Pass validity
AKT and CSA passes obtained after 1 August 2010 will no longer be subject to a three year validity limit.

Similarly AKT and CSA passes obtained between 1 August 2007 and 31 July 2010 by trainees in a specialist training programme will remain valid pending the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training (or Certificate of Eligibility for GP Registration).

Number of attempts permissible  
From August 2010 a maximum number of four attempts will be permissible in both the AKT and CSA. 

Those who commenced specialist training on or before 1 August 2009 will be permitted to make an unlimited number of attempts at the AKT whilst they retain a national training number.  Further attempts will be permitted by those who have already sat the CSA for a third time provided that their national training number has been retained.

Eligibility to sit
The AKT can only be taken during the ST2 stage of specialist training or later. Those who commenced specialist training on or before 1 August 2009 will be permitted to take the AKT during the ST1 stage of their specialist training pending their transition to ST2.

The regulations regarding eligibility for the CSA remain unchanged ie that the CSA may only be attempted when the trainee is in the ST3 stage of specialist training or later.