What is PRES? (Pre-Registration Examination System)

All applicants for Registration will be required to undergo a Level 1 assessment and verification of their documentation (which may include the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) if applicable). Eligible medical practitioners will then be either required to sit or be exempted from Levels 2 and 3 known as the Pre-Registration Examination System (PRES).

The Pre-Registration Examination System (PRES) consists of two parts. Level 2 is a written examination and is currently in the form of a Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) examination. Level 3 is a clinical examination and is currently in the form of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

Candidates applying for Trainee Specialist Registration are required to pass Levels 2 and 3 (unless exempt if they meet the eligibility criteria for categories 1, 2 or 3 under Registration Rules 2(a), 2(b) and 10(c) ; and/or meet the exemption criteria under paragraph 5.1 or 5.2 of the Medical Council Rules Specifying Pre-Registration Exams and Exemptions). Candidates applying for General Registration are required to pass Levels 2, 3 and 4 (Applicants for General Registration must first pass or be exempt from Levels 2 and 3 of the PRES see details above). Further details about Levels 2 and 3 are found under the relevant sections of the handbook which can be downloaded below;
PRES Handbook.pdf

There are a number of exemptions from the PRES on the basis of Higher Qualifications. A list of these exemptions can be downloaded below;
Exemptions List.pdf

Categories of Applicants

The Registration Rules outline the criteria for registration in each of the three main Divisions of the Register. The four main categories of applicant for registration on either the general or specialist division are:

• Category 1: Graduates of Irish medical schools
• Category 2: EU citizens who graduated in an EU medical school and/or their qualifications are recognised under EU Directive 2005/36/EC (recognition of professional qualifications for EU citizens)
• Category 3: Non-EU citizens who graduated in an EU medical school and/or their qualifications would be recognised under EU Directive 2005/36/EC (recognition of professional qualifications) if they were an EU citizen.
• Category 4: Medical practitioners who do not meet the criteria for any of the above categories.

The Pre-Registration Examination System (PRES) (Levels 2 and 3 of the Application process) must be passed by Category 4 applicants for trainee specialist or general registration, unless they are exempt.

Specialist registration is specifically for medical practitioners who have completed specialist training recognised by the Medical Council and can practice independently as a specialist. A number of eligibility categories are presently available for registration in the Specialist Division of the Register.

• Category A: Completion of an approved training programme in Ireland
• Category B: Completion of specialist training in an EU/EEA member state
• Category C: Acquired rights in an EU/EEA member state
• Category D: Trained as specialist in 3rd Country and recognised as specialist in EU/EEA member state
• Category E: Completion of training & experience not automatically recognised under EU/EEA law and assessment required.

Additional Information

If you have any queries in relation to the PRES or the Level 3 Clinical Examination please the Education and Training Section at.

Education and Training Section
Medical Council
Kingram House
Kingram Place
Dublin 2
Ireland

Email: pres@mcirl.ie
Phone: +353-1-4983138
Fax: +353-1-4983155

 

Thank you so much! This website really helps and we get all the precised information we need. I want to know the syllabus for PRES exam and which materials we must use and how we will know how the questions are?

 

You are welcome Alisha!
The Step 2 exam is MCQs and you can find syllabus of PRES on page 45 of PRES HANDBOOK (http://www.medicalcouncil.ie/Education- ... k-2014.pdf)
Books can be text books or revision/concise books of the subjects listed in PRES Syllabus. There are no fixed topics to be covered but the subjects as whole.
Important is that your clinical skills should be good enough to deal with all common diseases and situations.

 

Anyone having past papers of pres 2?

 

PRES 2 Past papers on http://forum.pfmsg.com/threads/pres-exam-2-past-papers.1924/
PRES 2 past paper on http://forum.pfmsg.com/threads/pres-exam-3-past-paper.1925/

 

dr WATSON, thanks, but the first link you provided is not correct and gives me error. plz check it

 

updated the link, please check now