Whether you’re a final-year medical student or a foundation doctor stepping into clinical practice, the Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) is a key milestone in your medical education journey. It’s more than just another exam, it’s a vital test of your readiness to prescribe medications safely and confidently in real-world settings.
For those looking to prepare well in advance of next year’s sittings, we’ve compiled expert tips, key timing advice, and common pitfalls to avoid, plus details on free learning resources to help you effectively prepare for the exam.
When Is the PSA Exam in 2025/2026?
Mark your calendars! Here are the confirmed PSA exam dates for the 2025/2026 cycle:
Wednesday, 15 October, 2025 – foundation schools only
Thursday, 29 January, 2026 – medical schools only
Thursday, 26 March, 2026 – All sitters (including resits)
Thursday, 23 April, 2026 – All sitters (including resits)
Thursday, 4 June, 2026 – medical schools only
Be sure to check with your school or foundation training programme to confirm your sitting date. You will be registered by your organisation ahead of the sitting, at which point you should receive your login details.
Top Tips for Passing Your PSA Exam
1. Get to Know the Exam Format
The PSA is a 120-minute online exam made up of eight sections, including prescribing, prescription review, planning management, providing information, calculation skills, adverse drug reactions, drug monitoring and data interpretation. Practice under timed conditions to get used to the pace and pressure.
2. Use the BNF Like a Pro
You’ll have access to a version of the British National Formulary (BNF) during the exam, whether that’s the Medicines Complete BNF and BNFc, or the NICE BNF and BNFc (in the UK). Knowing how to search them efficiently can save valuable time. Practise looking up drug interactions, contraindications, and dosage adjustments quickly and efficiently.
3. Practise with Realistic Questions
Use official PSA-style practice papers and cases. The closer your practice materials are to the actual exam format, the more confident you’ll feel.
4. Focus on Common Clinical Scenarios
Many PSA questions reflect common real-life situations, think antibiotics, anticoagulants, pain management etc. Be comfortable with these topics and how they’re applied in clinical settings.
Timing Tips for Exam Day
- Don’t rush the first questions – take a few minutes to orientate yourself and read the instructions carefully.
- Use your time wisely – if a question is taking too long, flag it and move on, you can return to it later.
- Save a buffer – aim to finish with at least 10 – 15 minutes to spare for a final review.
- Practice full papers beforehand – this builds your stamina and helps you learn how long to spend on each section.
Avoid These Common Pitfalls
- Prescribing the right drug but wrong route or frequency. Sub-optimal answers can cost you precious marks.
- Overlooking dose adjustments. Consider renal function and other comorbidities when prescribing.
- Failing to review the full clinical scenario. Don’t skim-read, context matters!
- Ignoring drug interactions. Always check for interactions, especially in polypharmacy situations.
Utilise Free PSA Learning Resources
To support your preparation, use free PSA preparation resources such as PSA Prep. A set of 9 eLearning sessions, found on our Learner’s Portal, designed to build your confidence and skills ahead of exam day.
These sessions are:
- 100% free for all students and trainees
- Accessible anytime
- Written by prescribing experts to give you a better understanding of how to approach the exam
- Focused on practical prescribing tasks and exam preparation, including detailed feedback on prescription writing, safety checks, and dosage calculations
To get started:
- Visit the Learner’s Portal
- Create a free account (we recommend using a personal email rather than your university email address)
- Access the PSA Prep resources straight away
- Whether you’re just starting your revision or looking for a final confidence boost, these sessions are a valuable tool in your prep strategy.
Stay calm, stay focused, and remember: the PSA is not just about getting through the exam, but about becoming a safer prescriber for your future patients.