How do I know if I am required to undertake the Clinical Assessment?
If you qualified from medical school 2 years or longer prior to the start of the programme, you must undertake an assessment of your clinical skills in the UK prior to being granted full eligibility.
What does the Clinical Assessment involve?
The primary purpose of this assessment is to determine suitability to start the foundation programme. The assessments will be undertaken by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
I passed the Clinical Assessment last year; do I need to take it again?
No. The Clinical Assessment is valid for 2 years.
Can I choose when I take the Clinical Assessment?
No, you cannot choose when to take the assessment. Please refer to the Eligibility Applicant Guidance for the clinical assessment dates.
You will be allocated a day and you will also be provided with details of your allocated date and time.
What happens if I fail the Clinical Assessment?
Your application will be deemed ineligible as you will not have met the eligibility criteria for entry to foundation training. Your application will be withdrawn.
What is the cost of the Clinical Assessment?
The non-refundable assessment fee is £850.
If I pay for the Clinical Assessment and my application is later withdrawn for another reason, for example for not passing PLAB, will I receive a refund?
No. The assessment fee is non-refundable.
How should I prepare for the exam?
Resources to help applicants prepare will provided closer to the time of the assessment.
What is the required pass mark?
Each station will have its own pass mark that will be determined in advance by a panel of expert teacher and assessors to reflect the degree of difficulty. This is set by the Angoff method and neither the individual nor the examiners will be told the pass mark for a particular station.
When will I receive my results?
Results will be emailed to applicants. Please refer to the Eligibility Applicant Guidance for the details.
Can I appeal my outcome?
In line with Manchester University NHSFT regulations, you cannot appeal against the clinical and academic judgement of an examiner. If you wish to complain that the correct processes and procedures were not followed during the assessment, you must submit an appeal in writing to the UKFPO, clearly explaining your grounds for the appeal.
What if I need Reasonable Adjustments?
If you require Reasonable Adjustments, please inform the UKFPO by emailing helpdesk@foundationprogramme.nhs.uk as soon as possible. Please refer to the Eligibility Applicant Guidance and the high level timeline for the deadline.
I have to take PLAB / I have already passed PLAB. Do I still need to take the Clinical Assessment?
PLAB is not a substitute for the Clinical Assessment. If, when the programme starts, you will have qualified from medical school 2 years ago or longer, you must take the Clinical Assessment, regardless of whether you have passed/need to take PLAB.
The Clinical Assessment is a requirement of the UK Foundation Programme.
PLAB is a requirement of the GMC.
I need to apply for a visa to attend the Clinical Assessment. Can you provide a letter to help support my application?
Yes, we can provide a letter to confirm that you will be required to take the exam. Please email the UKFPO Team at helpdesk@foundationprogramme.nhs.uk to obtain this. Applicants are strongly advised to apply for their visa in plenty of time as the £850 Clinical Assessment fee will not be refunded under any circumstances including failure to obtain your visa.