ORE withdrawal policy

You will be asked to pay the Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) application processing fee when applying to become a candidate, and examination fees when booking a sitting or a retake.

Find out more about ORE fees.

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.

The application processing 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 liability of costs of the booked ORE place remains with the withdrawing candidate whatever 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 your name is submitted

If you withdraw before your name is submitted to the examination board (around five weeks in advance), and we are able to replace you, we may be able to offer you a refund. If your name is submitted to the examination board, your examination fee will not be refunded.

There is no guarantee that we will be able to replace you. If for any reason we cannot find a replacement, you will not be refunded.

You should review the ORE withdrawal policy, including what you need to do to withdraw from a sitting, before making your decision.

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 ensuring you are allowed to be in the UK to take the ORE before you book a place.

Requests for refunds due to exceptional circumstances are assessed on a case by case basis. 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 was or could have been obtained.
• Evidence of travel (e.g. flight details) and accommodation arrangements for the duration of the examination.

When received, we will assess your documents 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 (i.e. you can only apply once), so you must make sure that you provide all corroborating evidence when you first submit your application for a refund.

Submit your completed form and supporting evidence by email to the Examinations team. Requests submitted after the sitting 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.