Keep AFK booking administration separate from the learning you can do while a seat is uncertain. NDEB's registration changes give candidates a defined second opportunity to check available places, but a registration window is not a guarantee of a seat.
What changed and when
NDEB announced changes to the registration process on 13 August 2026, effective 1 September 2026 for future AFK, ACJ and Virtual OSCE examinations. The first period closes when locations are full. A second period opens about six to eight weeks before the examination, with registration or transfers dependent on available capacity.
Transfers are permitted only while registration is open. The announcement also changes withdrawal fees; check the current policy and any exceptional-circumstance provisions before making a booking decision. This article focuses on AFK preparation, not a claim that iatroX covers the other examinations.
Use the current session notice
The AFK page currently lists 5 February 2027 in Canada and 6 February in Australia/New Zealand, with a 4 January 2027 deadline at 21:00 ET. Confirm availability and any additional opening through the official dates information and your account. Do not treat a previously saved opening time as a permanent annual rule.
For electronic delivery, the current AFK instructions describe registering first and receiving scheduling instructions after the deadline. Follow the instructions for your booked format; booklet sites have different practical arrangements.
An original two-status planning example
A fictional candidate can study on Tuesday and Thursday for 35 minutes and on Sunday for 60 minutes: 130 minutes per week.
| Booking status | Tuesday | Thursday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| No confirmed seat | Broad question review | One persistent concept and a later check | Mixed practice and update next week's priority |
| Confirmed February seat | Work on a remaining gap | Different relevant questions and review | Planned longer practice, with review time budgeted separately |
These are invented workload choices, not evidence that every candidate needs the same preparation duration. The confirmed date changes the plan's horizon; it does not justify adding work that exceeds the available time.
Keep a separate booking note
Record the session, registration status, current official opening/deadline, time zone and policy link. Set a reminder to recheck close to the relevant date. Keep your learning note separate: what you reviewed, what remains uncertain and what the next session should do.
If no suitable seat appears, you still have a learning record and a sustainable week. If a seat becomes definite, count usable weeks after work and travel commitments rather than simply counting calendar days.
Prepare for the actual AFK format
The official examination has 200 single-answer MCQs in two two-hour parts. Use the current protocol for delivery, breaks and attendance rules. A supplementary continuous practice set may support knowledge and pacing without reproducing every official feature.
For the broader resource purchase, use the course-versus-bank guide. For interpreting practice, use the scoring worksheet.
The AFK study-plan preview lets you inspect exam/date/time settings before paid plan creation. Attempt an iatroX question and use its Tutor entry for a defined reasoning gap while keeping registration decisions with NDEB.
Up to 10 new sample questions per day, shared across exams and subject to availability, with explanations and no account required.
Full AFK bank access and ongoing Tutor are paid. £29/month or £99/year in the UK; US$29/month or US$99/year elsewhere