The Royal College of General Practitioners

The Royal College of General Practitioners is the professional membership body for family doctors committed to improving patient care, clinical standards and GP training, in the UK and overseas.

The College’s licensing qualification – the MRCGP – is based on the curriculum developed by the College and approved by the General Medical Council. Successful completion of its three components is required of doctors who undertake the UK’s specialty training programme in general practice and who wish to obtain a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in General Practice. The CCT is the licence to practise as a GP in the NHS. Success in the MRCGP also confers eligibility for membership of the College.

The three components of MRCGP are:

  • Applied Knowledge Test (AKT)
  • Recorded Consultation Assessment (RCA)
  • Workplace-based Assessment (WPBA)

Exam & Scheduling Information

Applied Knowledge Test (AKT)

The AKT is a summative assessment of the knowledge base that underpins independent general practice within the United Kingdom, and takes the form of a 190 minute 200-item computer-based test. Approximately 80% of items are on clinical medicine, 10% on critical appraisal and evidence based clinical practice and 10% on health informatics and administrative issues.

The test will be available three times a year (January/February, April/May and October/November) at any Pearson VUE test centre in the UK. Candidates must register for the MRCGP through the RCGP website, then apply to take the AKT, paying the appropriate fee, before booking a test centre with Pearson VUE.

Scheduling your test centre

Following applying for the AKT online via the RCGP website, you will be provided with a personalised link - within the application receipt (sent to you by email) and on the payment completion page. You can book a specific test centre and session with Pearson VUE via this link.

Rescheduling or cancelling your test

If you wish to reschedule your test (to a different time or a different test centre) you can do so by revisiting the personalised link provided within your application receipt. However this must be completed within the test centre booking period as defined by the RCGP.

Please note that any subsequent cancellation of your appointment must be effected through the RCGP. Contact exams@rcgp.org.uk.

Last updated 2022-09-07