The RCVS Statutory Membership Exam timeline: about 15 months from application to registration
Updated 20 October 2026
The RCVS describes the whole SME process as taking around 15 months. Here is how the year fits together, so you can plan your preparation backwards from the exam dates.
Month by month
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| By 1 December | Declare your intention to sit for next year's cycle |
| 1 October to 31 December | Formal application window, with payment before 14 January |
| March | Written exam: three clinical areas and the Code of Professional Conduct paper, taken remotely with live invigilation |
| May | Resit for any written paper you did not pass |
| Autumn | OSCE, once all written areas are passed |
| Later that year | Registration, once the exam and the other requirements are complete |
Working backwards
- Start the written preparation at least 16 weeks before March, which means a start in November.
- Spend the weeks between the written exam and the OSCE on practical skills with real kit.
- Keep the Code of Professional Conduct reading for the last month before the written exam, with a daily look-up drill.
If something does not go to plan
Failed written areas can be resat in May of the same year. A failed OSCE area can be retaken in the next exam period. If you fail the OSCE twice, later attempts start again from the beginning.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the RCVS Statutory Membership Exam take?
The RCVS describes the whole process as around 15 months.
When is the RCVS written exam?
In March, with a resit opportunity in May, taken remotely with live invigilation.
When is the RCVS OSCE?
The OSCE is usually held in the autumn.
Keep reading
- A 16 week study plan for the RCVS written exam
- RCVS Statutory Membership Exam fees and deadlines (2027 cycle)
- The RCVS OSCE: what to expect at the practical stage of the SME