Dermatology SCE 2026: key dates, application window and how to register

Everything UK dermatology trainees need for the 2026 Dermatology SCE: the exam date, when applications open and close, the fees, the format, and a countdown revision plan to exam day.

The Dermatology SCE runs once a year, so the calendar is unforgiving. If you intend to sit in 2026, the application window is short and the exam date is fixed. This guide pulls together the dates that matter, the fees, the format and a simple way to plan your revision backwards from exam day. Always confirm the exact details against the official MRCP(UK) and Federation pages, because they are the only authoritative source and figures can change between sittings.

The 2026 dates at a glance

exam date

8 Oct 2026

applications open

18 Jun 2026

applications close

16 Jul 2026

The exam is delivered once per year. For the 2026 sitting, the application window opens at 8:00am UK time on 18 June 2026 and closes at 8:00am UK time on 16 July 2026. The deadline to request reasonable adjustments is 24 July 2026. Results are usually released around six weeks after the exam, so expect them in the second half of November.

Fees and where you sit

• Fees. Recent sittings have cost around £700 for UK candidates and around £875 for international candidates. Check the current fee when you apply.
• Test centres. The SCE is now delivered in person at Pearson VUE test centres rather than remotely, so book a convenient centre as early as you can.
• Identification. Take the photographic identification specified in your booking confirmation, and arrive in good time on the day.

The exam format

in one day

2 papers

best-of-five questions

200

per paper

3 hrs

The SCE is two papers sat on the same day, each with 100 best-of-five (single best answer) questions and three hours on the clock. There is no negative marking, so you should answer every question. The content is mapped to a published blueprint that spans the breadth of dermatology, including dermatopathology, dermoscopy, paediatric dermatology, skin of colour, genetics and therapeutics.

Am I eligible to sit in 2026?

The Federation states that there are no entry requirements for the SCE in Dermatology. Full MRCP(UK) is not a prerequisite. Doctors in UK training posts would normally take it in their penultimate year of higher specialty training. Check the Federation's current regulations and registration instructions before applying.

Plan backwards from 8 October

• Now to mid July: apply as soon as the window opens, download the blueprint and choose your main question bank.
• July and August: build breadth. Work through a question bank topic by topic and read around your weak areas.
• September: shift to timed blocks and full mock papers, and prioritise image-based questions in dermoscopy and histology.
• Final fortnight: light revision, flashcards and image review, then a gentle taper into exam day.

The single biggest predictor of a comfortable exam is starting early enough that the last few weeks are revision rather than first exposure. Get the application in, fix the date in your mind, and let everything else work backwards from 8 October.

Sources & further reading

• Specialty Certificate Examination in Dermatology - Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians
• Specialty Certificate Examinations - Exam Dates and Fees
• Specialty Certificate Examinations - How To Apply (MRCP UK)
• Specialty Certificate Examination in Dermatology blueprint - The Federation

For educational use only. Check current official guidance.