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Full JRCPTB Infectious Diseases curriculum coverage, BIA, BHIVA, ESCMID and IDSA guidance, candidate-reported pitfalls and an AI-adaptive question bank by UK ID consultants — grounded in antimicrobial stewardship, HIV, TB, tropical medicine and emerging infections.
100 best-of-five SBAs · 3 hours · computer-based at Pearson VUE designated test centres
100 best-of-five SBAs · 3 hours · same day, after a 1-hour break
ID training in the UK is closely allied to medical microbiology/virology via Combined Infection Training (CIT). The SCE tests both clinical infection and laboratory infection knowledge.
Pitched at the level of a doctor approaching CCT in Infectious Diseases — antimicrobial choice, stewardship principles, complex case management
The SCE in Infectious Diseases is delivered every 9 months on a Federation-set cycle. The 2026 sitting date is yet to be published on the Federation website — confirm directly. Applications typically open ~10 weeks before each sitting. From June 2026 sittings are delivered in centre.
Approximate question distribution across the JRCPTB Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine curriculum. Used to drive iatroX adaptive sequencing.
Source: official Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK blueprint
Drawn from the JRCPTB ID curriculum, BIA/BHIVA position statements, ESCMID guidance and item density in iatroX.
HIV — BHIVA 2024 first-line ART (dolutegravir + emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide or 3TC), long-acting injectable cabotegravir-rilpivirine eligibility, IRIS recognition (especially TB-IRIS), PrEP including event-based dosing in MSM
Tuberculosis — NICE NG33 active TB regimens (HRZE 2 months + HR 4 months), drug-resistant TB (rifampicin-resistant → MDR), short MDR-TB regimens (BPaL, BPaLM), TB/HIV co-treatment IRIS timing
Bacterial resistance mechanisms — ESBL, AmpC, carbapenemases (KPC, NDM, OXA-48), MRSA decolonisation, VRE, recognising appropriate antibiotic choice under BSAC/EUCAST breakpoints
Sepsis — Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2021, antimicrobial start within 1 hour for septic shock, source control timing, antimicrobial de-escalation
Endocarditis — Duke criteria 2023 update, empirical therapy (native vs prosthetic vs IVDU), surgical indications, cardiac device-related endocarditis
Returning traveller fever — malaria (P. falciparum severity criteria, artesunate, MDR malaria), enteric fever (azithromycin in MDR-typhoid), dengue/chikungunya/Zika differential, mpox 2022/2024 clade Ib/IIb
CNS infection — bacterial meningitis empirical antibiotics by age, autoimmune encephalitis (NMDAR, LGI1, GABA-B), Cryptococcal meningitis induction (liposomal amphotericin + flucytosine)
Immunocompromised host — invasive aspergillosis (voriconazole, isavuconazole), PCP (cotrimoxazole), Candida auris infection control, screening pre-biologic therapy (TB, HBV)
Observations from UK ID trainees and recent SCE candidates. Verify against current BIA/BHIVA/NICE guidance.
Candidate-reported observations — not official guidance.
A pragmatic phased approach used by recent ST5–ST6 ID passers.
A live item from the iatroX bank. Try it before launching a full session.
A 22-year-old woman presents to the sexual health clinic requesting the HPV vaccine. She is HIV positive (CD4 580, VL <50 on ART). She has never been vaccinated against HPV. She is currently 23 years old. Is she eligible?
Why iatroX is built differently for SCE Infectious Diseases.
Every iatroX item is tagged to a blueprint topic, so your performance dashboard mirrors the structure of the exam itself.
The engine surfaces your weakest topics first, in real time, instead of marching you through a static syllabus.
Incorrect items return at increasing intervals to interrupt the forgetting curve and lock knowledge into long-term memory.
Timed full-length simulations that mirror the official exam structure under realistic conditions.
One iatroX subscription includes the SCE Infectious Diseases bank plus every other premium iatroX exam bank.
Cancel anytime · 30-day money-back guarantee on annual
Over 1,000 best-of-five SBAs mapped to the JRCPTB Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine curriculum and the Combined Infection Training framework. Items are reviewed regularly against current BIA, BHIVA, ESCMID/IDSA and BSAC/EUCAST guidance.
The SCE in Infectious Diseases is delivered on a 9-month cycle by the Federation. The 2026 sitting date is yet to be published on the Federation website — confirm directly. Applications typically open about 10 weeks before each sitting.
Two papers of 100 best-of-five SBAs each, three hours per paper, sat on the same day with a one-hour break between. Total 200 questions. From June 2026 all sittings are in-centre at Pearson VUE locations.
Yes. UK ID training is closely allied to medical microbiology and virology via Combined Infection Training (CIT). The SCE tests both clinical infection and laboratory infection knowledge — including organism identification, susceptibility interpretation, virology test panels and infection control.
Most UK trainees sit during ST5 or ST6 (penultimate year of higher specialty training). There are no formal restrictions on when in training you sit, but CCT requires a pass before completion. International candidates can sit at any time once registered with the Federation.
UK fee is £700; international fee is £875. Fees are non-refundable after the application closing date. From June 2026 all sittings are delivered in-centre at Pearson VUE locations.
Yes. A single iatroX subscription (£29/month or £99/year for UK users; $29/$99 elsewhere) includes the SCE Infectious Diseases bank alongside every other premium iatroX exam bank. No add-ons or per-exam fees.
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Reviewed by Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGP · Last reviewed 12 May 2026
See our methodology and editorial policy.