There have been a few concerns raised over how the NCCQ will be conducted going forward after the implementation of OPCS-4.11. This is just to reassure prospective candidates that IHRIM is working hard with NHS England to ensure that we are able to organise the exam process with the least disruption possible. Below are the decisions that have been made in agreement with the NHS England.
Arrangements for NCCQ September 2026
The NCCQ on Tuesday 15th September will examine against ICD-10 and OPCS-4.11. Access to the NHS Classifications Browser will be via the Synap platform. It is anticipated that an offline version of the Browser will be available and in use for this exam. The National Clinical Coding Standards Manuals will be available for reference during the Practical Exam only. These will be accessible either through the Browser or as separate PDFs within Synap.
Candidates are permitted to bring in ICD-10 books. Candidates are permitted to bring in OPCS-4.10 hard copy books, however this is strongly discouraged. Candidates are not permitted to take in additional hardcopy notes or to access any digital versions of notes e.g. OneNote or other shared resources.
There are no changes to the length of the exam.
Arrangements for NCCQ March 2027
Following the survey of the coding profession and the overwhelming support in favour of altering the exam schedule, the September NCCQ will be the last full day exam. The exams in March 2027 will take place over two separate days. We have delayed implementation of the split days from September to March to allow managers as much notice as possible to secure suitable venues and invigilators.
This is obviously a difficult time for all of us but we hope this makes clear IHRIM’s commitment to continuing to provide the best service possible.