Grades of membership
There are eight grades of membership available at the College to join, depending on your qualifications, experience and location.
Student Associate
If you're a medical student keen to learn more about a career in psychiatry, you can join us for free.
Why join?
- Network: You'll be invited to free events designed for medical students, and get discounted rates to the College's International Congress, the biggest psychiatry event in the UK attended by psychiatrists worldwide.
- Learn: You get free electronic subscription to some fantastic magazines (BJPsych, BJPsych Bulletin, and BJPsych Advances) and a 10% discount on all other RCPsych publications.
- Stay up to date: You'll receive regular e-newsletters from the College, aimed at student associates. You'll also receive copies of the biannual associate magazine, FuturePsych.
- Practice: Get free access to Trainees Online (TrOn), our online training module.
- Good value: It's free to all UK medical students.
Foundation Doctor Associate
Similar to our Student Associate membership, this grade is free for Foundation Doctors who are interested in training to become a psychiatrist.
Why join?
- Network: You’ll be invited to free events designed for foundation doctors, and get discounted rates to the College’s International Congress, the biggest psychiatry event in the UK attended by psychiatrists worldwide.
- Learn: You get free electronic subscription to some fantastic magazines (BJPsych, BJPsych Bulletin, and BJPsych Advances) and a 10% discount on all other RCPsych publications.
- Stay up to date: You’ll receive an e-newsletter from the College, aimed at foundation doctor associates. You'll also receive copies of the biannual associate magazine, FuturePsych.
- Practice: Get free access to Trainees Online (TrOn), our online training modules.
- Good value: It’s free to all UK foundation doctors.
Pre-Membership Psychiatric Trainee
Psychiatry trainees from both the UK and overseas can join us as a Pre-Membership Psychiatric Trainee (PMPT).
If you are based in the UK, please register using the Register button. If you are based overseas please complete and return the word document.
UK-based doctors
All trainees are required to be registered with the College as set out in the 'Gold Guide'.
You can register as a Pre-Membership Psychiatric Trainee if you are in the following posts:
- CT1-3
- ST1-3
- LAT psychiatry rotation intending to train for the MRCPsych (Membership) Examination.
The PMPT grade entitles trainees to access Portfolio Online and TrOn.
Find out more details about Pre-Membership Psychiatric Trainee.
Overseas-based doctors
For doctors based overseas, please complete the registration form below and email to membership@rcpsych.ac.uk.
*A list of eligible countries for the reduced rate can be found at the bottom of this form. If you are eligible, please complete the form and email it back with your completed registration form.
We will process your application and send a confirmation email within 5 working days, which will include fees for your country banding.
Once you have received confirmation, you can call +44 (0)20 8618 4100 to pay your subscription fee and complete registration.
Affiliate
Affiliateship of the College is open to registered psychiatrists working in the United Kingdom who:
- do not hold the MRCPsych qualification
- do not hold specialist registration
- are not in an approved training post, substantive consultant post or honorary consultant post
- have support from two sponsors who are subscribing Members, Fellows or Specialist Associate of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
To register from 1 January 2024 the fees are £635; this comprises a £209 one-off registration fee and £426 for the 2024 annual subscription fee. We have quarterly payment points and the subscription fee will be pro-rated at these points (1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October).
To start an application to register as an Affiliate, please complete the registration form online. You will receive a confirmation email with a CV and Citation form attached to be completed and returned to membership@rcpsych.ac.uk. Once they have been processed you will receive an email to approve your Affiliate application and the process to make payment.
Please send the completed CV and Citation forms to membership@rcpsych.ac.uk.
Specialist Associate
Specialist Associateship of the College is open to registered medical practitioners working in the United Kingdom who have:
- at least five years experience in psychiatry
- specialist training which has been assessed in the United Kingdom as being at least equivalent to a full programme of specialist training in psychiatry in the United Kingdom
- been registered on the GMC Specialist Register
- support from two sponsors who are subscribing Members or Fellows of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
To register from 1 January 2024 the fees are £743; this comprises £209 for a one-off registration fee and £534 for the 2024 annual subscription fee. We have quarterly payment points and the subscription fee will be pro-rated at these points (1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October).
To start an application to register as a Specialist Associate, please complete the registration form online. You will receive a confirmation email with a CV and Citation form attached to be completed and returned to membership@rcpsych.ac.uk. Once they have been processed you will receive an email to approve your Specialist Associate application and the process to make payment.
Please send the complete CV and Citation forms to membership@rcpsych.ac.uk.
Please find information and application forms below.
International Associate
The International Associate grade is open to psychiatrists with five years’ experience in psychiatry who do not hold the MRCPsych, but who hold a specialist qualification in psychiatry and who reside outside the UK. Find out more about the benefits of International Associateship.
How much does it cost each year?
Fees are banded according to World Bank classifications.
| International Associates | Standard rate 2024 |
|---|---|
| Band A | £276 |
| Band B | £220.80 |
| Band C | £165.60 |
| Band D | £110.40 |
How do I join?
Download and complete the CV and Registration application forms below to email to the membership office:
You will also need to include copies of your certificates of medical registration and psychiatric qualification, with certified translations if not in English. We must have copies of these documents to process your application.
Email the above forms and documents to membership@rcpsych.ac.uk.
What happens next?
Your application will be looked over by our team and if successful will be approved by two College Officers. You will then receive an email with the decision and information on how to pay the fee.
Any queries?
For further information on International Associateship please email membership@rcpsych.ac.uk.
Mental Health Associate
The Mental Health Associate grade is open to non-medically qualified members of a profession closely allied to psychiatry.
There is a maximum of ten new Mental Health Associates who can join the College each year.
You will need to have two Members, Fellows or Specialist Associates of the Royal College of Psychiatrists who support your application. We cannot suggest any members for the citation, they must already be known to you.
To register from 1 January 2024 the fees are £193. We have quarterly payment points and the subscription fee will be pro-rated at these points (1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October).
To register as a Mental Health Associate, please complete the three forms listed below and email them to membership@rcpsych.ac.uk.
The citation form must be completed on your behalf by two current Members, Fellows or Specialist Associates.
Member
The normal route to Membership of the College requires 24 months post foundation/internship experience in psychiatry and a pass in all components of the MRCPsych exams. Full details of Membership are sent to successful candidates.
Fellow
We award Fellowship as a mark of distinction and recognition of contributions to psychiatry. You are eligible if you have been a Member for 10 years or more and can demonstrate significant contributions to the core purposes of the College.
Fellowship is open to both UK and Overseas Members, but unfortunately Affiliates and Associates cannot apply. If successful, our Fellows can use the title FRCPsych once they have paid the prescribed registration fee.
For further details on eligibility and how to apply, visit our Fellowship and other Honours page.