[F1(1)Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act, a qualifying examination for the purposes of this Part of this Act is an examination held for the purpose of granting one or more primary United Kingdom qualifications by any one of the bodies or combinations of bodies in the United Kingdom which are included in a list maintained by the General Council of the bodies and combinations of bodies entitled to hold such examinations.
(1A)The General Council may from time to time amend the list.
(1B)The list maintained under subsection (1) shall be published in such manner as the General Council see fit.
(1C)The General Council shall only include in the list maintained under subsection (1) bodies or combinations of bodies that require from candidates at examinations a standard of proficiency that conforms to the prescribed standard of proficiency.
(1D)If the General Council have formed the provisional opinion that a body or combination of bodies included in the list maintained under subsection (1) should be removed from the list, they shall notify that opinion in writing to the body or combination of bodies concerned and shall allow them a reasonable opportunity to respond before determining whether or not to remove the body or combination of bodies from the list.]
(3)In this Act “primary United Kingdom qualification” means any of the following qualifications, namely—
(a)the degree of bachelor of medicine or bachelor of surgery granted by [F2a body or combination of bodies included in the list maintained under subsection (1)];
(b)licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of London [F3or the Royal College of Surgeons of England] or the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh or the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh or the Royal College (formerly Royal Faculty) of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow;
(c)membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of England [F3granted before the coming into force of section 1 of the Medical Qualifications (Amendment) Act 1991];
(d)licentiate in medicine and surgery of the Society of Apothecaries of London.
(4)Any two or more of the [F4bodies and combinations of bodies included in the list maintained under subsection (1)] may, with the approval and under the directions of [F5the General Council], unite or co-operate in conducting examinations held for the purpose of granting primary United Kingdom qualifications.
[F6(4A)If a body or combination of bodies is removed from the list maintained under subsection (1), primary United Kingdom qualifications granted by that body or combination of bodies during the period in respect of which it was on the list are still to be considered primary United Kingdom qualifications after that removal.]
F7(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1S. 4(1)-(1D) substituted for s. 4(1)(2) (3.11.2008) by The Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1774), art. 1(5), Sch. 1 para. 3(a); S.I. 2008/2556, art. 2(1)(a)
F2Words in s. 4(3)(a) substituted (3.11.2008) by The Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1774), art. 1(5), Sch. 1 para. 3(b); S.I. 2008/2556, art. 2(1)(a)
F3Words in s. 4(3)(b) inserted (30.3.1992) by Medical Qualifications (Amendment) Act 1991 (c. 38, SIF 83:1), s. 1(a); S.I. 1992/804, art. 2
Words in s. 4(3)(c) inserted (30.3.1992) by Medical Qualifications (Amendment) Act 1991 (c. 38, SIF 83:1), s. 1(b); S.I. 1992/804, art. 2
F4Words in s. 4(4) substituted (3.11.2008) by The Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1774), art. 1(5), Sch. 1 para. 3(c); S.I. 2008/2556, art. 2(1)(a)
F5Words in Act substituted (1.1.2009) by The Medical Profession (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/3131), Sch. 1 para. 7(1)(2)
F6S. 4(4A) inserted (3.11.2008) by The Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1774), art. 1(5), Sch. 1 para. 3(d); S.I. 2008/2556, art. 2(1)(a)
F7S. 4(5) omitted (18.8.2004) by virtue of The European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions and Accession of New Member States) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1947), regs. 1(2), 3(3)