RCVS Statutory Membership Exam fees and deadlines (2027 cycle)
Updated 20 October 2026
The Statutory Membership Exam has a separate fee for each stage, and a short run of deadlines starting the December before the exam. These figures are the ones the RCVS listed in October 2026 for the 2027 cycle. Always confirm them on the RCVS page before you pay.
Fees
| What | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Written exam, first entry | £1,437 | £1,129 exam fee plus £308 administration charge |
| Resit of a clinical area | £513 | £462 exam fee plus £51 administration charge |
| Resit of the Code of Professional Conduct paper | £513 | Same fee as a clinical resit |
| OSCE | £1,129 | Paid after you pass all the written areas |
| OSCE resit of one area | £513 | Per area |
| OSCE full retake | £1,437 | If you retake every area |
Deadlines for the 2027 cycle
- Declare your intention to sit: by 1 December each year, for the following year's exam cycle.
- Renew an intention to sit: between 14 August and 30 September.
- Formal application: between 1 October and 31 December, with payment received before 14 January.
- Written exam: March, with a resit in May.
- OSCE: usually in the autumn.
Withdrawing and refunds
According to the RCVS, if you withdraw before 14 January the exam fee is refunded but not the administration charge. More than 28 days before the exam, half the exam fee is refunded. Less than 28 days before, there is no refund.
Budgeting
Add travel and accommodation for the OSCE, a reliable computer and internet connection for the remote written exam, and your English language test if you need one. A resit costs far less than a full entry, which is one reason to prepare every area properly the first time.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the RCVS Statutory Membership Exam?
The RCVS lists £1,437 for the first written entry and £1,129 for the OSCE, with £513 for each resit. Confirm the current fees on the RCVS site.
When must I declare my intention to sit the RCVS exam?
By 1 December each year for the following year's exam cycle, according to the RCVS.
Do I pay for the OSCE up front?
No. The RCVS lists the OSCE fee as payable after you pass all the written areas.
Keep reading
- RCVS Statutory Membership Exam (SME): what overseas vets need to know
- Who can sit the RCVS Statutory Membership Exam: eligibility, English and documents
- RCVS Statutory Membership Exam resits: what happens if you fail a paper