If you know the US system, the closest equivalent to “board certification” is the combination of Royal College exit exams, a clean ARCP record and the award of a CCT. There is no single board exam for all doctors.
| US idea | UK equivalent |
|---|---|
| Board certification exam | Specialty exit exams: intercollegiate FRCS in surgery; Specialty Certificate Examinations (SCE) in most medical specialties; FRCR Part 2B; Final FRCA; MRCPsych CASC; and others |
| Residency completion | Satisfactory ARCP outcome 6 at the end of the programme |
| State licence | GMC registration with a licence to practise |
| Specialty board listing | GMC Specialist Register or GP Register after a CCT |
- The CCT is awarded by the GMC when your Royal College confirms you met the curriculum, passed the exams and had satisfactory ARCPs.
- The Intercollegiate Specialty Boards (ISB) run the exit FRCS exams in surgical specialties.
- Some “Fellow of the Royal College” titles (FRCP, FRCS) are earned by exam; others are awarded later in a career. Check the College’s rules.
This page is general education, reviewed 24 October 2026. Rules, fees and dates change: always confirm with the official sources below. It is not medical, legal or immigration advice.