Overview of Examinations

The Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) has the unique structure of containing all medical and dental specialities within a single framework and therefore has the potential to foster aspects of medical education and medical professionalism which are common to all disciplines. 

As a truly national body, the CMSA is able to set a single standard which is accepted by all South African Medical Faculties as well as by the Health Professions Council of South Africa, the official statutory registering body of the Republic of South Africa.

Acquiring a CMSA qualification facilitates the achievement and recognition of national and international standards and the creation of the links and networks at national and global levels necessary for propagating the universal ideals of the health care professions. 

The specialist qualifications obtained through The Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) are known as Fellowships. These qualifications are recognised by the Health Professions Council of South Africa as acceptable for specialist registration and are known throughout the world.

The CMSA also grants exemption from the Part I examination of all its Fellowships to holders of the MMed or MDent or equivalent degrees of South African universities in the corresponding specialities, or to candidates for these degrees who have completed the full examination component whether or not they must complete a dissertation or research report.

There is a qualification designed especially for family practitioners, called Membership of the College of Family Practitioners, which is registerable as an additional qualification.

For those medical and dental practitioners who do not wish to specialise, the CMSA offers Higher Diploma and Diploma qualifications which are registered by the Statutory Registering Body of the Republic of South Africa as additional qualifications.

There is also an additional qualification for those who obtain a Certificate in one of the subspecialities.

The CMSA examinations are written in Bloemfontein, Bulawayo, Cape Town, Durban, East London, Harare, Johannesburg and Pretoria twice yearly in March and August/September and these are followed by the oral/clinical/practical examinations in April/May and October, in one of the following academic centres: Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban or Johannesburg.

The examinations are concluded with the admission of the successful Fellowship, Membership and Diploma examination candidates as members of the CMSA. This takes place at an official ceremony customarily held on the Thursday evening of the examination week, when medals and prizes are also presented to candidates who excelled in the examinations.

Images attached to the Overview of Examinations

Documents attached to the Overview of Examinations

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