Technical issues experienced by our delivery partner and its proctoring provider caused significant impact to candidates sitting the 2025/2 diet of the Part 2 examination and the 2025/1 diet of the Rheumatology SCE. These issues, which are not exclusive to our provider, have influenced our decision, along with the need to ensure the reliability and security of our examinations, to move the delivery from remote online proctored (ROP) back into centres, using a computer based testing (CBT) model in 2026.
The transition from ROP to in-centre delivery is a significant logistical undertaking requiring careful planning and needs to be completed in a measured and considered way.
The first examination to move to in-centre delivery will be the Rheumatology SCE on 17 June 2026. Applications for this open on 25 February 2026.
Ensuring that all candidates have a reliable and seamless experience when sitting their examinations is of utmost importance to us. At the same time, ensuring the long-term security of our assessments in the ever-evolving technological environment is also a key factor in this decision.
Our decision was informed by engagement with a large number of stakeholders including members of our Exam Boards, Specialty Advisory Committees, the College Resident Doctors' Committees and Specialist Societies. We also recently held a webinar to give candidates the opportunity to share their views and ask questions about this change to exam delivery. It is available to watch here.
We have also published a list of Q&As which was shared with the Resident Doctor committees of the three Royal Colleges of Physicians for their input.
We hope that candidates understand the reasons for us making these changes and we will continue to review and assess the examination experience to make this the best possible for all concerned.
Further information and guidance for candidates will be available on the web pages for each examination.