MRCEM comes first — see our MRCEM cost guide for IMG-specific budgeting.
NCHDs in Ireland can reclaim FRCEM exam fees (via CCERS if passed, or TSS if not) and even a ReviseMRCEM subscription through the HSE schemes. See the TSS & CCERS funding guide →
Practise for the FRCEM
Work through SLO-tagged FRCEM SBA questions — bank 1 is free — and practise OSCE stations built to RCEM's format.