Paediatrics & Child Health DCE

The Paediatrics & Child Health (PCH) Divisional Clinical Exam (DCE) tests your clinical skills at the end of Basic Training.

Overview

2023 DCE

The delivery format for 2023 has been confirmed.

Across Aotearoa New Zealand, and all Australian states and territories, using the traditional format with:

  • 2 Long Cases and 4 Short Cases on the same day face-to-face.

All hospitals delivering RACP exams will have their own COVID-19 management plans in place as per local State or Territory health regulations. The rules in place at each site must be adhered to by all exam participants.

The College will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation throughout the examination window. Contingency plans will be in place in case of COVID-19 disruptions. 

All examination dates remain dependent on:

  • permission from hospitals to enter premises, release staff and use facilities for the exam purposes
  • permission from the Chief Public Health Officer or Chief Medical Officer to allow the exam to proceed
  • COVID-19 disruptions and restrictions allowing the exam to proceed, including the clinical impact on health services within a state, territory or district

Key dates

Key dates

Australia

Aotearoa New Zealand

Application opening date

10am AEDT, Friday 17 March 2023

10am NZDT, Friday 17 March 2023

Application closing date

1pm AEDT, Monday 27 March 2023

1pm NZDT, Monday 27 March 2023

Exam date

Friday 19 May to Sunday 4 June 2023

Friday 26 May to Sunday 28 May 2023

Results release

Week of Monday, 19 June 2023

Week of Monday, 12 June 2023

Special Consideration key dates

Pre-examination applications close

1pm AEDT, Monday 27 March 2023
Refer to Appendix A of the Special Consideration for Assessment Policy

1pm NZDT, Monday 27 March 2023
Refer to Appendix A of the Special Consideration for Assessment Policy

Exam day/post-examination applications close

5pm AEDT, 5 business days from your exam date.
Applications for technical and procedural issues

5pm NZDT, 5 business days from your exam date.
Applications for technical and procedural issues


Contingency plans | 2023 PCH DCE

Contingency plans are in place in case significant events or disruptions prevent the 2023 DCE from going ahead. The safety of all participants is at the core of these plans.

Plan A | The exam proceeds as scheduled on the planned exam date using the planned delivery model.

Plan B | The exam will be rescheduled as soon as possible. Impacted candidates may be reallocated to other local available exam sites. 


Our aim

To be able to sit the 2023 exam, you are required to meet the Basic Training Assessment requirements by end of 2022.

If one or more hospitals, States or Territories can’t go ahead with an exam on its planned date due to COVID-19 disruptions, those in unaffected areas can still take their exam.

Fees

Australia | AUD$3039.00
Aotearoa New Zealand | NZD$3494.85

If you have outstanding training fees, you’re ineligible to sit the exam. See College Fees Terms and Conditions.

Refunds

If you withdraw in the lead up to the exam, you may also be eligible for a partial refund of your exam fee.

If we cannot deliver the exam, all affected candidates will receive a full refund. 

Find out more about training and examination fees.

Location

Australia | Held within another state or territory. You should be prepared to travel to a different state or territory depending on where you're allocated to sit your exam.

Aotearoa New Zealand | Travel to a different location from where you work to complete your exam. You won’t be examined in hospitals where you trained.


RACP Support Program

Preparing for exams can be stressful. Reach out to the RACP Support Program for free, 24/7, completely confidential support. Make an appointment or speak with a consultant by calling 1300 687 327 (Australia) or 0800 666 367 (Aotearoa New Zealand).

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