Overview
The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is the statutory body that registers health practitioners in South Africa. It is not a single exam. This page covers the examinations the council itself sets as a condition of registration: the Board examinations for applicants whose qualification is from outside South Africa.
The only Board examination whose format the HPCSA's own public notices describe in detail is the Medical Board Examination, for doctors who trained outside South African universities. It falls under the Medical and Dental Professions Board. The HPCSA says in general terms that a foreign-qualified applicant may be required to write a Board examination before registration. This page could not source exam details for other professional boards, so it does not describe them.
Who must sit it
The Medical Board Examination is for doctors who qualified outside South African universities and want to practise medicine in South Africa.
The HPCSA says a foreign-qualified applicant who is required to write the Board examination must do so before registration.
Check the HPCSA website for the current requirements for your profession and qualification.
Exam pattern
The Medical Board Examination has two parts: a written theory exam, then a practical Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). In the October 2023 cycle, candidates who passed the theory exam went on to the OSCE.
| Part | Format |
|---|---|
| Theory | Online, multiple-choice, single best answer, no negative marking, in English. As described in July 2024, 75 clinical knowledge items and 25 ethical and legal items, in a two-hour sitting |
| OSCE | Practical clinical examination |
The theory exam used to allow three hours. After the Medical and Dental Professions Board revised its guidelines and moved to computer-based answering, the HPCSA reduced it to two hours.
Who runs the exam
Since 2023, the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has administered the Medical Board Examinations on the HPCSA's behalf. The two bodies signed their Memorandum of Agreement on 18 September 2023, and the first UKZN-administered theory exam took place in October 2023. A joint steering committee was set up to coordinate exam cycles and reduce past delays.
Recent sittings
These figures are from HPCSA notices and describe past sittings only.
The theory exam on 25 October 2023 had 218 candidates. The HPCSA reported a pass rate of roughly 30%.
The OSCE on 5 and 6 December 2023 had a 94% pass rate.
The OSCE on 7 and 8 May 2024 had a 61% pass rate.
Preparation tips
Prepare for both clinical knowledge and the ethical and legal questions, since the theory paper tests both.
Because there is no negative marking in the theory exam, answer every question.
Practise clinical examination skills for the OSCE, which is a separate step after the theory exam.
FAQs
Is HPCSA a single exam?
No. The HPCSA is the statutory council that registers health practitioners in South Africa. This page covers the Board examinations it sets for registration of foreign-qualified applicants.
Is there negative marking in the Medical Board theory exam?
No. The HPCSA described the theory paper as multiple choice with a single best answer and no negative marking.
Who administers the Medical Board Examination?
The University of KwaZulu-Natal administers it on behalf of the HPCSA, under an agreement signed in September 2023.