TL;DR: RCEM theory exams (MRCEM Primary, MRCEM SBA, FRCEM SBA) moved from Pearson VUE to Surpass Assessment in January 2026. You now book a Surpass test centre, with around 20+ UK cities available including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast and more. The FRCEM OSCE and UK MRCEM OSCE are different beasts and only run in London on RCEM-designated sitting dates. You can sit your theory paper at any UK Surpass centre with availability, but OSCE candidates do not get that luxury.
Choosing where to sit your RCEM exam is one of those logistical decisions that feels trivial until the morning of the paper. The wrong centre means a 5am drive, no parking, a noisy waiting area and a workstation that is too close to the fire door. The right centre means a calm coffee, a quiet seat and one less variable to think about. This page pulls together what is actually published by RCEM about where you can sit each exam in 2026, who delivers it now that Surpass has taken over from Pearson VUE, and the practical considerations clinicians on the trainee Slack channels keep flagging.
Facts last verified .
Who actually delivers RCEM exams in 2026?
From January 2026, all RCEM theory exams are delivered by Surpass Assessment. This replaces the long-standing Pearson VUE arrangement that ran for several years up to and including the late-2025 sittings. RCEM announced the change as part of its wider Exam Transformation programme and confirmed Surpass would handle creation, delivery and scoring of all three theory papers.
For more on this, see our guide to FRCEM exam dates 2026 full calendar.
The OSCE format is unaffected. The FRCEM OSCE and MRCEM OSCE remain in-person, RCEM-organised clinical exams. They are not booked through Surpass and they do not use commercial test centres.
| Exam | 2026 delivery partner | Format | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRCEM Primary | Surpass Assessment | Computer-based, MCQ | Any UK Surpass test centre with availability |
| MRCEM SBA (Intermediate) | Surpass Assessment | Computer-based, SBA | Any UK Surpass test centre with availability |
| FRCEM SBA | Surpass Assessment | Computer-based, SBA | Any UK Surpass test centre with availability |
| MRCEM OSCE | RCEM directly | In-person OSCE stations | London only (UK); plus India and Malaysia internationally |
| FRCEM OSCE | RCEM directly | In-person OSCE stations | London only |
Which UK centres host the MRCEM Primary, MRCEM SBA and FRCEM SBA?
All three theory exams sit on the same Surpass test centre network, so the city list is identical. RCEM publishes the network rather than a fixed seat allocation per exam, and you choose your centre at the booking stage roughly eight weeks before the sitting.
UK Surpass cities currently referenced in RCEM guidance include:
- London (multiple sites)
- Manchester
- Birmingham
- Leeds
- Liverpool
- Sheffield
- Nottingham
- Leicester
- Newcastle
- Bristol
- Cambridge
- Reading
- Milton Keynes
- Norwich
- Plymouth
- Southampton
- York
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- Aberdeen
- Cardiff
- Swansea
- Belfast
Surpass also operates further sites that come and go from the network depending on local demand, so always check the live availability map when your booking window opens. Not every city offers every sitting date.
For more on this, see our guide to RCEM exam day ID and check-in requirements.
Where is the FRCEM OSCE actually held?
The FRCEM OSCE is delivered in London only. There is no Edinburgh, Manchester or Birmingham sitting for this exam. RCEM uses London venues for the OSCE sittings across the two annual windows (typically May and late November/early December). The exact building is published in your candidate joining instructions a few weeks before the sitting and does occasionally vary between sittings. Do not book non-refundable accommodation until you have those instructions in writing.
If you are travelling from outside the M25, build in time for trains being delayed, central London traffic and the inevitable hunt for somewhere to print your candidate ID. A Sunday-night arrival for a Monday morning OSCE is the standard advice on the trainee forums.
Where is the MRCEM OSCE held in the UK?
The UK MRCEM OSCE is also London only. International MRCEM OSCE candidates have the option of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Chennai (India) and Hyderabad (India). Edinburgh, Glasgow and the regional English centres do not currently host the MRCEM OSCE. If you live in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or northern England you will need to travel.
Can I sit at any centre, or must I pick the closest one?
For the theory exams: yes, you can pick any UK Surpass centre with seats available on the sitting date. RCEM does not assign you to your nearest centre. The booking system shows you all centres with capacity and you reserve from there. If your first choice is full, you can change centre even after booking provided there is availability elsewhere.
For both OSCEs: no. You sit on the date RCEM allocates you, in London, at the venue they specify. The only meaningful choice you have is the date window itself, and even that is dictated by the application cycle and your training stage.
Which centre should I pick for the theory papers?
The honest answer is: the one closest to where you will sleep the night before. Beyond that, candidates on the resident doctor forums consistently flag a few practical things.
| Factor | Why it matters | Practical check |
|---|---|---|
| Parking | Central city Surpass sites often have no on-site parking. NCP or street parking on a weekday morning is unpredictable. | Search the exact street address on a parking app the week before. Have a Plan B car park. |
| Public transport | Train strike, tube engineering works or a delayed bus on exam morning will end your day. | Check engineering works for the exam weekend. Arrive 45+ minutes early. |
| Noise level | Some test centres share buildings with other businesses. Construction next door is a real complaint. | Read recent reviews of the specific site, not the brand. |
| Seating density | How close you are to neighbours, the door and the invigilator desk varies. | You cannot pre-select your seat. Bring earplugs (centre permitting). |
| Workstation kit | Screen size, keyboard feel and chair comfort vary between centres. | For a 3+ hour SBA, comfort matters. Sit upright in the chair on arrival and ask to swap if it is broken. |
If you can sit somewhere you have sat a mock exam before, the muscle memory of the room genuinely helps. See our separate piece on how loud test centres really are if noise is your particular concern.
For more on this, see our guide to Pearson VUE & Surpass test centre noise playbook.
How early should I book to get my first-choice centre?
RCEM sends the Surpass booking invitation roughly eight weeks before each sitting. London and Manchester slots in the most popular sittings go within 24 to 48 hours. Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cardiff hold up a little longer but the big-city sites do fill, particularly for the spring MRCEM Primary and autumn FRCEM SBA windows. Book the same day the invitation lands in your inbox.
If you cannot get your first choice, the system periodically releases seats as others cancel. Check it every couple of days in the fortnight before the exam.
I am sitting from overseas. Can I take the theory paper without flying to the UK?
Yes. The Surpass global test centre network covers most countries that RCEM previously served via Pearson VUE. You book in the same way through your RCEM account. There is also a Surpass online invigilation option in principle, but RCEM has been cautious about endorsing remote sitting for high-stakes theory papers, so check the current rules for your specific exam before assuming online proctoring is on the table.
The OSCE remains an in-person London exam (or one of the three international MRCEM OSCE cities). There is no remote OSCE option.
What changed when Surpass replaced Pearson VUE?
For most candidates, the change is administrative rather than dramatic. The exam content, blueprint and standard-setting did not change with the switch. What did change:
- The booking portal you use is now Surpass, not Pearson VUE. Old Pearson VUE accounts are no longer used for RCEM.
- The test centre network is different. Some Pearson VUE sites you may have sat at previously are not Surpass sites, and vice versa. Always check the live list rather than assuming.
- The day-of-exam software interface is different. The clock, flagging, review screen and navigation behave slightly differently. Run through any Surpass familiarisation material RCEM links to before exam morning.
- ID requirements and security checks are broadly similar but verify the current Surpass photo ID rules in your booking confirmation. Expired passports and out-of-date driving licences will fail you at the door.
What ID and security checks should I expect?
Surpass and Pearson VUE both require two forms of ID, at least one of which is photographic and government-issued. Names on your ID must match your RCEM account exactly. You will be photographed on arrival, you may be palm-scanned, and personal items are stored in a locker. Watches (smart or otherwise), phones, drinks, snacks (with rare medical exceptions) and notes are not allowed at the workstation. Read the joining instructions, do not rely on what was true at your last sitting.
What if I need reasonable adjustments?
RCEM handles reasonable adjustments centrally, not through Surpass. You apply for adjustments at the point of exam application and must supply supporting documentation in line with RCEM policy. Extra time, separate room, screen magnification, rest breaks and similar are all available with appropriate evidence. Apply early. Adjustments organised the week before will not happen.
Comparison: theory test centre cities by region
| Region | Cities (theory exams) | OSCE option |
|---|---|---|
| London and South East | London (multiple), Reading, Milton Keynes, Cambridge, Norwich, Southampton | OSCE is in London |
| South West | Bristol, Plymouth | Travel to London |
| Midlands | Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham | Travel to London |
| North England | Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, York | Travel to London |
| Wales | Cardiff, Swansea | Travel to London |
| Scotland | Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen | Travel to London |
| Northern Ireland | Belfast | Travel to London |
Quick checklist for choosing your centre
- Book the day your invitation lands. Eight weeks out, big-city slots evaporate.
- Pick somewhere you can reach without driving on the morning if at all possible.
- Have a Plan B if your first choice has no availability.
- Recce the route at least once on the same day of the week as your exam.
- Read recent reviews of the specific Surpass site, not just the city.
- OSCE candidates: book accommodation only after you have your venue confirmation in writing.
- Treat the joining instructions as the source of truth, not blog posts (including this one).
RCEM’s exams team (exams@rcem.ac.uk) responds reasonably quickly to centre and logistics queries. If something looks wrong on your booking confirmation, contact them rather than turning up and hoping.
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