COVID-19 Update (January 2021)

The Dip HIV exam originally scheduled for February 2021 will now take place at the Society of Apothecaries in July 2021. The BO5 will be on 6 July and the OSCEs will be on 15-16 July. This July diet is reserved exclusively for those candidates who have already been approved for the February diet. [Please note that if we need to postpone this diet again, we have reserved the following dates as a back-up: BO5 on 14 September and OSCE on 23-24 September.]

The Society of Apothecaries also plans to offer a second diet of the Dip HIV in 2021. This second diet – originally scheduled for September 2021 – will now take place early November. The BO5 will be on 1 November and the OSCE will be on 9-10 November. The viability of this second diet will depend on candidate demand and availability of examiners and staff, as well as the situation with the coronavirus pandemic in the UK after July 2021.

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 Medicine which was implemented on 1 December 2016.