Cost
The exam fees change every year. In 2026, the fee for part 1 is £749.
It would be useful for you to get an estimate of the whole FRCPath Microbiology expense if you know about part 2 as well. In 2026, it is £1576. This exam is only taken in London, so you have to account for the additional costs of a visa, travel, accommodation, food, and other related expenses. So the whole FRCPath exam will cost you approximately £3000 or more.
On top of that, you must include your travel and other expenses.
https://www.rcpath.org/trainees/examinations/exam-apply-and-pay-online.html
Dates
This changes every year, and RCPath will let you know well in advance. See this link for dates – https://www.rcpath.org/trainees/examinations/examinations-latest-news-and-calendar.html
For the next exam, the Part 1/CICE exam
- Applications for the Autumn 2026 examination session will open by 5 pm on Friday, 29 May and close on Friday, 3 July.
- The withdrawal deadline (full refund of fee without extenuating circumstances) is Friday, 17 July
- Examination entries will be confirmed by 5 pm on Friday, 31 July.
- It will be taken between Monday, 21 September, and Friday, 25th September 2026
- Results will be issued on Friday, 20 November.
Application process
The application is online, and you will be able to do your application when it opens from here
https://www.rcpath.org/trainees/examinations/exam-apply-and-pay-online.html
Do I need a sponsor? Who can be my sponsor?
When you apply, you will need a sponsor. For trainees in the UK training programme, it is your educational supervisor.
According to RCPath, a sponsor should be your educational supervisor, the head of the department, or someone with a similar level of involvement in your training. Ideally, he/she should be a fellow of the college. However, a college fellowship is not compulsory. So:
1. Your head of the department Or
2. Someone who supervised your training Or
3. Your microbiology head of the department of your college etc
You can find the form:
- Sponsorship-form-for-exam-candidates-PDF-version.pdf OR
- Sponsorship-form-for-exam-candidates-Word-version.docx OR
- check here – Examination applications
I am an overseas graduate. During the application process, what should I select in the registration section?
If you have GMC registration, choose GMC.
If you don’t, choose “other” and write the registration number you have in your country from your medical council.