Fellowship by election is available to members in the UK and internationally who are working in a substantive, non-training post, can demonstrate examples of distinction and can provide letters of support from two current RCPCH Fellows. See more about the benefits of Fellowship and how to apply.
About Fellowship by election
If you are working in a substantive, non-training post anywhere in the world, we welcome your application for RCPCH Fellowship. You'll join a community of 3,000 Fellows and access a range of benefits, listed below. Fellowship is required if you wish to stand for a senior College role such as President or Vice President.
To apply for Fellowship by election, you will need to provide:
- examples of distinction, such as: several first-named articles in international peer reviewed journals; national service development leadership roles, which will be judged on what is thought to be achievable locally; being an Examiner Elect at RCPCH
- signed letters of support from two current RCPCH Fellows, at least one of whom must be based in the UK or Republic of Ireland (if you find this difficult, please contact us for support on membership@rcpch.ac.uk)
​​​​​If you are on the GMC or IMC specialist register in paediatrics, you can instead apply for Fellowship by registration.
Benefits of Fellowship
- Use of FRCPCH designation
- FRCPCH lapel pin
- Fellowship certificate
- Voting rights, such as for the RCPCH President, Officers or on major changes to the College representation on Council, our governing body (see eligibility requirements in the RCPCH regulations)
- Representation on Council
- Regional support
- Use of the members’ room in RCPCH London office
- Opportunities to apply for senior College posts, including President and Vice President
- Exclusive Fellowship events
- TOTUM PRO eligibility
Resources and communications
- Digital subscription to Archives of Disease in Childhood journal
- Milestones, quarterly magazine
- Monthly members' eBulletin
- Full access to the , including the Companion and other resources
Professional development
- Continuing professional development (CPD) tools and advice (£205 to non-members)
- Revalidation support
- Reduced fees for the RCPCH Conference and other courses and events
Membership fees for Fellowship in 2026
| Country of residence | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| UK | £682 (£57 per month by Direct Debit for UK bank accounts holders) |
| Rest of Europe and North America | £484 |
| Rest of world (middle upper income) | £343 |
| Rest of world (middle lower income) | £246 |
Application process and requirements
Our last deadline to apply was 28 November. If you applied by that date, we will notify you of the outcome by 9 January 2026.
- Read the membership bye-laws and regulations.
- Get two letters of support from current Fellows of the College (proposers). At least one proposer must be based in either the UK or Republic of Ireland. If you are based outside these countries and find it challenging to find a UK or ROI proposer, we'll be happy to help - contact us on membership@rcpch.ac.uk
- Complete the application form (download this Word document from the bottom of this page). You will add a support statement of up to 500 words to demonstrate how you have contributed to paediatrics and child health
- Log in to complete the online application. You will upload the letters of support (in step 1) and the Word application form (in step 2)
- Guidance for applicants
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Before you submit your application, ensure you have:
Documents
- Two letters of support from proposers who must be current RCPCH Fellows, one of whom must be based in the UK or Republic of Ireland
- Completed application form with supporting statement (maximum 500 words) explaining how your experience and achievements demonstrate the contribution you have made to paediatrics and child health - download the form from the bottom of this page
Evidence of distinction
- At least three years working in a substantive, non-training post
- Postgraduate qualification in paediatrics and child health or an allied specialty, eg MRCPCH, DCH, PHD, MD
- Publications and journal articles on which you are a first-named author in international peer reviewed journals, such as Archives of Disease in Childhood. You should list three most important publications in your application
- Contribution to other publications, eg books, educational materials, information for parents and families, etc.
- Invited lectures and presentations at national or international meetings
- Contribution to the work of major national or international organisations and/or charities working with children, eg UNICEF, Save The Children
- Work for parent/carer organisations
- Service improvement/quality improvement (QI) initiatives
- Local leadership roles
- Leadership of paediatric or child health organisations and/or /paediatric specialty groups
- Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and education work
- Guidance for proposers
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If you are asked to write a letter of support for a candidate who is applying for Fellowship by election, please include the following information about yourself:
- Your full name
- You RCPCH number or email address for identity verification
- Letterhead of employing organisation/NHS Trust
- Signature
- Name of candidate
There is no template for what you need to include within your letter. You do not need to include information about what the candidate has achieved in their career, but you should feel confident in the candidate’s clinical abilities and suitability to undertake activities associated with Fellowship, such as examining for the College or taking on other formal roles.
Contact us
For more information or help, contact us on membership@rcpch.ac.uk.