The short answer
East Midlands trainees come under the Midlands GP Schools study leave guidance, which is one of the most generous SCA positions in the country. SCA courses sit in the mandatory, ES-approved category, with guidance of two courses across the whole of training and RCGP-accredited courses preferred. There is no published per-course cash cap; the only threshold is £1,000, above which an extra TPD sign off kicks in.
How much you get
The May 2026 Midlands guidance places SCA courses in Category I, mandatory curriculum-based activity requiring only ES approval, with the note: "Guidance of two courses over whole of training & RCGP accredited courses are preferred" (Midlands GP Schools Study Leave Guidance, current version May 2026). The document was revised specifically to clarify "no limitations to funding" in the categories section.
There is no per-course cap. The relevant number is a threshold, not a limit: "if the total cost associated with any single claim exceeds £1,000, including all course fees, travel, and subsistence expenses, additional TPD authorisation will be required. Note this is not a limit but a threshold for further approval." Named Fourteen Fish SCA and AKT packages appear in the same green category list as fundable items.
Does it cover SCA prep courses?
Yes, and generously: two courses' worth of guidance across training, ES sign off only for a standard claim, accredited preferred but not mandatory, and no cash ceiling short of the £1,000 extra-approval threshold. "Preferred" is the operative word: a non-accredited course is fundable, and because RCGP-accredited courses have limited places and fixed dates, an accredited course being full or badly timed for your sitting is a reasonable basis to request an alternative. Note that reason in your PDP entry when you apply. On subscriptions the Midlands not-funded list excludes "Subscriptions to journals (paper or online)" and "Software subscriptions", so the course-versus-subscription distinction still governs: fund the course, not a bare subscription.
Is the SCA exam fee itself reimbursed?
Not from the study budget: the Midlands not-funded list names "Examination fees" explicitly. Separately, under the June 2026 resident doctor contract agreement, doctors in England can reclaim their first two SCA attempts for exams sat from 1 April 2026, through their employing trust. Details: Is the SCA exam fee reimbursed?.
How to claim
- Add the course to your PDP with a clear rationale and ES approval (Category I needs ES sign off).
- Apply through the regional Accent system at least 6 weeks before the course, with a full cost breakdown.
- Online and virtual courses are explicitly welcomed and considered on the same basis as in-person ones. Claims cannot be retrospective, so approval must precede booking.
NHS study budget
Most trainees can claim our Complete SCA Course on the NHS study budget.
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Deaneries decide locally
Most English deaneries fund one SCA preparation course (typically up to £600, code GP0001), but each applies its own rules: some fund two, some cap at £500, some run named lists, and the devolved nations differ again. Select your deanery above for the specific position, with the policy evidence quoted.
“National default: one preparation course per exam, up to £600 (GP0001)”