The FRCA examination pathway consists of the Primary (MCQ, OSCE, and SOE) and the Final (Written and SOE). Each component runs multiple times per year. This page covers the sitting schedule for 2026–2027.
FRCA Primary MCQ
The Primary MCQ runs three times per year — typically February, September, and November. The paper contains 90 SBA questions in three hours. This is usually the first component attempted and must be passed before progressing to the Primary OSCE and SOE.
Application windows typically open two to three months before each sitting. The RCoA publishes exact dates and deadlines on its website. Fees are approximately £400 for RCoA trainees.
FRCA Primary OSCE and SOE
The Primary OSCE and SOE run on separate dates from the MCQ, typically two to three times per year. You must have passed the MCQ before booking the OSCE or SOE. The OSCE tests clinical skills, anatomy (including prosections), and equipment handling. The SOE tests applied pharmacology, physiology, and physics through structured oral examination.
FRCA Final Written
The Final Written (SBA and CRQ papers) runs three times per year — typically March, July, and October. The SBA paper contains 60 questions in three hours. The CRQ paper is sat on a separate day.
Note that iatroX covers the SBA component of the Final Written. The CRQ requires a different preparation approach — practising constructed responses — which is beyond the scope of a question bank.
FRCA Final SOE
The Final SOE runs separately from the Written, typically two to three times per year. You must have passed the Final Written before booking the Final SOE.
Revision timeline
For Primary MCQ: start structured revision three to four months before your sitting. For the February sitting, begin in October. For September, begin in May. For November, begin in July.
For Final Written: similar timeline. For March, begin in November. For July, begin in March. For October, begin in June.
iatroX covers both FRCA Primary and Final Written with dedicated SBA question banks, each containing over 1,500 questions. Full mock exams simulate the real format. All included at £29 per month or £99 per year.