Passed MRCOG Part 2? Don't Book Part 3 Yet — Read This First

# Passed MRCOG Part 2? Don't Book Part 3 Yet — Read This First Congratulations if you've just cleared MRCOG Part 2. Take a moment to enjoy it — this exam takes months of discipline, and you've earned the win. But here's something we see trip up even strong, well-prepared candidates every single sitting: **you cannot simply book MRCOG Part 3 the way you booked Part 1 and Part 2.** There's a gate in between, and most candidates only discover it when they're already in a rush. That gate is called **Assessment of Training (AoT)**. ## What Exactly Is AoT? Let's clear up the confusion first, because the name itself misleads people. AoT is **not an exam**. It is **not an interview**. You won't be asked a single clinical question. It is simply RCOG's review of your clinical training and supporting documents, to confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria to sit MRCOG Part 3. Think of it as a paperwork checkpoint, not a knowledge checkpoint — but one that can quietly cost you an entire exam cycle if you leave it too late. ## The Misunderstanding That Catches Almost Everyone Here's the single biggest myth we hear from candidates: *"I need 4 new years of experience between Part 2 and Part 3."* **This is not true.** The 4 years required is your **total** experience in Obstetrics and Gynaecology — not 4 fresh years counted only after Part 2. Your previous hospital-based O&G experience, whether it was gained inside or outside the UK, can count toward this requirement, **as long as it's properly documented and accepted** by RCOG. So if you've already been working in O&G for years before you even started your MRCOG journey, that experience isn't wasted. It very likely already satisfies — or goes a long way toward satisfying — the AoT requirement. ## When Can You Apply? You can actually submit your AoT application **as soon as you've passed MRCOG Part 1** — you don't need to wait until you clear Part 2. But the critical rule is this: > **You cannot book MRCOG Part 3 until your AoT has been approved.** That approval, not your exam readiness, is what determines whether you can even get into the booking window. ## Timelines You Cannot Afford to Ignore RCOG can take up to **4 weeks** to process an AoT application. For candidates aiming at the **November 2026 MRCOG Part 3 exam**, the deadline to submit AoT is: **Thursday, 16 July 2026** The Part 3 booking window opens in August — but only for candidates whose AoT has already cleared. Miss the AoT deadline, and the booking window closing date becomes irrelevant to you, because you were never eligible to book in the first place. ## What You Should Do Right Now If you've passed Part 2, don't wait for "exam prep mode" to begin your Part 3 journey. Start with the administrative groundwork: - Check your eligibility criteria for AoT on the RCOG website - Gather your experience certificates — including prior O&G posts, inside or outside the UK - Get your documents properly attested and formatted as RCOG requires - Submit your AoT application well before the deadline, not on it Part 3 success isn't only about OSCE stations and clinical judgment. It starts with getting the administrative steps right, early enough that they never become a bottleneck. --- *Written with guidance from Dr. Aqaa Mandvia, MRCOG Part 3 OSCE Expert, MedHome.* *For structured MRCOG Part 3 preparation, OSCE station practice, and guidance through the AoT process, reach out to the MedHome team.*