MSRA

Application

• Obtain CREST certification, signed by a Consultant or equivalent you've worked with for at least 3 continuous months whole-time equivalent within the 3½ years before the advertised post start date. This can be from a previous trust or your home country. For 2027 recruitment, use the 2024 or 2027 form and check that it meets the current eligibility requirements.

  • Download the CREST form from the NHS England Medical Hub website.

• Register an account at Oriel and monitor the opening dates for applications.

• This exam is free of cost.

Structure

• The MSRA has 2 hours and 50 minutes of assessment time, divided into:

  • Professional Dilemmas (PD) paper

  • Clinical Problem Solving (CPS) paper

• Includes an optional 5-minute break between the two papers.

• Conducted on a computer in a test center under strict exam conditions.

Resources

• Pass Medicine Subscription: 2024 Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) revision

• E-medica MCQs: MSRA - Specialty Recruitment Assessment Online Revision

• MCQs Bank: Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA)

Dates

• October/November: Round 1 applications for 2027 entry open on 22 October and close on 19 November 2026.

• The MSRA has January and February 2027 windows; February is reserved for applicants to GP and/or Core Psychiatry only. Check the relevant specialty timeline.

Result

• Announced within 4-6 weeks post-exam.

• When applications for specialties requiring the MSRA open, you can use your score for all applicable specialties. However, you must apply to each specialty individually.

• Applicants are ranked using a scoring system. You must score above the specialty-specific cut-off to qualify for an interview. The cut-off score is disclosed after the exam results are announced.

• Candidates can retake the exam in a later recruitment round, but score reuse depends on the specialty. ACCS Emergency Medicine will not accept previous MSRA scores for 2027 recruitment.

Tips

• Consider applying for relevant specialties unless you are certain of your preferred specialty; for 2027 recruitment, the limit is five applications per round. 

• Many applicants choose the GP post initially as it reveals their MSRA score, which remains undisclosed until selection for an interview in other specialties.