General practitioner

Document

DCH Clinical exam - how to apply

The Diploma of Child Health (DCH) comprises two exams - Foundation of Practice (FOP) theory and DCH Clinical. The FOP is shared with the MRCPCH route (membership exam). You can apply for these two exams in any order. If both exams have the same application period, you can apply for both at the same ...

Community services

Primary care

Engaging children and young people

Patient involvement

Examinations

Society

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Resource

Theory exams - sample papers

The three RCPCH theory exams are delivered via computer-based testing (CBT). We provide links to sample papers to help you understand what to expect.

Examinations

Product

Clinical Cases in Paediatrics: DCH Clinical Examination

This comprehensive textbook was developed with input from current and former DCH Clinical examiners. It will help candidates familiarise themselves with the exam format and scoring systems, whilst learning from a broad range of clinical cases.

Examinations

Team profile

Clinical Assessments team

Resource

Management of children and young people with an acute decrease in conscious level - Clinical guideline

Decreased conscious level can be considered an acute neurological emergency. It is characterised by significant brain impairment, which needs a rapid and methodical approach to evaluation and treatment. Our evidence-based clinical guideline - updated in 2015 and reviewed in 2016 and 2019 - provi...

Neurodisability

Neurology

Clinical guidelines and standards

Resource

Palate examination: Identification of cleft palate in the newborn - best practice guide

A cleft palate occurs when the roof of the mouth has not joined completely. A delay in its detection may adversely affect growth, development and timely medical and surgical management. This RCPCH evidence-based best practice guide, updated in 2025, provides recommendations on the optimal examina...

Neonatal medicine

Primary care

Clinical guidelines and standards

Resource

Vaccines in practice - online learning

This covers the foundation of clinical vaccinology relevant to UK practitioners working with children. It is designed to primarily facilitate the development of skills in communicating the benefits of vaccination.

Community child health

General paediatrics

Immunology

Document

Regulations and rules for MRCPCH and DCH examinations

This is the regulatory guidance and policy relevant to exam candidates preparing for the MRCPCH (membership) and / or DCH (Diploma of Child Health) examinations. These include general regulations and rules, plus a series of appendices detailing our policies related to: malpractice in exams, reasonab...

Engaging children and young people

Patient involvement

Global child health

Governance and regulation

Examinations

Paediatric training

Resource

Research report: To understand and improve the experience of parents and carers who need advice when a child has a fever

It is common for parents and carers to seek advice when their child has a fever (high temperature). This study explored the views of 220 parents and carers and their experiences of services used for treating symptoms of a fever. The report presents the findings of this study and key recommendations ...

Primary care

Secondary care

Research