Professional Diploma in Paediatrics
Duration: 9 Months
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
A wealth of evidence now shows that the healthy foetus, newborn and child enjoy better health as an adult. The care of infants, children and young people often form a large part of a doctor’s caseload, yet newly qualified doctors are often ill-equipped to provide comprehensive child-centred medical care and doctors considering entering speciality training in paediatrics soon realise that children are not simply small adults. Assessing an ill child is an art.
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Programme Details
This 9-month RCPI Diploma in Paedatrics for physicians is very popular and is always oversubscribed. It welcomes 600+ students per annum.
This RCPI Diploma in Paediatrics is a rich, engaging taught programme ideal for upskilling practising physicians with high paediatric caseloads or preparing those at early stage of paediatric specialism.
The NPS score for this programme is 80+. An NPS is the Net Promoter Score which refers to how likely a participant on the programme is to recommend the course to a colleague or friend. A score of 80+ is exceptional and speaks volumes about the calibre of the online content, tutors and student experience.
Drawing on the expertise of local and international experts in Paediatrics, the programme provides graduates with advanced knowledge and skills to enhance the health and wellbeing of children.
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The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
Established in 1654, The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is a world-leading postgraduate medical training college dedicated to ensuring that doctors have the skills to provide patients with the best possible care.
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Why Royal College of Physicians of Ireland?
- Helping doctors reach their full potential since 1654
- Largest postgraduate medical college in Ireland
- Prestigious world-recognised brand
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A world-class student experience
Developed by world-leading paediatric specialists, this programme provides an unparalleled online education experience, blending self-directed learning with tutor-led team-based learning. Students will interact and engage in:
Weekly synchronous online tutorials throughout the course
Highly interactive content and tutor-moderated discussion forums
Reflective exercises to test your thinking and learning application
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Who is the programme aimed at?
The programme is aimed at general practitioners, family physicians and those at the beginning of speciality training.
Programme Overview
The professional diploma in paediatrics programme blends self-directed learning and Tutor-led group learning. Throughout the programme, you'll engage in: online group tutorials, tutor-moderated discussion forums, interactive case studies, and reflective exercises. The programme is broken down into the following modules:
History Taking and General Examination
The Critically Ill Child
Respiratory Symptoms (Wheeze and asthma, Viral Respiratory Tract Infection and Pneumonia)
Respiratory Symptoms & ENT (Otitis Media and Mastoiditis, Assessment of Stridor - Epiglottitis, Croup and Tonsillitis)
Common Skin Conditions
Skin Infections and Skin Presentation of Systemic Diseases
Normal Developmental Milestones, Cerebral Palsy, Complications of Preterm and Low Birth Weight Babies
Head Shape and Size, Hearing, Vision and Squint
Sleep, ASD/ADHD
Immunisation & Vaccination
Infections & Communicable Diseases
Paediatric Nephrology
Child Protection & NAI
Asylum-Seeking Children
Normal/abnormal growth, measurement and growth charts, obesity
Diabetes
Feeding issues; puberty
Allergies and food allergies
Genetic Disorders and Syndromes
Common Presentations of Genetic Disorders Including Cystic Fibrosis
Jaundice in children; recurrent abdominal pain; constipation
Dehydration and rehydration; diarrhoea
Headaches, fits and seizures
Cardiology red flags in infants
Syncope, chest pain, palpitations; rheumatic heart disease
Childhood limp; acute abdominal pain; the testes
Red Flag Summary and Oncological Presentations
Your Dedicated Tutors
View All
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Dr Charlie Shepherd
Retired Consultant Paediatrician
Lead Tutor
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Dr Mark Rollins
Consultant Paediatrician
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Dr Jonny Henderson
Consultant Paediatrician
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Dr Lucy Paterson-Brown
Paediatric Registrar
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Dr Dominic Carr
ST5 Paediatric Registrar
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Dr Helen Thomas
ST5 Paediatric Registrar
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Dr Turlough Bolger
Consultant Paediatric Emergency Medicine
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Dr Aedín Ryan
Consultant Paediatrician
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Dr Jarlath O'Donohue
Retired Consultant Paediatrician
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Dr Nadia Jradi
Course Benefits
A truly global programme
Developed by international paediatric experts. Participants from across the globe (70+ nationalities) study together, learning from each other's experiences and challenges.
World-leading healthcare faculty
Our tutor faculty comprise world-leading paediatric practitioners. They are not academics but practicing consultants working at the coalface of paediatric care.
Easy-to-use online student portal
The student learning environment is accessible anytime, anywhere on any device designed with the busy clinician in mind.
A world-class online learning experience
The programme is a truly transformative user experience. The content is rich, compelling, engaging and innovative. It includes interactive video, 2D & 3D animations, medical imagery and instructional competency-focused pedagogy.
A World Leading Brand
Est. in 1654, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is one of the most prestigious postgraduate medical training bodies in the world.
Enhance your CV, boost your career
An RCPI Diploma can help early-stage physicians secure coveted consultancy training positions. The qualification can also aid established physicians become physicians with a special interest or expanded role.
As a GP specialist, I found this programme tremendously useful. It enhanced my clinical knowledge and experience in treating the paediatric population. The programme was delivered in a very engaging way and is clinically relevant for GPs.
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Dr Norhasyimah Binti Mahadi — GP, Brunei
I really enjoyed the Paediatric diploma course – it was engaging and a really good foundation in child's medicine. The tutorials were clinically based on what you would see in practice. It was interesting to get input from clinicians practising throughout different specialties. It helped me in my clinical practice, and could take away points that I learned into the wards.
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Lauren O’Loughlin — Senior House Officer in Emergency Medicine, Ireland
I would highly recommend any 'on-the-fence' candidates to take this Diploma in Paediatrics, especially those thinking of starting their career as a GP, BST, or as an SHO/Registrar in Paediatrics. I have nothing but high praise for this iheed programme
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Dr Ali Raza — Doctor, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
The iheed Diploma in Paediatrics learning experience, block-video assessments, and examinations were well-organised and structured. The course helped me boost my confidence, knowledge and safe practice skills. The time and money invested were totally worth it. I truly enjoyed the course. It's an honour to be an alumnus of RCPI.
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Dr Mercy James Paul — Internal Medicine Graduate, Australia
This course forms an excellent base for paediatric clinical practice. What's best is how easily explained yet comprehensive it is. I highly recommend it for all the physicians in general practice as well those professionals who are opting for paediatric speciality in the future.
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Zoya Ahmed — GP, Saudi Arabia
I would highly recommend the iheed diploma courses. I was so impressed by the quality of teaching, the ease of use of the online platform and the friendly and approachable tutors on the Paediatrics diploma that I also signed up for the diploma in Women's Health. Thanks iheed for making postgraduate diplomas in medicine so accessible and enjoyable.
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Kate O'Hara — GP, Ireland
Excellent course. Practical, well run. I highly recommend it. I am very happy with content and structure. "A journey of a 1000 miles begins with your first footprint." Lao Tzu (c. 604 - 531 B.C.)
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Sheila Bloomquist — Family Medicine Specialist, Ireland
Your Questions Answered
The following are the most frequently asked questions about the RCPI Diploma in Paediatrics programme. If your query is not answered, please reach out to us on the live chat on the site
You can pay upfront, by block, or in monthly installments on this programme. For a more detailed overview of your payment options please click here.
Please contact your Educational Advisor for more information on pricing and offer.
iheeds aim to support you through the entirety of your course to ensure the greatest success on the programme. As an organisation of physicians, we understand that workload and other life situations may impact your studies. With that, your programme managers will be able to support you and provide options for temporary withdrawal from the programme if required. You will be able to re-join the programme at a future intake from the point where you withdrew.
No. This is a nine-month knowledge enhancement programme. The course would suit doctors in the earlier stages of postgraduate training and any other doctors looking to update their knowledge on the most common paediatrics presentation. Alone, the course will not make you a specialist but will provide solid foundations if you are considering a career in paediatrics. Having an internationally recognised Diploma in Paediatrics from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland will only serve to enhance your CV and your ability to access highly sought-after and competitive residency places.
Following conclusion of the final exams, results must be graded before going to the board of examiners and a college senate to approve for conferral. Certificates will then be posted to successful candidates. You will receive your certificate approximately two months following successful completion of your course.
Certificates are issued directly from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and carry the College’s logo, seal, and signature of the College President. Nowhere on the certificate is it mentioned that the course was conducted online, nor does it mention iheed.
While we are proud of the high success (pass) rate on this programme, there might be an occasion that you are unsuccessful in your exam. There is one repeat attempt allowed for each exam. Your mark on the repeat attempt will be capped at the 50% pass mark.
This nine-month programme is divided into three two-month blocks. There will be one exam at the end of each block, comprising multiple choice questions (MCQs) and key feature problem questions (FTQs). There will be three short skills assessments to be completed as well, which can be recorded on your smartphone using a mock patient. An example of a skills assessment would be taking a patient’s history.
All three exams can be done online. We utilise a third-party online exam invigilator called ‘Examity’. Therefore, exams can be taken from anywhere in the world. There will be a two-day window within which you can select your preferred time to sit your exam.
Please see link to the Funding pages here.
Yes, please see link to the Accreditation page.