The RCGP has said all GP trainees who need to take the recorded consultation assessment (RCA) part of their MRCGP exam will now be able to.
The comments come after the College was criticised over issues to accommodate candidates to take the test.
But the college has since re-opened the March RCA booking window, which will remain open for trainees until 23:59 today. Candidates will also be able to make use of two newly instated booking windows next month.
It comes after GP trainees feared their preparation for the RCA will have gone to waste due to the college underestimating demand.
The RCGP had changed booking slots at short notice for when candidates can apply and submit their assessments due to very high demand and ‘a logistics issue’.
The RCA will be replaced later this year by the simulated consultation assessment, which will see trainees take the examination virtually in their own practice with actors playing the role of patients in standardised cases. This still needs to be approved by the GMC.
As a result, those who are not initially given slots to submit their RCA videos in March and April feared they would be unable to take the RCA assessment at all.
College chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne and vice chair Dr Margaret Ikpoh said: ‘We have heard from many trainees that they are ready to submit, so for these trainees, this would be the best solution as we still have examiner capacity for another 200 places in March.
‘In order for the RCGP to provide enough capacity it is critical we know how many trainees are ready to submit in April.
‘Your deanery is in the process of contacting all trainees to gain expressions of interest for those trainees who were intending to sit the April diet. We would like to make clear that anyone who needs to take the RCA will be able to.
‘We fully appreciate the impact and uncertainty this is having on trainees, and again we apologise for the anxiety this has caused. We would like to reiterate that anyone who needs to take the RCA will be able to do so, and we will continue to keep you informed.’
