The short answer
West Midlands trainees are covered by the same Midlands GP Schools study leave guidance as East Midlands. SCA courses are mandatory, ES-approved curriculum activity, with guidance of two courses across training and RCGP-accredited courses preferred. No per-course cash cap; a £1,000 total-cost threshold triggers additional TPD sign off but is not itself a limit.
How much you get
Under the current May 2026 Midlands guidance, SCA courses are Category I (mandatory curriculum-based, ES approved), described as "Guidance of two courses over whole of training & RCGP accredited courses are preferred" (Midlands GP Schools Study Leave Guidance, current version May 2026). The wording was revised to clarify "no limitations to funding". Fourteen Fish SCA and AKT packages are named in the fundable green list.
The only cost gate is the threshold: costs above "£1,000, including all course fees, travel, and subsistence expenses" need additional TPD authorisation, and the policy stresses "this is not a limit but a threshold for further approval."
Does it cover SCA prep courses?
Yes, on the same generous terms as East Midlands: two courses' guidance, ES-only sign off, accreditation preferred not required, no cash ceiling below £1,000. Because accreditation is a preference and RCGP-accredited courses have limited places and fixed dates, a non-accredited course is fundable, and an accredited one being full or badly timed for your sitting is a reasonable basis to request an alternative. Subscriptions to journals and software are on the not-funded list, so keep your claim framed as a course.
Is the SCA exam fee itself reimbursed?
Not from the study budget: examination fees are on the Midlands not-funded list. 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
- PDP entry with ES approval and a clear development rationale.
- Apply on the regional Accent system at least 6 weeks ahead with a full cost breakdown; retrospective claims are not considered.
- Online and in-person courses are treated identically.
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)”