The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) credential in obstetric medicine, which leads to a Professional Diploma in Obstetric Medicine, has been designed for higher specialty resident doctors with an interest in obstetric medicine.
The diploma provides:
- 12 months (or pro rata equivalent) dedicated out of programme training with an expert obstetric medicine educational supervisor
- Minimum of 50% training time in an approved obstetric medicine training centre
- Exposure to general medicine and obstetric patients with chronic medical conditions.
This programme is ideal for resident doctors ST5 and above who want to develop an interest in looking after the health of women before, during and after pregnancy. Learners will maintain a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate progress and achievement of the credential requirements.
Resident doctors who have completed the programme described the training as ‘by far the best and most fulfilling year of my career’ and they valued the ‘great mentorship, fantastic training and a firm structure’.
The next intake will start in Autumn 2025 and fully funded places are available for candidates training in England.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply:
- Hold a national training number (NTN) in a medical specialty
- ST5 level or above by the start of programme (September 2025)
- Successful completion of IMT year 3 training (or equivalent) and holds full MRCP(UK)
- Experience of working on the acute medical take as medical registrar
- Full registration with the GMC without any restrictions.
Time commitment
When completed full-time, the obstetric medicine diploma runs over a 12-month period (or pro-rata equivalent). During this period, you will be required to spend a minimum of 50% of your obstetric medicine training at your obstetric medicine approved training centre. It is recommended that candidates undertaking the programme should continue to be involved in acute medical on-call, and this commitment will be discussed and agreed locally.
Obstetric medicine training centres
The following centres are approved/provisionally approved for training centres for the diploma:
- Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
- Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
- North Bristol NHS Trust
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
There may be further pilot centres available for training from Autumn 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to rank their training centres preferences.
How to apply
Please complete the online application form and provide details of why you want to undertake the RCP Professional Diploma in Obstetric Medicine and what impact completing the training will have on the patients you care for.
We recommend you talk to your educational supervisor and training programme director before applying as you will need to arrange time out of your training programme to undertake the credential.
Applications will close at 9am on Monday 20 January 2025.
Online interviews will be held on Friday 28 February 2025.
The RCP positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.
The RCP is all about our people – our members, staff, volunteers and leaders. We educate, influence and collaborate to improve health and healthcare for everyone and know we can only do this by being inclusive, encouraging and celebrating diverse perspectives. Welcoming into our community people who represent the 21st-century medical workforce and the diverse population of patients we serve is a priority for us.
Apply now: RCP Diploma in Obstetric Medicine 2025