Candidate FAQs

• July 2026– June 2027: Final year of current (legacy) formats.
• July 2027– June 2028: Transition year – some legacy exams will remain available for Primary FRCA OSCE and SOE / FFICM OSCE and SOE where candidates have previously secured a partial pass in the existing format. All first-time candidates will sit exams in the new format from this date.
• From July 2028: All candidates will sit the new exam formats from this date forward.

During 2027–2028, legacy OSCE/SOE components will continue to be delivered but will be available only to candidates with a valid partial pass. 

Candidates who currently hold a valid partial pass in OSCE or SOE:

• May complete the outstanding legacy component
• Must pass by the final transition sittings in June 2028
• After July 2028, partial passes will not carry forward

Example:
A candidate who has passed the SOE but failed the OSCE (and therefore failed overall) will be eligible to complete the remaining component during the 2027–2028 academic year. 

All other candidates will sit the new exam formats from July 2027 onward.

Only if you have a valid partial pass in a legacy Primary OSCE or SOE component. No new entries into legacy formats will be accepted. 

All other candidates will sit the new examination formats from July 2027. 

• Primary FRCA OSCE/SOE becomes Primary FRCA Clinical Anaesthetic Sciences Examination (CASE)
• Final FRCA SOE becomes Final FRCA Clinical Performance Examination (FCPE)
• Written MCQ exams become Applied Knowledge Test (AKT).

Your next steps depend on your result and the exam you're sitting. We've created decision trees to help you understand your options:

• Primary FRCA OSCE/SOE Decision Tree (PDF)
• Final FRCA SOE Decision Tree (PDF)

These diagrams show whether you’ll follow a legacy route, resit components, or transition to the new exam formats in 2027–2028.

From July 2027, you will need to sit the new clinical oral exam formats if you: 

• Hold a valid pass in the relevant MCQ component, and
  • have not yet sat a clinical oral component, or
  • have failed all parts of the relevant clinical oral component(s).

If you hold a valid pass in the Primary FRCA OSCE or SOE and would like to sit the clinical components during academic year 2027 - 2028 you will be able to choose to sit either the legacy or new exam format.

Exam formats and combinations are considered equivalent.

Candidates will not be disadvantaged because of format change. 

Yes. If you hold a partial pass in a legacy Primary OSCE or SOE component and would like to sit the remaining clinical component during the transition year (2027/28), you can choose either the legacy or new format.

You will need to sit the new format. Legacy exams will no longer be available after 30 June 2028.

Written components are valid for 3 years from the point of passing. Candidates who wish to wait to sit the new examination format should contact us if the validity of their written exam expires during this time. We will extend the validity by one year on request.

Introductory videos from our Exam Development Leads on the new formats. 

Mapped options and eligibility to support decision-making

A new Resources Hub containing:

• AKT sample questions and explanations
• Question format example videos
• Marking domain descriptors
• Performance expectations

Throughout 2026-27 there will also be webinars and Q&A sessions provided on the changes to the new exams.

Yes. The new formats are considered as valid and reliable as the legacy exams. Neither the standard of the assessments nor their purpose within the training programme has changed. There is no change to the curriculum or the range of what is being assessed across the entire FRCA examination.

Attempts at the new exam will be classed as your first attempt regardless of previous sittings. 

For example, if you failed the Primary OSCE SOE on your fifth attempt in AY 26-27, taking Primary FRCA CASE will be classed as your first attempt, not your sixth. 

The maximum of six attempts at a component remains unchanged. If you've failed an exam six times, you are no longer eligible to sit further exams. 

If you’re unable to sit exams due to health, maternity, or other personal reasons, you’ll transition to the new format when you return. The transition period has a fixed cut-off date of June 2028. There will be no extensions beyond this date to ensure fairness and consistency for all candidates as the new exam formats are introduced.

Examinations fees will change in line with the new formats and the usual processes to review fees for each academic year. No profit is made from examinations, and further information can be found in our Cost of Training guide.

Candidates will be prioritised according to published application prioritisation policies.

There is no change to the refund policy which is a full refund (minus £45 admin fee) if withdrawing ≥ 7 working days before the exam.