Where can I find confirmed FFICM Final Examination dates for 2026 and 2027?

Confirmed dates, registration deadlines and any changes are published by CICM (UK). Always verify against the official source rather than third-party listings.

How should I plan study leave around the FFICM Final Examination?

Most candidates request study leave in the final 4 to 8 weeks before sitting, with shorter blocks earlier in preparation for protected revision. Speak to your training program well in advance because leave allocation is finite.

FFICM Final Examination Dates 2026 and 2027

Confirmed examination dates

MCQ (January 2027): 2027-01-13 - Online via TestReach (applications close 2026-11-19).
OSCE and SOE (March 2027): 15-18 March 2027 (applications close 2027-02-02).
MCQ (June 2027): 2027-06-14 - Online via TestReach (applications close 2027-04-22).
ACRE (September 2027): Week commencing 27 September 2027 (applications close 2027-08-02).
AKT (December 2027): 2027-12-01 (applications close 2027-10-06).
ACRE (March 2028): Week commencing 13 March 2028 (applications close 2028-01-17).
AKT (May 2028): 2028-05-31 (applications close 2028-04-05).

Recent sittings (already held):

MCQ (June 2026): 2026-06-25 - Online via TestReach (applications close 2026-04-23).
OSCE and SOE (October 2026): 5-8 October 2026 (applications close 2026-08-10).

The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine became the College of Intensive Care Medicine (the UK college, not the Australian and New Zealand CICM) on 1 July 2026, so sittings from October 2026 are branded FCICM. The new FCICM exam formats have been formally approved by the General Medical Council (College news, 18 September 2026) and replace the current ones from July 2027: the MCQ becomes the AKT (same format, dichotomous scoring out of 130) and the OSCE and SOE are replaced by the ACRE (14 stations of 9 minutes across 2 circuits, with 3 minutes to read each station's information, 2 hours 48 minutes in total). Candidates holding a valid partial pass (the OSCE or the SOE passed, but not both) may complete the outstanding legacy component during the 2027-28 transition year: the College expects legacy-only sittings in October 2027 and March 2028 but has not yet published their dates (its 2027-28 calendar lists only the AKT and ACRE). Legacy exams end on 30 June 2028; after that, partial passes expire and cannot be carried forward. The first ACRE sitting is the week commencing 27 September 2027 and the first AKT is 1 December 2027.

Always verify your exam date and deadlines against the official CICM (UK) page before making travel or leave arrangements.

How to plan around the examination calendar

Whichever sitting you target, plan three concentric calendars:

Sitting date. The day of the examination itself. Everything else works backwards from here.
Registration window. Typically opens months before and closes weeks before the sitting. Late registration is often impossible or attracts a surcharge.
Study leave window. Request leave for the final 4 to 8 weeks before sitting, with shorter blocks for protected revision earlier in preparation.

Registration deadlines - what to watch for

Registration windows close weeks before the sitting itself; check the closing date as carefully as the sitting date.
Some examining bodies require evidence of training-program eligibility submitted by a separate earlier deadline.
Identification, address verification and supervisor sign-off can take longer than expected. Start the paperwork early.
Confirm the test centre or examination venue is reachable before the registration window closes, particularly for candidates outside major cities.

How to plan your preparation around a confirmed date

Once your exam date is confirmed, work backwards:

Set the date of a full timed practice paper or simulated viva for 8 to 12 weeks before the sitting.
Block the final 2 to 3 weeks for consolidation and rehearsal only - no new content.
Reserve the final week for tapering, sleep recovery and exam-day logistics rehearsal.
Pre-book any travel, accommodation and identification documents as soon as your date is confirmed.

How PRIMEX adapts to your timeline

Progress analytics show your trajectory relative to your exam date so you can adjust effort in real time.
Spaced-repetition scheduling automatically intensifies in the final weeks before the examination.
Timed practice modes let you simulate the format of the FFICM Final Examination as your date approaches.

Start your 7-day free PRIMEX trial for the FFICM Final Examination and lock in a structured countdown to exam day.

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Frequently asked questions

Where can I find confirmed dates for 2026 and 2027?

Confirmed dates, registration deadlines and any changes are published by CICM (UK). See the link above for the source of truth.

How far in advance should I register?

Registration windows typically open months before each sitting and close weeks before the examination date. Late registration is often not permitted or attracts a surcharge.

How should I plan study leave around the exam?

Most candidates take the bulk of study leave in the final 4 to 8 weeks before sitting, with shorter blocks earlier in preparation. Speak to your training program early because leave allocation is finite.

What if the date changes after I register?

Reschedule policies vary. The official examination page sets out the current policy for date changes, fee transfers and any extenuating circumstances provisions.

Does PRIMEX adjust to my sitting date?

PRIMEX progress analytics and spaced-repetition scheduling adapt to your remaining time, so revision intensity scales with your countdown to the FFICM Final Examination.