UKMLA CPSA Explained: Format, Stations and What to Expect
The CPSA is the clinical half of the UKMLA. Here is what it is, how it relates to the AKT, who runs it, and what the OSCE format means for your revision.
If you are a final-year UK student or an IMG preparing for licensing, the CPSA can feel like a moving target because it is newer and run differently from the exams that came before it. This guide explains what the UKMLA CPSA is, how it relates to the rest of the MLA, who runs it, and what its format means for how you should prepare.
Start from our UKMLA CPSA hub for how the exam maps to practice, and read alongside our guide to the GMC MLA Content Map.
Where the CPSA fits in the UKMLA
The UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) has two parts:
- The Applied Knowledge Test (AKT): a computer-based, knowledge test.
- The Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA): a practical OSCE assessing applied clinical and communication skills.
You need to pass both. The CPSA is where the knowledge from the AKT has to become safe, patient-facing practice. The GMC sets the standards both parts are benchmarked against.
Who runs the CPSA and why that matters
For UK medical students, the CPSA is delivered by their own medical school to common GMC standards, rather than as a single national exam on one date. Practically, this means the precise number of stations, timing and logistics can differ between schools while still assessing the same core skills and meeting the same standard. Always check your own school's published format, but prepare for the same underlying competencies wherever you sit.
The UKMLA CPSA OSCE format
The CPSA is an OSCE: you rotate through a series of timed stations, each with a focused task and often a simulated patient or examiner. Stations sample across the breadth of clinical and professional skills, so you cannot revise for a single topic and hope it comes up. Performance is aggregated across stations, which rewards consistent, safe practice rather than a few standout moments.
What stations assess
CPSA stations sample skills such as:
- History taking and focused examination.
- Communication, including explanation and shared decision-making.
- Practical procedures and clinical skills.
- Data and investigation interpretation.
- Documentation and professionalism.
We break these down in our guide to CPSA station types.
How to prepare
- Anchor everything to the content map. Almost everything in the UKMLA traces back to the GMC MLA Content Map, so use it to prioritise. Our guide on using the MLA content map to revise shows how.
- Practise applied skills out loud. The CPSA is practical; reading is not enough. Rehearse full encounters and get feedback.
- Build consistency across station types. Because scoring aggregates across stations, you want no glaring weak spots.
- Simulate timed circuits. Our timed mock exams help you build pacing and stamina, and realistic AI voice patients let you rehearse communication-heavy stations.
Final thoughts
The UKMLA CPSA is the practical half of UK licensing: an OSCE, run to GMC standards (by your medical school if you are a UK student), that turns knowledge into safe practice. Understand its relationship to the AKT, check your school's exact format, and prepare by drilling applied skills consistently across station types. Start on the UKMLA CPSA hub.
This article is general exam-preparation guidance, not clinical advice. Always follow current UK guidelines (NICE, CKS, BNF) and GMC guidance, and confirm exam details with your medical school.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UKMLA CPSA?
The CPSA (Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment) is the practical, OSCE-style component of the UK Medical Licensing Assessment. It tests applied clinical and communication skills, complementing the knowledge-based Applied Knowledge Test (AKT).
What is the difference between the AKT and the CPSA?
The AKT is a written, knowledge-based test sat on computer, while the CPSA is a practical OSCE that assesses clinical and professional skills with simulated patients. Together they make up the UKMLA.
Who runs the CPSA?
For UK medical students, the CPSA is set and run by their own medical school to GMC standards, rather than being a single national sitting. This means the exact format can vary between schools while meeting common requirements.
How is the CPSA scored?
The CPSA is an OSCE assessed across multiple stations against defined skills and professional behaviours. Performance is aggregated across stations, so consistent, safe performance throughout is what counts.
This article is educational content for OSCE exam preparation and does not replace professional clinical judgement or local guidelines. Management, prescribing, and guideline references cite named sources for each jurisdiction — always confirm against the current official guidance before acting. Last reviewed 10 June 2026 by MedRevisions Clinical Team.
MedRevisions Team
OSCE educators & NHS-experienced clinicians
NHS-experienced doctors and medical educators dedicated to helping candidates pass their OSCE exams. All clinical content is reviewed by the MedRevisions Clinical Team before publication.