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. However, we have now also had to postpone the DHIV Examination that was due to take place in September 2020. 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. We apologise for any inconvenience caused but trust you understand the reasons for this. Current applicants for the DHIV exam scheduled for September will automatically have their applications transferred to the February 2021 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 asstreg@apothecaries.org to make these arrangements.

Established 2002

In response to a perceived need from clinicians, and in consultation with BHIVA and BASHH, the Society instituted a Diploma in HIV Medicine. It is also recognised that a significant number of HIV Medicine practitioners come from a non-genitourinary medicine background, and care has been taken to design both the syllabus and examination to reflect only core knowledge in specialist areas that all HIV physicians should be able to demonstrate. This may include practitioners working in gastroenterology, genitourinary medicine, infectious diseases, thoracic medicine etc.

The examination is designed for registered medical practitioners who have had substantial, regular and continued clinical experience with HIV medicine over at least a 2-year period (or part-time equivalent) at Specialty Trainee level or equivalent.  This should include practice within the last 5 years to ensure currency of knowledge, incorporating experience of both inpatient and outpatient care.

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