Most GP trainees struggle with a hard question: “Am I actually ready to sit the SCA exam?”
Unsure, most do one of two things. They book the nearest sitting and hope the pressure forces them to prepare. Or they delay booking until they “feel ready”, which rarely happens. Both put the date before the plan.
Trainees who pass with confidence reverse it: plan first, then book. Below you’ll find every SCA exam date for 2026-27, followed by a 4-step framework to choose your sitting, protect your CCT date and secure your leave before the booking deadline decides for you.
SCA dates 2026–27
| Sitting | Final booking deadline | SCA test dates | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCA Sep 2026 | 3 Jul 2026 | 8–10 Sep 2026 | 20 Oct 2026 |
| SCA Oct 2026 | 31 Jul 2026 | 6–8 Oct 2026 | 10 Nov 2026 |
| SCA Nov 2026 | 28 Aug 2026 | 3–6 Nov 2026 | 8 Dec 2026 |
| SCA Jan 2027 | 6 Nov 2026 | 12–15 Jan 2027 | 16 Feb 2027 |
| SCA Feb 2027 | 4 Dec 2026 | 9–12 Feb 2027 | 16 Mar 2027 |
| SCA Mar 2027 | 8 Jan 2027 | 9–12 Mar 2027 | 13 Apr 2027 |
| SCA Apr 2027 | 5 Feb 2027 | 13–16 Apr 2027 | 18 May 2027 |
| SCA May 2027 | 5 Mar 2027 | 11–14 May 2027 | 15 Jun 2027 |
| SCA Jun 2027 | 16 Apr 2027 | 8–11 Jun 2027 | 13 Jul 2027 |
Source: RCGP. Your exam fee must be paid in full by the final booking deadline. Always confirm dates on the RCGP website before booking.
SCA exam booking rules and fees
- Eligibility: ST3 only. Your training record must show you’ll be in ST3 on the test date, or booking will be blocked.
- Fee: £1,238 for sittings from January to July 2027 (£1,207 for September to November 2026). Tax paid on the fee can be reclaimed from HMRC.
- Booking: Book directly in MyRCGP under My Exams, up to 12 months ahead. No reservation is needed. The fee must be paid in full by the final booking deadline.
- Staged payments: Nothing is collected automatically. Miss a payment deadline and your booking may be cancelled, so diarise every payment date.
- Cancelling or transferring: Free until the final booking deadline (email exams@rcgp.org.uk). Fees apply after that.
- Reasonable adjustments: Apply about 3–4 weeks before the booking deadline. For January 2027, the deadline is 12 October 2026.
- Attempts: Six if you started GP training on or after 2 August 2023. Four if you started earlier.
Why booking before planning backfires
When the date comes first, preparation becomes a reaction to a deadline. I see the same four problems every year:
- Leave is requested too late. The rota is already fixed, so exam week is spent on busy clinics or on-call.
- Practice has no target. Case after case, without knowing which marking domain is holding you back.
- Readiness is guessed. No timed mocks, no outside feedback.
- The resit window is never checked. Then a single fail threatens the CCT date.
How to choose your SCA exam date in 4 steps
Step 1: Work backwards from your CCT date
Results arrive about five weeks after each sitting, and booking closes about five weeks before the next. So if you fail, you usually can’t sit the next one. Here’s your earliest realistic resit after each sitting:
| If you sit… | Results | Earliest resit you can book |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 20 Oct 2026 | Jan 2027 |
| Oct 2026 | 10 Nov 2026 | Feb 2027 |
| Nov 2026 | 8 Dec 2026 | Mar 2027 |
| Jan 2027 | 16 Feb 2027 | May 2027 |
| Feb 2027 | 16 Mar 2027 | Jun 2027 |
| Mar 2027 | 13 Apr 2027 | Jun 2027 (booking closes 3 days after results) |
| Apr, May or Jun 2027 | May–Jul 2027 | None in 2026-27 |
- CCT in August 2027? Sitting in April, May or June leaves no resit before CCT. If you’re ready, January or February gives you a genuine second chance.
- January has the longest gap. Your fallback is May, not March or April.
- March is tight. You’d have three days after results to book and pay for June.
Rule of thumb: choose a sitting that leaves at least one realistic resit before your CCT date.
Step 2: Test your readiness honestly
Before you book, answer yes or no:
- I consistently finish 12-minute consultations on time.
- I explore ideas, concerns and expectations naturally, not as a script.
- I’ve done timed mock cases with feedback from someone other than myself.
- I keep my structure with multiple problems, uncertainty and safety-netting.
- My trainer or educational supervisor agrees I’m on track.
Two or more “no” answers? Choose a later sitting. Sitting at 80% ready doesn’t save time. A fail costs the fee, months of waiting and a lot of confidence.
Resitting? Don’t rebook on results day. Spend a week on your feedback: was it Data Gathering and Diagnosis, Clinical Management and Medical Complexity, or Relating to Others? Then allow enough time to change how you consult, not just to do more cases.
Step 3: Match the sitting to your life
| Factor | What to consider |
|---|---|
| Christmas | January prep runs over the festive period. Quieter weeks help; family visits, travel and on-call don’t. Decide which it will be before booking. |
| Ramadan 2027 | Expected from early February to early March, overlapping the February and March sittings. If fasting, consider January or April. |
| Easter 2027 | Late March, in the run-up to April. Useful free time, unless children are home for the holidays. |
| Children, caring or pregnancy | Plan study time you can realistically protect. Map due dates and parental leave against both your sitting and your resit window. |
| LTFT training | Your CCT date moves with your percentage. Confirm it with your deanery before applying Step 1. |
| IMGs | If UK consultation style still feels unfamiliar, add extra weeks of practice with feedback on communication. Leave margin if visa or job timelines depend on your CCT. |
Step 4: Lock in your study leave and annual leave
Good intentions fall apart here: rotas are fixed, leave requests close, and trainees end up on nights before the exam. Request leave the same day you choose your sitting.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 16+ weeks before | Choose your sitting with your trainer or ES. Check the reasonable adjustments deadline. |
| Same day | Request study and annual leave. Many rotas need at least six weeks’ notice, so check your local policy. |
| At booking | Diarise every payment date, the booking deadline and results day. |
| 12–8 weeks before | Start timed practice with feedback. Swap out of on-call or nights near exam week. |
| 8–4 weeks before | Increase mock cases and target your weakest domain. |
| Final 2 weeks | Focused practice and rest. No new frameworks. |
| Day before | Keep it light. Sleep beats one extra case. |
- Protect the 2 days before, not just exam day. Going straight from on-call into the SCA is an avoidable handicap.
- Cover the whole sitting window if you can. Each sitting runs over 3–4 days and you won’t choose your exact day.
- Get leave confirmed in writing by your practice manager and rota coordinator.
Which SCA sitting suits you?
| Your situation | Sittings to consider |
|---|---|
| Early ST3, CCT August 2027, confident | Jan or Feb 2027, leaving a resit buffer |
| Mid-ST3, need more practice | Feb or Mar 2027, with a June resit possible |
| Late ST3, CCT August 2027 | Speak to your ES now. April onwards leaves no resit |
| Fasting in Ramadan 2027 | Jan or Apr 2027 |
| Resitting after a recent fail | The first sitting giving you 8–10+ weeks to change how you consult |
| LTFT or extended training | Work back from your confirmed CCT date |
SCA exam FAQs
How many SCA exam dates are there each year?
Nine. In 2026-27, sittings run in September, October, November, January, February, March, April, May and June.
When is the SCA booking deadline?
About five weeks before each sitting (see the SCA dates table above). Your fee must be paid in full by then, and you can book up to 12 months ahead.
How much does the SCA exam cost in 2027?
£1,238 for sittings from January to July 2027. Tax paid on the fee can be reclaimed from HMRC.
When are SCA results released?
About five weeks after the sitting. January 2027 results, for example, are released on 16 February 2027.
Can I sit the SCA in ST2?
No. The SCA exam is open to ST3 trainees only.
Can I change my SCA date?
Yes. Cancelling or transferring is free until the final booking deadline. Email exams@rcgp.org.uk. After the deadline, fees apply.
How many attempts do I get at the SCA?
Six if you started GP training on or after 2 August 2023. Four if you started before, with an exceptional fifth attempt possible in some cases.
What’s the best month to sit the SCA?
The one you’ve planned for: it matches your readiness, leaves a resit before your CCT date and fits your leave and life. For most full-time trainees finishing in August 2027, that’s January or February 2027.
Plan first, then book
The SCA rewards structured, confident consulting, and confidence comes from a plan with a clear end date. Choose the sitting that fits your life, protect your leave, and work backwards from there.
Not sure if you’re ready, or want a plan built around your sitting? That’s exactly what I do in Consultation Blueprint coaching.
SCA dates, fees and rules are from the RCGP and were accurate on 26 September 2026. Always confirm with the RCGP before booking.