Core Revision
DOccMed Core Wisdom
Short, practical notes on the core ideas behind the DOccMed, from advising the employer to the portfolio, the oral and the law.
Preparing for the DOccMed
Thirteen pieces from the founders on the Faculty of Occupational Medicine diploma: dates and fees, eligibility and the approved course, the MCQ, the portfolio and the oral, and whether it is worth it for a GP. Free to read, no sign-in.
DOccMed 2027: exam dates, format, fees and how to prepare
MCQ papers on 10 May and 8 November 2027, the FOM-approved course rule, the portfolio and oral, fees of £530 per part, and how to prepare.
Dr David Palethorpe · 5 min readRead →
What’s changed for the DOccMed in 2026–27
Nine sourced changes for candidates: SSP, DVLA diabetes rules, hepatitis B testing, the harassment duty, FOM ethics and alcohol guidance and HSE data.
Dr David Palethorpe · 9 min readRead →
Who can sit the DOccMed? Eligibility for GPs, SAS doctors, trainees and IMGs
GMC registration (or an eligible qualification) plus an approved course is the whole entry rule. What it means for GPs, SAS doctors, trainees and IMGs.
Dr Victoria Hammond · 5 min readRead →
DOccMed approved courses: the seven FOM-approved providers and how to choose
The seven FOM-approved providers, the 90% attendance rule, the deadline the course must meet, and what to ask a provider before you pay.
Dr David Palethorpe · 4 min readRead →
How long does the DOccMed take? A realistic timeline from course to certificate
Six to fifteen months from course to certificate, five years allowed. The sequence, the three deadlines that bind, and three realistic routes.
Dr Victoria Hammond · 5 min readRead →
12 weeks to the DOccMed MCQ: preparing alongside a full-time job
Eighty best-fit questions in 105 minutes, revised around a full-time job: a twelve-week plan across the syllabus, with the portfolio alongside.
Dr David Palethorpe · 5 min readRead →
Part 1 MFOM and the DOccMed MCQ: the same paper
One FOM paper, two routes. Who can sit it, the exemptions each way and their time limits, dates, fees and how to prepare.
Dr David Palethorpe · 5 min readRead →
DOccMed best-fit questions: 10 examples with answers
Ten worked best-fit questions in the short statement and scenario format, with answers and short explanations.
Dr David Palethorpe · 13 min readRead →
DOccMed reading list 2026: the current editions
What the FOM reading list recommends, which editions are current, the free official documents that matter most and how to use a small set.
Dr David Palethorpe · 6 min readRead →
The DOccMed portfolio: the July 2024 template, section by section
The 13 marked sections of the July 2024 template and their marks, a word budget, the format rules, the deadline and resits.
Dr David Palethorpe · 8 min readRead →
The DOccMed oral on MS Teams: the rules and how to prepare
How the 20-minute oral runs and is marked, the FOM’s rules for the day (ID, room scan, no notes, reconnection) and a two-week plan.
Dr David Palethorpe · 7 min readRead →
DOccMed results and resits: what happens if you fail the MCQ or the oral
The two parts pass or fail independently. Standard-set MCQ, the 50% oral rule, six attempts, the five-year limit and a new portfolio per resit.
Dr David Palethorpe · 5 min readRead →
Is the DOccMed worth it for a GP?
Built for doctors doing occupational health part-time. The three parts, £1,346 in Faculty fees, where it helps a GP career and where it does not.
Dr Victoria Hammond · 5 min readRead →
The rest of the DOccMed toolkit
Every part of the DOccMed track, one click away. Work across them rather than through them — the guide explains it, the tools drill the decision, the bank tests it and the Compass tells you what is left.