IRSE Certificate in Railway Control Engineering Fundamentals

About the Exam

The IRSE Certificate in Railway Control Engineering Fundamentals qualification covers all aspects of railway control engineering at a foundation level. It is a stand-alone qualification as well as being the mandatory pre-qualifier for all wishing to sit the Advanced Diploma in the future.

• Foundation-level qualification – also a prerequisite for the Advanced Diploma
• Open to all (IRSE membership not required)
• Exam available twice a year (March and October)
• Fee: £145 for March 2026 - it will increase for October 2026's exam
• Format: one standalone module (Module A), a multiple choice exam

Exam Logistics

Support & Resources

Additional Info

• The cost is GBP £145 per person, with no discounts available (March 2026 price)
• The exam takes 90 minutes, those requiring special requirements must contact exam@irse.org upon booking
• There are 4 timeslots to choose from (starting at 06:00, 10:00, 13:30 and 16:00 UTC) - please note that all times are given in UTC which could be different to your local time.
• There are no exam centres - you are responsible for providing your own device (Windows, MacOS or Linux) with webcam, a suitable quiet environment with reliable internet without firewall or software download restrictions.
• You will be monitored throughout your exam by remote invigilation software.
• You will be required to download and test that the remote invigilation software is working at least 3 weeks before exam day
• Candidate guide and full terms and conditions will be published nearer the time