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Applying for the Final Membership Examination

In general, it is recommended that registrars on an approved training programme sit the exam with at least two years (whole time equivalent) of training remaining. This usually happens about six to twelve months after passing the Diplomate examination. Registrars working less than full time should discuss the timing of the examination with their Training Programme Director and Educational Supervisor.

A maximum of 24 people can be accommodated at each sitting, but this number may be reduced e.g. if there are candidates needing reasonable adjustments. It is therefore important that candidates apply once they are sure they know when they wish to sit the exam, even if this is some time in the future.

We have completed a thorough evaluation of the online delivery of the MFPH exam and have made the decision it will be safe to return to face to face delivery from September 2022. Changes to this may of course occur, and we will monitor the situation closely.

The current sittings are as listed below:

Please note closing dates are absolute. Applications received after 17:00 (UK time) on the closing date will not be accepted. 

To apply, please complete and submit your application using this new online form.

APPLICATION FORM

Fee payment

It may take up to 10 working days for an application to be processed. Candidates will then be contacted to confirm the sitting date that can be offered. Candidates will then be required to make payment for their place to be confirmed. Please do not make payment until the application has been processed and a sitting date offered to you.

Once a place has been confirmed, payment can be made using one of the following options:

• Online – it needs to be specified on the application form that this route will be used. A link will be emailed once the form has been processed. FPH will confirm the booking once payment has gone through
• BACS payment – to account number 36191159 sort code 60-09-15 quoting initial and surname
• Money order (if overseas) – made payable to the “Faculty of Public Health”

Please note that if your employer is paying for your exam fee, payment will still need to be made before the application closing date. Purchase orders can take a few months to process so this may need to be arranged in advance of the application window opening in order to ensure payment is received in time. If payment is not received in time, the candidate will need to make payment in the interim to be able to sit the exam.

Tax relief for exam fees

The HMRC confirmed in 2015 that they are satisfied that public health registrars employed on a specialty training contract and who pay the MFPH exam fees themselves will qualify for a deduction of the cost of those fees against their earnings from that employment.

Registrars will be able to claim this tax relief either by completing form P87 or through their self-assessment tax return if they meet the criteria for self-assessment. For more information, please visit GOV.UK.

To allow HMRC to handle claims as efficiently as possible, registrars should include a receipt or proof of payment from the Faculty for the MFPH exam. Claims made without a proof of payment may be delayed while HMRC contact the individual to request supportive evidence.

Withdrawals

• Candidates withdrawing from an examination before the closing date can be charged 25% of the fee. This increases in increments up to the exam. 
• No refund will be made to candidates withdrawing within seven days of the examination.
• No refund will be granted without written notice of intention to withdraw.

The Membership examinations withdrawal policy and application form are available here.

Reasonable adjustments

As part of the Equal Opportunities Policy of the Faculty of Public Health, a policy of reasonable adjustments is used to ensure that no candidate is substantially disadvantaged because of his or her disability.

The Assistant Academic Registrar is responsible for considering such requests and they should be submitted, with the appropriate supporting documentation, alongside the application form for each exam sitting.

To ensure the process is fair for all candidates, the Faculty requires all the necessary evidence to be supplied and submitted with the application for each exam and exam attempt. An adjustment cannot be considered without it and late documentation will not be considered. Please note that there is a fee associated with withdrawing if you wish to delay your attempt due to a condition that is currently being assessed.

Requests should be received by the Faculty as early as possible, ideally at least three weeks prior to the examination closing date. Further information is available here.

Extenuating circumstances

Extenuating circumstances are serious circumstances that occurred in the three weeks up to and including the date of the Final Membership Examination that adversely affected the examination performance (please note, extenuating circumstances only apply if you sit the exam).

Candidates may claim by sending a completed form to the Faculty, which must arrive no later than three working days after the examination date. This information will be made available to the Chair of Examiners.

Please note that marks/results will not be altered to reflect individual circumstances. The only available outcome from a successful submission is that the attempt will be discounted.

Types of adverse circumstances that the Faculty may consider include:

• The death or critical illness of a dependent or close relative
• A severely debilitating illness during most of the revision period or examination

Circumstances not normally considered relevant include:

• Planned house removals
• Work-related contingencies
• Normal pregnancy
• English as a second language

The Membership examinations extenuating circumstances policy and application form are available here.

Contacts

Final Membership Examination: Telephone number: 0203696 1484 / e-mail address: educ@fph.org.uk

Finance: Telephone number: 0203 696 1465 / e-mail address: finance@fph.org.uk