WHY go 4 MRCOG?

This blog post is intended to help you delve deeper into the first W of the MRCOG exam which was mentioned in my last post.

MRCOG Part Two: 3 Ws & General Advice

The first W was: WHY do you want to take it?

In my last post, I left this question to be answered by readers and just quoted a sentence from the RCOG website “MRCOG: A global exam. The Gold Standard Qualification in O&G”. Today I would like to expand on that to help you find your WHY and to emphasize the impact of having MRCOG degree on your career, especially as a non-UK based obstetrician and gynaecologist.

MRCOG: A Global Exam. Gold Standard Qualification in O&G

Before proceeding further, let's have a look at the dictionary meaning of this word.

gold standard

noun [s]

a thing of superior quality which serves as a point of reference against which other things of its type may be compared.

1.1 The best, most reliable, or most prestigious thing of its type.

As evident from above, MRCOG is a qualification which is used as a benchmark to test your clinical competence in the speciality of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. It is a globally recognized qualification. It is your passport to the very pinnacle of the profession. It can earn you higher credibility even in those countries where they have their own fellowship & membership exams. Most of these countries use RCOG as a point of reference to improve and benchmark their qualifications standards. 

The knowledge part of the speciality is the same worldwide. The only difference in this exam is understanding the RCOG standards and how this knowledge is applied in UK systems. If you are working at a postgraduate level you already have the basic knowledge and clinical skills, which you practise every day as an obstetrician and gynaecologist in your workplace (no matter which part of the world you work). So why not work a bit more harder and go for the gold standard qualification as well? It will help you provide better care to your patients, enhance their trust in you, let you excel in your career and will eventually make you a better person.

Why do we hesitate to go 4 it?

MRCOG is perceived as one of the toughest exams. Yes, I agree that it is tough and difficult, but remember it is not impossible. Let me tell you the reason why most of the non-UK-based doctors find it tough. This exam tests your clinical skills, attitudes and in-depth knowledge of the speciality. For clinical skills, we need practical experience, which almost all of us do have but for in-depth knowledge (as required by RCOG standard) we must study hard. 

There could be many reasons that people hesitate to go 4 it. Just to name a few are:

• Difficult to manage time with busy lives and responsibilities
• Personal reasons
• Non-familiarity with the exam and its format
• Financial constraints
• You may be already working at a very higher post in your country with the highest qualifications that you find unnecessary to do it.

How to overcome this hesitation?

The first step here is to decide that you want to go 4 it. Now, you need to motivate yourself and have strong willpower. You need to change the way you think and you will see change happening in your life.

Imagine this!!! Feel it!! You can be a world-class and gold-standard qualification holder with the same efforts you make every day. Just that you need to have a road map to guide your hard work in the right direction with persistence, perseverance and dedication. 

There are over 16,500 RCOG members and fellows worldwide (as of 26/01/2022). Just remember that they are also humans like any of us. Every one of us is being gifted the same 24 hours every day, it depends on how we utilise that time. It is all about priorities and having a work-life balance.

Since you have decided to pursue your career as an Ob/Gyn you have already shown your commitment in a very sensitive and demanding field. If you want to achieve and demonstrate the highest level of knowledge and skills in this speciality, then MRCOG is the global standard. 

What are the Career Benefits?

Now, I will try to bring to your attention the additional benefits you can have in your career by pursuing this exam. Just to list a few of them:

• It is possible to achieve MRCOG while you work in your respective place and country as it's a global exam and is conducted in many centres worldwide.
• Most of the training done in teaching hospitals for local fellowship or membership exams of Ob/Gyn are accepted and counted towards the assessment of training by RCOG. Even the work experience in Ob/Gyn before sitting for MRCOG part 1 is also acceptable. (Kindly refer to the RCOG website for further details and the latest updates).
• So, you can see you do not need any extra training for this exam. Just keep doing whatever is required for your local postgraduate exams. Keep practising your clinical skills to gain more experience. You can utilise the same training and experience towards attaining MRCOG.
• After having MRCOG you can work at a senior level in most of the countries and can go further in your career progression. It opens many new doors of opportunities for you globally. In many countries of the world, you get smart and good incentives to enjoy a very comfortable living. 
• You can get GMC registration in the UK after doing IELTS only. You can get a job in the UK and can take your career further.
• You will get many opportunities to provide a standard guide to new aspirants aiming to start their career in Ob/Gynae.
• You can implement the evidence-based practice in your workplace which you learn during your journey of MRCOG. It will improve the overall quality of care for women and can be a major contribution towards the development of your country.

This is not an ultimate list. You are welcome to think and add more to these benefits keeping your own situation in mind.

I would like to end my post with a sentence from MRCOG part 3 pass letter which in my opinion is the best summary to all that I have tried to explain till now. RCOG clearly mentions in the final pass letter that:

“This is an exceptional achievement and one of which you should be immensely proud”۔

I hope and wish that all of you who want to start this journey or have already started it... will find your WHY? You will be at your destination one day or another, it is just a matter of being committed, persistent and keep taking small steps towards your goal.

Thanks for your valuable time.

My best wishes to you all as always.

Dr Rubab Khalid