COVID-19 Update

From Tuesday 17 March 2020, all examinations and assessments that are due to take place between March and August 2020 will be postponed. Our aim is to ensure that medical staff and health care workers are available to help health services cope with COVID-19. A second aim is to minimise any risk, however small, of transmitting the virus to other groups. Our priority is to look after our members, staff and associates, so they can focus on protecting patients.

We are contacting candidates to advise them of the arrangements that are being made to re-schedule the examinations and assessments. However, no examinations and assessments will take place before September 2020. We apologise for any inconvenience caused but trust you understand the reasons for this.

Current applicants for the Dip GU Med exam scheduled for June will automatically have their applications transferred to the November/December 2020 exam.  Please see the Administrative Guidance for Candidates for dates. You will be contacted individually regarding this.  If you prefer to cancel the current application and apply at a further date, please email examoffice@apothecaries.org to make these arrangements.

Established 1973

In 1973 The Court of the Society instituted an examination leading to the award of a Diploma in Venereology. This Diploma, now known as the Diploma in Genitourinary Medicine, covers sexually transmitted infections and related conditions and is open to registered medical practitioners who have worked in a Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Venereology or Sexual Health, or who have other relevant experience.

The examination is standard set at the level of a (competent) Year 2 SpR/ST4 in Genitourinary Medicine (Sexual Health and HIV).  Those applicants who are not at that level may lack some of the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to pass the examination.  Experience should be current so that candidates are fully aware of any recent developments.

The examination is based on the Specialty Training Curriculum for Genitourinary Medicinem which was implemented on 1 December 2016.

In summary, the changes are:

- Reorganisation of the HIV content.
- New section on sexual dysfunction.
- Revisions to some competencies to ensure that doctors in training are able to  respond to the needs of transgender/non-binary individuals.
- Addition of MCR tool.
- General updates in relation to Good Medical Practice and Equality and Diversity.
- Enhancing the content in relation to Female Genital Mutilation.
- Addition of QIPAT.

The curriculum and supporting documents including the "ARCP Decision Aid" are available on the JRCPTB web site at

www.jrcptb.org.uk/specialties/genitourinary-medicine

A modular course run by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) provides useful revision.