FCPsych(SA) Part 1: The Complete Guide

The FC Psych(SA), Fellowship of the College of Psychiatrists of South Africa, is the national specialist qualification in psychiatry awarded by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA). Part 1 is the foundation examination, covering the clinical neurosciences, psychology and the basics of psychiatric practice. Its breadth surprises many candidates, because it reaches from neuroanatomy and genetics to personality theory, mental health law and research methods. This guide explains the structure, the syllabus and a practical way to prepare.

What is the FCPsych(SA) Part 1?

Part 1 is a written examination that tests the scientific and conceptual foundations of psychiatry. It checks that you understand how the brain is built and how it works, how psychotropic drugs act, how people develop, learn and behave, and the principles of psychiatric assessment, classification, ethics and law in South Africa. A pass is required before you can enter Part 2, the clinical exit examination.

FCPsych(SA) Part 1 format and structure

The current College of Psychiatrists regulations describe two digital written papers, with no oral examination:

• Two digital papers of 3 hours each, with 100 questions per paper.
• Questions are in short answer format and may include single best answers, multiple choice questions, extended matching questions and very short answer questions.
• Paper 1, Clinical Neurosciences: neuroanatomy and psychopharmacology (50 questions), and neurophysiology and genetics (50 questions).
• Paper 2: Introduction to Psychiatry (50 questions) and Psychology and Behavioural Sciences (50 questions).
• Pass marks are set for each paper using the Angoff method, and there is no negative marking.
• Each paper must be passed individually, both papers must be written at the same sitting, and there is no carry-over of a passed paper.

Both papers are offered each semester and are administered on the Speedwell system, so basic computer literacy is essential. Confirm the current format on the CMSA website when you apply.

Who can sit FCPsych(SA) Part 1?

Entry is slightly stricter than for many other CMSA primary examinations. You must hold a post-internship qualification to practise medicine and have full registration with the HPCSA, which in practice means you must have completed your year of community service. The CMSA Senate, through its Examinations and Credentials Committee, reviews every application. Because the no carry-over rule means a single weak paper costs you the whole sitting, it is worth applying only when you are ready for both papers. Confirm the current requirements with the CMSA before you register.

FCPsych(SA) Part 1 syllabus: where to focus

The College publishes a Part 1 content blueprint organised by module. It is described as a guide rather than an exhaustive list, but it maps closely to the four 50-question blocks:

• Neuroanatomy: the cortex, limbic system, basal ganglia, diencephalon, brainstem, cranial nerves, blood supply, ventricular system and neurodevelopment.
• Neurophysiology and genetics: neuronal signalling, the major neurotransmitter systems, neuroendocrine axes, sleep and chronobiology, the neuroscience of major psychiatric syndromes, and psychiatric genetics including pharmacogenetics.
• Psychopharmacology: pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, adverse effects and interactions, and each major drug class, from antipsychotics and antidepressants to treatments for ADHD, dementia and addiction.
• Behavioural sciences: personality, intelligence, learning and memory, motivation, developmental psychology, psychotherapy models and psychometric testing.
• Introduction to psychiatry: phenomenology, ICD and DSM classification, psychiatric emergencies, the Mental Health Care Act, public mental health, research methods and statistics, ethics, and socio-cultural psychiatry in the South African context.

The regulations include a recommended reading list that pairs international texts with Southern African ones, such as a local textbook of psychiatry and a South African introduction to psychology.

A realistic FCPsych(SA) Part 1 study plan

Most candidates prepare over several months alongside registrar work. Because each paper must be passed on its own, keep both papers moving throughout.

• Phase one, split the load. Alternate between a neuroscience topic and a behavioural or clinical topic each week. Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology need repetition to stick, while psychology and law need structured notes you can revisit.
• Phase two, question-led consolidation. Work through questions in each of the four blocks, logging the topics where you score poorly. Mental health law, statistics and psychometrics often turn out to be weaker than candidates expect.
• Phase three, simulate both papers. Sit timed 100-question practice papers, check that you are comfortably above a passing standard on both, and use the final stretch to shore up whichever paper is weaker.

Exam technique that earns marks

With 100 questions in three hours, you have just under two minutes per question. Read each question type carefully, because a paper can mix single best answer, extended matching and very short answer formats, and the instructions differ. For short answers, be precise: give the specific nucleus, receptor or legal section asked for rather than a general description. Since there is no negative marking, answer everything. Watch your time on the neuroanatomy questions, which can absorb minutes if you start drawing pathways from scratch, and flag them to revisit if needed.

The best way to revise for FCPsych(SA) Part 1

The breadth of Part 1 makes active recall essential. A good question bank lets you test yourself across all four blocks, explains the science behind each answer so you understand rather than memorise, and shows you which block is weakest so you can protect yourself against the no carry-over rule.

Pair question practice with a small set of trusted references from the College's reading list, and return to them whenever an explanation exposes a gap. For neuroanatomy, sketching pathways from memory after each question block is a quick way to check that the knowledge has really stuck.

Passmed's FCPsych(SA) Part 1 question bank is written by qualified doctors, mapped to the CMSA Part 1 blueprint, and pairs clear explanations with performance tracking across the neuroscience and behavioural science blocks. Explore the FCPsych(SA) Part 1 question bank →

Frequently asked questions

What is the format of FCPsych(SA) Part 1?

Two digital papers of 100 questions each, 3 hours per paper, covering clinical neurosciences in Paper 1 and introduction to psychiatry with psychology and behavioural sciences in Paper 2.

Can I carry over a passed paper?

No. Both papers must be written at the same sitting and each must be passed individually; there is no carry-over.

Do I need to have finished community service?

Yes. The regulations require full registration with the HPCSA, which means completing community service after internship.

Is there negative marking?

No. Pass marks are set by the Angoff method and no negative marking is applied, so answer every question.

Exam format details were checked against the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (accessed October 2026). Regulations, dates and fees change, always confirm the current details on the CMSA website before you sit.