ORE refund policy

Refunds are not normally offered to Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) applicants or candidates.

Those who want to sit the ORE will be asked to pay an application processing fee when applying to become a candidate, and examination fees when booking a sitting or a retake.

Application processing fee

The application processing fee is charged to cover the costs associated with processing applications. When applying to become an ORE candidate we carry out checks on qualifications, clinical experience references and competence of English language.

This fee is not refundable.

Examination fees

We do not normally offer refunds for examination fees.

This is because once your name is confirmed to the examination board, we are liable for costs. The cost of the booked ORE place will remain the liability of the withdrawing candidate whatever the stage they withdraw.

We only offer refunds in the exceptional circumstances set out below. There is no guarantee of a refund, even in these circumstances.

Withdrawal before name is submitted

If a candidate withdraws before their name is submitted to the examination board (around five weeks before the examination), and we are able to replace them with another candidate, we may be able to offer a refund.

There is no guarantee that we will be able to find another candidate to take your place if you withdraw, and if we cannot, for whatever reason, we will be unable to offer a refund.

If you want to apply for a refund because you have withdrawn you should:

• contact us by phone on +44 (0)20 7167 6000 as soon you can so we can try to find a candidate to replace you
• submit the withdrawal and refund forms by email on that day.

If you delay and do not submit the forms, your name may be submitted to the examination board and your examination fee will not be refunded. As soon as your name is submitted, we are unable to refund fees.

Exceptional circumstances

You may be eligible for a refund if you find yourself in exceptional circumstances. We define exceptional circumstances as those that are severe, unforeseen and outside the control of the candidate e.g. serious illness, or death of a close family member.

Being unable to obtain a UK visa does not constitute an exceptional circumstance. You are responsible for making sure that you are permitted to be in the UK to take the ORE before you book a place.

Requests for refunds due to exceptional circumstances will be assessed on a case by case basis. You can only apply for a refund once for each examination. If you think you are eligible for a refund, you will need to provide the following:

• completed ORE Refund Form
• letter outlining the reason for your refund request
• independent corroborating evidence that demonstrates exceptional circumstances. It must show why you could not sit on the days of the examination e.g. medical or death certificate
• visa or evidence demonstrating that a valid visa could have been obtained
• evidence of travel (e.g. flight details) and accommodation arrangements for the duration of the examination.

When we receive these documents, we assess them and decide if you are eligible for a refund. The decision will be based on the evidence you provide at the time of the refund request. You will not be allowed to provide further evidence or to reapply, so you must make sure that you provide all corroborating evidence when you first submit your application for a refund.

Please submit completed forms and supporting evidence by email to the Examinations team. Requests submitted after the examination has taken place may not be considered.

Decisions will be made within 10 working days of receipt of the application. If granted, your refund can take up to three weeks to process.