Applying for the Diplomate Membership Exam
The examination is open to those who hold either of the following:
- a university degree
- equivalent qualifications and/or experience approved by the Education Committee.
Qualifications or experience which are accepted for entry into a Master's level university programme will most likely be approved by the Education Committee for entry into The Faculty of Public Health Diplomate examination (DFPH). It is not necessary to be enrolled on a training course to sit the examination.
March 2025 sitting of the DFPH Examination
FPH can now confirm that the March 2025 exam will be held using VICTVS test centres at seven locations around the UK and one test centre in Hong Kong. VICTVS are a UK-based global company and are experts in the administration of high-stake, professional examinations and they currently run all the PLAB exams in the UK on behalf of the GMC.
FPH will have exclusive access to the test centres – or a discrete part of them – to minimise the threat of disturbance from other exams that might be taking place on the same day. The TestReach platform will be used for the exam, but without the need to connect to a remote invigilator. All devices and screens will be provided by the test centres, though there will be flexibility over additional or other equipment (see below).
Examination dates
The next sitting of the DFPH will be held on the dates previously advertised, 3 and 5 March 2025.
Rest day
Please note that the rest day between the two papers will be retained as this was the overwhelming wish of the registrars and other candidates we canvassed.
Test centre locations
The locations of the test centres are Belfast; Edinburgh; London; Leeds; Birmingham; Bristol; Liverpool and Hong Kong. Candidates from outside the UK will be required to sit the exam at a test centre either in the UK or in Hong Kong.
Application process
The exam application window will open via the Members Portal on 2 January 2025 and close on 17 January. All candidates who sat the October 2024 exam and are eligible for a free resit will still need to apply through the FPH Members Portal but will not be charged for their next sitting. Applicants will be required to choose their preferred location of test centre. We fully expect to be able to meet the first-choice preference of all candidates, but candidates can – if they wish - indicate a second preference.
The following will be confirmed with candidates after the application closing date of 17 January:
- Chosen test centre location.
- Additional equipment requirements and permissions.
Reasonable adjustments and special arrangements
Candidates will need to submit any reasonable adjustment requests to the FPH Exams team as soon as possible after the application opening date but by 5pm on 17 January at the latest. Candidates will be asked to state any special arrangements required on the application booking page, for example, multi-faith room, nursing mother’s room, special equipment. We are not yet able to confirm if infants will be permitted into test centres as this will depend on the insurance of individual test centre sites.
Permission to bring other equipment and details about permissions to have drinks and snacks etc at the exam desk will be confirmed after the application closing date.
Please also note the following:
- Due to the compressed timeframe for transitioning to test centre delivery, candidates will be asked to read and agree to an updated set of Exam Regulations after the application closing date. The Extenuating Circumstances and Misconduct Policy will also be updated in light of the changes and some of the feedback received from registrars.
- As directed by the UK regulators, all candidates must sit the exam in the same delivery format. It is not possible to choose between remote invigilation and test centre delivery – all candidates are required to attend a test centre to sit the exam.
- International candidates outside of the Hong Kong College of Community Medicine will be required to book a space at either in Hong Kong or at a UK test centre.
- Spellcheck is not currently available on the TestReach platform. Spellcheck functionality can be requested as a reasonable adjustment if this is a recommendation in a professional report and we will be in touch in due course with further details of how this will be accommodated at the test centres.
Notification to Diplomate exam candidates of changes to marking rules from March 2023
Notification to Diplomate exam candidates of inclusion of a Formulae Sheet from March 2023
Diplomate Examination - Formulae sheet
Change in exam fees
From March 2024, the exam fees will be changing. The standard exam fee for DFPH will be £835. Public Health Registrars, Practitioner and International Practitioner members will be eligible for a discount of £125.
The new fees will therefore be £710 for registrars and UK/International practitioner members (of the FPH) and £835 for all other candidates.
Please note closing dates are absolute. Applications received after 17:00 (UK time) on the closing date will not be accepted.
Please ensure that you read the exam FAQs before you apply.
Please note that a new set of Exam Regulations have now been published to reflect the change in format of the exam.
For practical information and policies relating to both exams please see here.
Hong Kong College of Community Medicine (HKCCM) Candidates
**Please note: There is an additional fee for candidates wishing to sit the examination in Hong Kong who do not have a medical background or are not on a Hong Kong training programme. See here for further information
Additional attempts
Please note that no candidate will normally be permitted more than six attempts at the examination without providing evidence of additional educational experience. Guidance regarding the additional educational experience process can be found on the FPH website in the section dealing with the application process. Candidates applying for their seventh or subsequent sitting will need to submit the additional attempt form in addition to the standard application form.
Please see further information here
Tax relief for exam fees
The HMRC confirmed in 2015 that they are satisfied that public health registrars employed on a specialty training contract and who pay the MFPH exam fees themselves will qualify for a deduction of the cost of those fees against their earnings from that employment.
Registrars will be able to claim this tax relief either by completing form P87 or through their self-assessment tax return if they meet the criteria for self-assessment. For more information, please visit GOV.UK.
To allow HMRC to handle claims as efficiently as possible, registrars should include a receipt or proof of payment from the Faculty for the MFPH exam. Claims made without a proof of payment may be delayed while HMRC contact the individual to request supportive evidence.
