The official reading list (Nov 2025 blueprint)
The table below follows the order and grouping in the blueprint. Edition numbers are as printed. Note that the blueprint groups Public Health, Patient Safety, Preventive Medicine and Ethics together in the reading list, although the content outline separates Public Health / Preventive Medicine from the Ethics and Patient Safety topics listed under Family Medicine.
| Section (as in blueprint) | Recommended texts and resources |
|---|---|
| Internal Medicine | Toronto Notes (Yingming A. Chen, Canadian ed.); Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine, 24th Edition (Brian R. Walker); Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 21st Edition (Kasper, Fauci, Hauser, Longo, Jameson, Loscalzo); Kumar and Clark’s Clinical Medicine, 11th Edition |
| Obstetrics and Gynaecology | Hacker and Moore’s Essentials of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Current Diagnosis and Treatment Obstetrics and Gynecology, 11th Edition (DeCherney et al.); Gynaecology by Ten Teachers, 20th Edition Value Pak (Kenny, Bickerstaff, Myers); Llewellyn-Jones Fundamentals of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Oats, Abraham) |
| Paediatrics | Paediatrics for Medical Students (Bernstein, Shelov); Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics, 9th Edition (2022), ISBN 9780323775625; Illustrated Textbook of Paediatrics, 6th Edition (Lissauer, Carroll) |
| Surgery | Current Surgical Therapy, 14th Edition (Cameron & Cameron); Bailey & Love’s Short Practice of Surgery, 28th Edition (2023); The Mont Reid Surgical Handbook, 7th Edition (2017) |
| Public Health, Patient Safety, Preventive Medicine and Ethics | Walton M. (2011) Patient Safety Curriculum Guide, WHO; Jekel’s Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Preventive Medicine, and Public Health, 5th ed. (2020); U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: Guide to Clinical Preventive Services; Al Kaabba F. Abdulaziz, Hussein MA Ghaiath, Kasule H. Omar, SCFHS-2015, Professionalism and Ethics Handbook for Residents: Practical Guide |
| Psychiatry | First Aid for the Psychiatry Clerkship, 6th Edition (Ganti, Kaufman, Blitzstein); Case Files Psychiatry, 6th Edition (Klamen, Toy); Textbook of Medical Psychiatry (Summergrad et al., 2020) |
| Family Medicine | familydoctor.org; Case Files Family Medicine, 5th Edition (Toy, Briscoe); Textbook of Family Medicine, 10th Edition (Rakel & Rakel); GP Notebook (gpnotebook.co.uk) |
| Clinical Guidelines | NICE (UK); AAFP (US); USPSTF (US); ACOG (US); RCOG (UK); CDC clinical guidelines; WHO guidelines |
What the exam committee says about the list
The blueprint includes an important note: the list is intended for use as a study aid only, the EMREE committee does not intend it to imply endorsement of these specific references, and exam questions are not necessarily taken from these sources. In other words, the list tells you the standard of knowledge expected, not the books questions are written from. We reproduce it for convenience; its inclusion here is not an endorsement by us or by the committee.
Editions: blueprint vs learning resources page
The Nov 2025 blueprint lists newer editions than the exam board’s learning resources web page. For example, the blueprint lists Davidson’s 24th edition, Harrison’s 21st edition, Kumar and Clark’s 11th edition and Bailey & Love’s 28th edition, while the web page still lists Davidson’s 22nd, Harrison’s 19th and Kumar’s 9th. We treat the blueprint as the current document. If you already own an older edition, it is usually adequate for core principles, but check management recommendations against current guidelines.
How to choose: one core text per discipline
Our advice, which is not official:
- Internal Medicine (20%): pick one of Davidson’s or Kumar and Clark’s as your core text. Harrison’s is best used as a reference for specific questions rather than read cover to cover in a short plan. Toronto Notes suits rapid revision.
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology (15%): a concise text such as Hacker and Moore’s or Llewellyn-Jones, supported by RCOG or ACOG guidance for management.
- Paediatrics (15%): Nelson Essentials or the Illustrated Textbook of Paediatrics.
- Surgery (15%): Bailey & Love’s for principles, or the Mont Reid handbook for a quicker review.
- Family Medicine (15%): the outline is Ethics and Patient Safety, so prioritise the professionalism and ethics handbook and the WHO Patient Safety Curriculum Guide.
- Psychiatry (10%): First Aid for the Psychiatry Clerkship or Case Files Psychiatry.
- Public Health (10%): Jekel’s for epidemiology and biostatistics, and the USPSTF guide for screening.
Use guidelines for management questions
The list ends with guideline bodies: NICE, AAFP, USPSTF, ACOG, RCOG, CDC and WHO. With pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management together weighted at roughly 30–40% of the exam, first-line management drawn from guidelines is worth more than rare textbook detail. Where UK and US guidance differ, learn the shared principle and the first-line step.
Books are not enough on their own
Reading builds knowledge, but practice questions build exam performance. Textbooks also date quickly in management, so check first-line treatment against a current guideline before relying on it. Pair your core texts with timed EMREE MCQs and at least one full mock exam. Our study material guide explains how to combine sources, and our clinical revision guides map the outline topics you should cover in each book.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the EMREE reading list come from?
It is printed at the end of the official EMREE Blueprint (Nov 2025), which is linked from the exam structure page on the exam board's website.
Are EMREE questions taken from these books?
Not necessarily. The committee states that questions are not necessarily taken from the listed sources and that the list does not imply endorsement.
Do I need the latest editions?
The blueprint lists the latest editions it recommends. Older editions usually cover core principles adequately, but check management against current guidelines.
Is Harrison's essential for EMREE?
No single book is essential. Harrison's is on the list, but most candidates use a shorter core text and consult Harrison's for specific topics.
Which book covers Family Medicine for EMREE?
In the official outline, Family Medicine covers Ethics and Patient Safety. The reading list points to a professionalism and ethics handbook for residents and the WHO Patient Safety Curriculum Guide, alongside general family medicine texts.
Sources
Official information last verified on . Rules and dates can change — always confirm on the official site before you register or apply.