Coventry and Warwickshire VTS

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AOMRC), in collaboration with the BMA, NHS England, and the DHSC, has updated its interim statement regarding the reimbursement of examination fees for doctors and dentists in training.

Key details from the update:

• Scope: Covers all examinations required to achieve a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), including RCGP examinations (AKT, SCA).

• Eligibility: Resident Doctors and Dentists in Training (RDITs) and Locally Employed Doctors (LEDs) in England can claim reimbursement for the first two sittings paid for of any exam within scope taken after 1 April 2026.

• Prior Attempts: The number of exam attempts taken before 1 April 2026 does not affect eligibility.

• Current & Out of Programme Trainees: Trainees with a National Training Number (NTN) who are Out of Programme (e.g., OOPR, OOPM) or Foundation Doctors remain eligible.

• Claims Process: The dedicated reimbursement portal is scheduled to go live in the coming weeks. Once active, claims can be submitted as soon as an exam has been paid for with proof of payment—you do not need to wait until the exam has been sat.

For full eligibility criteria, FAQs, and the updated list of exams in scope, please visit the official AOMRC publication page:

Reimbursement of Examination Fees – AOMRC

A series of changes to Workplace Based Assessment (WPBA) have been launched by RCGP following feedback from GP registrars and educators. The aim is to improve consistency, reflect the breadth of modern general practice, and support more meaningful feedback across a wider range of training settings.

Key changes include:

• A new optional Supplementary Supervisors' Report (SSR) for non-clinical and simulation-based work.
• The full range of Care Assessment Tools (CATs) is now available for GP registrars in ST1 and ST2 primary care posts.
• A revised Clinical Supervisor's Report (CSR) grading scale in ST1 and ST2 to align with non-primary care placements.
• Updated Consultation Observation Tool (COT) criteria aligned with the GP Curriculum.
• NB: there is no increase in the minimum number of required assessments.

Leadership Activity guidance has also been expanded, offering clearer definitions of acceptable activities in ST3 and a wider range of practical examples for registrars and supervisors. Full WPBA guidance remains available on the RCGP website.