Changes to MRCGP eligibility and pass validity
Applicants for the Applied Knowledge Test
(AKT) and Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) should be aware of
changes to the eligibility and pass validity criteria in the
Examination Regulations which come into effect on 1 August 2010.
These can be summarised as follows:
Pass validity
AKT and CSA passes obtained after 1 August
2010 will no longer be subject to a three year validity limit.
Similarly AKT and CSA passes obtained between
1 August 2007 and 31 July 2010 by trainees in a specialist training
programme will remain valid pending the award of a Certificate of
Completion of Training (or Certificate of Eligibility for GP
Registration).
Number of attempts permissible
From August 2010 a maximum number of four
attempts will be permissible in both the AKT and CSA.
Those who commenced specialist training on or
before 1 August 2009 will be permitted to make an unlimited number
of attempts at the AKT whilst they retain a national training
number. Further attempts will be permitted by those who have
already sat the CSA for a third time provided that their national
training number has been retained
Eligibility to sit
The AKT can only be taken during the ST2 stage
of specialist training or later. Those who commenced specialist
training on or before 1 August 2009 will be permitted to take the
AKT during the ST1 stage of their specialist training pending their
transition to ST2.
The regulations regarding eligibility for the
CSA remain unchanged ie that the CSA may only be attempted when the
trainee is in the ST3 stage of specialist training or later.