Examination in Neurology (Adult and Pediatric)

The Royal College describes this examination as assessing clinical competence and readiness to enter practice. The format reviewed here is labeled Written 2026/Applied 2027; candidates should check the current schedule and the format that applies to their exam session and training cohort.

The first written paper is specific to the candidate’s adult or pediatric track; the second paper is common to both. Candidates must pass the written component to be invited to the applied component. The published pass score is 70% for each component. The two written-paper scores are combined, so candidates need to pass the written component overall, not each paper separately. The components are decoupled: a candidate who passes written but not applied does not need to retake the written component on a later attempt.

The oral stations assess clinical reasoning and may involve a focused history, interpretation of findings, diagnosis and management, or counseling. The format describes the applied component as structured oral.

The Royal College gives approximate mark ranges for the written examination and notes that they may vary slightly. Use the ranges as broad planning guidance, not fixed quotas.

The applied-topic list includes vascular and systemic disorders, neuro-ophthalmology, cognition and behavior, headache, demyelination, movement disorders, epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders, communication, and pediatric disorders for both adult and pediatric candidates. The format page lists these topics without mark ranges.

Exam eligibility is assessed before registration, and the appropriate route depends on where and how postgraduate specialty training was completed. The Royal College lists distinct routes, including the Traditional Canadian Route, the ACGME Route, the Approved Jurisdiction Route, and the Practice Eligibility Route (PER); the routes have different criteria, so check the one that matches your training history.

The Traditional Canadian Route is for residents or graduates of Canadian postgraduate programs accredited by the Royal College. Candidates apply for an assessment and receive an eligibility ruling before registering. The route page states that eligibility is valid for five consecutive years, within which all exam components must be completed.

PER is for eligible specialists trained outside Canada, the United States, and Royal College-approved jurisdictions in a program that meets the route’s requirements. Exam eligibility is only one step: PER certification also includes a Canadian time-in-practice requirement. Check the route-specific instructions, current deadlines, and fees before applying; the official pages below provide those details.

• Plan by track. Use the adult or pediatric blueprint ranges to organize broad review, while also preparing for the common written paper and the applied topics listed for both candidate tracks.
• Practice concise, timed SAQ responses. Answer the number of items requested. If you provide more answers than requested, only the first requested number are considered. The Royal College notes that partial marks may be awarded and incorrect answers do not lose marks.
• Rehearse spoken case reasoning. Practice a clear sequence for a focused history, interpretation of examination or investigation findings, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, next steps, management, and counseling. Use timed cases to build concise, organized responses for the specified structured oral format.
• Include communication and professional judgment. The written and applied assessments may assess CanMEDS roles beyond Medical Expert; the oral format specifically describes communication and counseling tasks.
• Use current official information. Check the examination format, schedule, and candidate communications for the session and cohort that apply to you.

The track determines the first written paper, but pediatric disorders may also appear in applied stations for both adult and pediatric candidates. Do not assume that the written track excludes the other age group from the applied component.

The format is session-specific, and the Royal College schedule provides exam dates, deadlines, and locations. The general logistics page states that written exams are held in person at regional exam centers in Canada and applied exams in Toronto or Ottawa. Dates and locations can change, so confirm the details in the current schedule and your appointment information. Candidates should also use the eligibility route and fee information that applies to their own training circumstances.