Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) overview

Taking the MSRA

The Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) is a computer-based assessment. It assesses essential competences in the Person Specification through clinical scenarios.

This guidance outlines the requirements for successful completion of the MSRA for recruitment to medical specialty training.

The MSRA is delivered in partnership with Work Psychology Group and Pearson VUE.

Important: Important

Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) capacity for 2025 Round 3 is still to be finalised. Requested capacity is in line with last year’s applicant numbers, but we are anticipating another increase this year and final applicant numbers will not be available until mid- August.  These numbers are important as they help us understand what capacity will be required to make sure applicants who need to sit the MSRA are able to do so. We are not yet able to confirm whether priority will be given to applicants who have not previously undertaken the MSRA.

We are very sorry that we are unable confirm details currently but are committed to making sure that applicants receive information on what the plans are as soon as they are finalised.

Specialties

The below specialties/programmes use the MSRA to recruit. If applying to one of these specialties, you are advised to check the relevant specialty guidance as some information may differ depending on the specialty which you are applying to.

 

In addition to the specialties above, there are other specialties that use the MSRA. These are:

  • Anaesthetics CT1
  • Community Sexual and Reproductive Health ST1
  • Neurosurgery ST1/ST2/ST3
  • Ophthalmology ST1

Northern Ireland (NI)

  • NI – Core Surgical Training CT1
  • NI – Clinical Radiology ST1
  • NI – Core Psychiatry Training CT1
  • NI – Emergency Medicine ST1

Scotland

  • BBT (Scotland) ST1

Page last reviewed: 28 July 2025
Next review due: 28 July 2026