FAQ: MCEM

I won’t argue with anyone worth his salt in EM who hasn’t heard of such a thing as an MCEM exam. For the rare uninitiated few, here’s at a glance what this whole thing of MCEM is, and how we Indian Emergency guys are connected to it.

Background: It was hitherto known as the membership exam of the college of Surgeons practicing accident and emergency medicine (MRCS[A&E]), but some others felt that it should be renamed as the exam of the faculty of accident and emergency medicine(MFAEM).

Eligibility: So you want to have an MCEM degree and are wondering if you are eligible to take it?? My dear friend, of course you are. But you must have worked in an ED for a considerable period of time, and you in-charge must like your work enough to give you a recommendation for the same.

Adding up,
For part A: MBBS with internship completion plus 1 year of work experience, preferably in an ED
For part B: MBBS with internship completion plus 2 year of work experience, preferably in an ED
For part C: MBBS with internship completion plus 3 year of work experience, preferably in an ED
So, are you eligible yet?? Of course you cannot give part B before A, and likewise C before B (It’s always ABC in emergency….)

The Dilemma (s): You still have doubts, isn’t it? Let me tell you, the MCEM exam is an exam open to all who have an experience of working in an ED. So where’s the catch? Honestly speaking, there isn’t any. You don’t need to do anything else apart from working in an ED for the aforesaid period to be eligible .And what must you study? Well apart from what you normally study, there are a couple of few books that do come in handy (ask me for a list), but in essence, whatever you do at the workplace must be backed up by relevant knowledge pertaining to it, and there you go…..

What about joining an MCEM course? I must say, you are out of your mind. Let’s get this thing very clear, and forever. There is no such a thing as an MCEM course. It is just an exam [of 3 parts] that tests your knowledge level appropriate to let you pursue further specialist training in EM [a.k.a. the FCEM exam] in the UK.

What do I do with an MCEM degree?? Well what do you do with a Victorinox anyways?? An MCEM degree is nothing less. Whether you want to shut up that internal medicine guy who said you didn’t have a recognized degree or you were tired of your boss in ED and wanted to be the boss of an ED or you just felt good enough to teach others what you learnt so that they don’t do mistakes more than you did or you wanted to be even more specialized in EM….the possibilities are endless…You can do almost everything. And why not? When the medical council of India agrees to honor MCEM as an additional qualification, who can question your credentials??

So make hay, while the sun shines. And get yourself the coveted degree before that other person does.

Click here to visit the official website for MCEM