Dear Associates,
Please be informed that the next MRCPCH Foundation of Practice, Theory & Science (FOP TAS) Examination will be held on 14 October 2025 (Tuesday). Candidates wishing to sit this exam in HK must apply both online using the RCPCH website ( https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/user ) AND submit paper applications to our College. Please study carefully the details of application as outlined in the attached circular. Please also find an Application Form B for your use.
Application period
11 August 2025 (Mon) - 18 August 202 (Mon)
*for applications for online invigilation, closing date is 15 August 2025 (Friday)
*15 seats are available on a first-come-first-served basis for this diet of exam.
Options for sitting this exam
1. At your own home or workplace with online invigilation(online invigilation guide)
Remarks: Please note that there will NOT be any test centre option for this diet of exam.
Examination Fee
FOP & TAS (both papers) HK$7,600
FOP only (single paper) HK$4,700
TAS only (single paper) HK$4,700
Payment should be made payable to Hong Kong College of Paediatricians.
You are strongly advised to submit your online application promptly.
Those candidates who have never taken an exam with the RCPCH and/or do not have an RCPCH number are advised to first register with the RCPCH well before the application period. You do not need to wait until a specific examination opens to apply for an RCPCH online account. A RCPCH number is needed in order to access the online application forms for exams.
Thank you for your attention.
College Secretariat
Genetics & Genomics
Draft proposed by Dr S P Wu
Reviewed by Dr S P Wu
Domain 1 - Professional Values & Behaviour
Domain 2 - Communication
Domain 4 - Patient management
Additional desirable skills are listed in each proposal. These recommended skills are to be acquired as opportunity arises.
Basic Training
Trisomy, aneuploidy and chromosomal abnormalities
- Genetic basis of Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome and other aneuploidy
- Understand the different types of chromosomal abnormalities
Common genetic diseases
Epidemiology, clinical features and pathogenesis of common genetic diseases.
Patterns of inheritance
Mendelian inheritance (single gene disorders)
- Common AD, AR and XR disorders
Trinucleotide repeats
Mitochondrial inheritance
Sporadic conditions
Genetic variants
- Different types of mutations: nonsense, missense, frameshift
- Understand loss-of-function and gain-of-function variants
Principle of population screening
- Understand the WHO principle of effective screening
- Understand the present screening programmes in infants and children
Basic principles of antenatal diagnosis
Understand the methods that can be used in antenatal diagnosis:
- Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis techniques
- Amniocentesis
- Chorionic villus sampling
- Preimplantation genetic diagnosis
Basic principles of genetic testing
Basic knowledge of genetic tests available for common genetic diseases.
Desirable skills
Obtaining and Preparation of biospecimens for genetic testing:
- Blood testing
- Buccal swab testing
Higher Training
Cytogenetics
Understand the application of karyotyping, FISH and array comparative genomic hybridization, quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction.
Patterns of inheritance
- Partial chromosomal deletions
- Mosaicism
- Imprinting disorders
Genetic counseling
- Understand the need of pre-test consent and counseling
- Understand the principle of disclosure
Next Generation Sequencing
- Application of Gene panel testing
- Application of whole exome sequencing
- Application of whole genomic sequencing
- Understand the implication of variants of unknown significance
Ethics
Understand the ethics of genetic testing, screening and counselling.
Desirable skills
1.Basic Genetic Counselling skills
2.Obtaining consent for genetic tests