MRCGP key dates and applications

Trainees who intend to make an application for the AKT or RCA will be unable to do so if their membership or training records do not meet the criteria for eligibility. 

Prospective candidates should ensure the following in advance of a booking window:

• MRCGP membership must be active. Resigned, lapsed or suspended MRCGP membership will prevent booking. Prospective AKT or RCA candidates who are not current members of the College should contact the membership department to discuss having their membership reinstated (membership@rcgp.org.uk).
• Training records must state that candidates will be at the correct point in their training at the time of booking an assessment. For AKT this is either ST2 or ST3 year and for RCA this is ST3 year only. Both training posts and training years should be added to training records – gaps in information will prevent booking. Trainees are advised to check their FourteenFish portfolio regularly to ensure that it is up-to-date and to contact their Educational Supervisor if this isn’t the case, as they will be able to update it. Trainees in their ST1 during a booking window will need to evidence that they will be in ST2 by the test date. Trainees in this situation are advised to contact the Exams team in advance of the booking window, as a system override badge will need to be applied to their account in order to enable them to book.
• Out-of-training candidates may need to contact the exams team prior to application (exams@rcgp.org.uk). Trainees on maternity or sick leave or in an extended period of training who are eligible to sit the test (i.e. at the correct point in their training (as stated above) and authorised to do so by their deanery and the RCGP) will require a system override to be added to their RCGP record; for maternity leave and training extensions this is usually automatically applied, however candidates are advised to contact the exams team if experiencing booking issues. Candidates on leave for any other reason will need to have a badge manually added and should contact the exams team in advance of a booking window. Evidence of eligibility may be required.
• Trainee personal details within RCGP membership accounts should not contain special characters (specifically a comma, greater-than sign [>], or quotation marks [“] within a name or address). Pearson VUE have informed us that this may result in booking / testing issues. Candidates are advised to check their membership details and update them if needed.

Booking notes:

• Google Chrome is the preferred web browser for AKT and RCA applications
• American Express is not an accepted method of payment at present

AKT candidates please note: during a booking window all enquiries must be made via email (the exams team phone lines are closed). This is to ensure maximum efficiency in dealing with booking enquiries. Please do not call other departments in the College with exams-related queries as they will have limited ability to help.