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Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine

DPM Part 1 exam - Multiple Choice Paper: 13 September 2023

DPM Part 2 exam - Short Answer Paper: 10 October 2023

DPM Part 2 exam - Critical Appraisal Paper: 11 October 2023

Bookings are now closed, exam entries will be confirmed on 11 August.

Exam News

The DPM exams are delivered online with remote invigilation

For more information go to online examinations.

 

From the 2024 exams there will be a change to the eligibility criteria:

To register for the CPM, you must hold a bachelor’s degree in any scientific discipline or have worked as a registered pharmacist, nurse, midwife, physiotherapist, osteopath, chiropractor, or psychologist.

It is strongly recommended you have at least two years’ experience of working in pharmaceutical medicine, and specifically in disciplines that provide experience relevant to the CPM syllabus (for example, clinical development, medical affairs, pharmacovigilance, or other related disciplines).

In this section

Registration and fees

  • DPM Part 1 exam entry: £395
  • DPM Part 2 exam entry: £680
  • DPM Part 2 resit exam entry SAQ or CAP: £340

Registration deadline: Registration will close at 17:00 on August 4th 2023.

Bookings are now closed, exam entries will be confirmed on 11 August.

Withdrawal Policy: A candidate who withdraws from the exam must do so via email to exams@fpm.org.uk   Fees will be refunded in full to a candidate whose withdrawal reaches the FPM office before the published registration deadline.

Candidates who withdraw after the published registration deadline will be subject to a £75 per paper administrative fee.

A candidate who does not appear for the exam or withdraws after starting the exam will not be entitled to a refund.

If you are entered for both Part 1 and Part 2 but fail the Part 1 exam, you will be withdrawn from the Part 2 exams and receive a full refund of the Part 2 fees.

Privacy Notice: If you are registered or anticipate being registered with the GMC, your personal data, including exam marks, will be passed to the GMC for quality assurance purposes and to facilitate the awarding of CCTs. Please note our privacy policy and terms and conditions.

If you are a physician in PMST or undergoing revalidation through an approved designated body, you should discuss the outcome of any exam at your next ARCP or revalidation appraisal respectively.

Achieving a Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine (DPM) is a defining moment in the career of any pharmaceutical physician. It affirms their knowledge and expertise in our specialty, and their commitment to enhancing the health of society.

It also opens up the opportunity to become an FPM Member (MFPM) and, ultimately, a Fellow (FFPM), accolades that are held by some of the most exceptional and innovative pharmaceutical physicians in the world.

Introduction

The Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine (DPM) was established in 1976 and has been passed by almost 900 individuals. It is considered a landmark achievement for any physician undertaking a career in pharmaceutical medicine.

The DPM is a qualification comprised of two parts. Once a candidate has passed DPM Part 1 they are eligible to sit DPM Part 2. Candidates who pass DPM Part 2 are awarded the Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine.

Entry Criteria

Candidates must possess a medical qualification recognised by the General Medical Council (GMC) in the UK or be included on an appropriate medical register in their home country. All candidates must be registered as medical practitioners.

From the 2024 exams there will be a change to the eligibility criteria for the MCQ Paper (CPM):

To register for the CPM, you must hold a bachelor’s degree in any scientific discipline or have worked as a registered pharmacist, nurse, midwife, physiotherapist, osteopath, chiropractor, or psychologist.

It is strongly recommended you have at least two years’ experience of working in pharmaceutical medicine, and specifically in disciplines that provide experience relevant to the CPM syllabus (for example, clinical development, medical affairs, pharmacovigilance, or other related disciplines).

Certificate in Pharmaceutical Medicine

  • You can start with the Certificate in Pharmaceutical Medicine (CPM) and progress on to DPM when you are ready.
Find out more

How will the DPM benefit you?

  • The DPM is a qualification that is respected around the world
  • Increases your employability
  • Demonstrates that you are an expert on the theory and practical applications of pharmaceutical medicine
  • Sense of achievement, both academic and professional. The DPM is a challenge!
  • Paves the way to FPM Membership and Fellowship

DPM Awardees video

What are the benefits of taking the DPM?

Dr Shilpa Govindraj, Dr Ugochukwu Stephanie Igwe, Dr Imran Lodhi and Dr Babatunde Oyesile talk about the benefits of taking the Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine.

2023 Exams schedule:

The DPM qualification consists of two exams, held approximately four weeks apart every autumn. The start time is as for UK, so GMT (BST).
ExaminationDateStart timeDurationLocation
Part 1 Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) paper Wednesday 13 September 2023 13:30 2.5 hours Online
Part 2 Short Answer Questions (SAQ) Tuesday 10 October 2023 13:30 2.5 hours Online
Part 2 Critical Appraisal papers (CAP) Wednesday 11 October 2023 13:30 2.5 hours Online

Having a solid foundation in the pillars of Pharm Med (RGN, Clin Dev, Clin Pharm, DSS, HMP, SDM) equips you with the core skills required for any role in pharma.

A recent DPM awardee

Examination guidance

A pass in the first exam awards a Certificate in Pharmaceutical Medicine (CPM) and is also Part 1 of the Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine (DPM). The CPM/DPM Part 1 must be passed before candidates are eligible to sit DPM Part 2.

CPM/DPM Part 1 is a Multiple Choice Question paper (MCQ) of 75 questions, each with five possible answers, all to be completed in 2 hours 30 minutes;

DPM Part 2 consists of a Short Answer Question (SAQ) paper of ten questions all to be completed in 2 hours 30 minutes; and a Critical Appraisal paper (CAP) in which candidates have 2 hours 30 minutes to study a published paper and answer questions on it.

The time allowed for the written exam is sufficient to complete the papers working at a reasonable pace.  See our reasonable adjustment policy (pdf) for candidates who may require additional time.

Please refer to the Guidance and regulations for DPM candidates (pdf) for details of changes implemented in 2019, whereby a Part 1 pass is now final leading to an award of CPM and Part 2 candidates who pass one of the papers but fail the other, do not have to retake the paper they passed at the subsequent 3 exam sittings.

Preparing for the exams

A Diploma candidate should plan a training programme in pharmaceutical medicine, where appropriate with the advice of his or her Educational Supervisor. The training in pharmaceutical medicine should involve courses, distance-learning packages, other tuition and personal study. Candidates are not required to have attended a postgraduate course covering the syllabus for pharmaceutical medicine, though most do.

Study of a current edition of one of the published comprehensive texts is highly recommended as preparation for the examination. Textbooks on key topics in the syllabus such as clinical trials, pharmacokinetics, medical statistics, safety assessments, etc, are also essential reading. Regulatory guidelines, particularly those issued by ICH, can also be a valuable source of up-to-date information.

For more information on preparing for the exams, see Guidance and Regulations: DPM Candidates.

Digital handbook

To download further details about the DPM exams, see the links below:
For exam tips and past papers, see the links below:
The Board of Examiners (BoE) release newsletters periodically. Please find the latest editions below: