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| Email your comments Knowledge Based Assessment (KBA) Specialist Certificate Examinations Knowledge Based Assessment (KBA) Specialist Certificate Examinations My article in the August issue of the Newsletter describes the background to KBA and the developments which have taken place since the pilot examinations of 2006. The first Specialist Certificate Examination in Geriatric Medicine will be held on 4 March 2009, enrolment will be from 12 January – 9 February 2009 and further details are available from the www.mrcpuk.org site more specifically... Geriatric Medicine will be the second medical specialty to hold a specialist examination (Gastroenterology held the first exam on 24 June 2008). The exam will consist of two papers, each of 3 hours duration and consisting of 100 best-of-five questions, taken on-line. There will be 12 test centres (at least one in each of the 4 UK nations) run by Pearson Vue. Candidates who have a genuine reason for being unable to sit a computer based exam should formally apply to the Federation to take the exam in a different format. There will be only one diet (exam) in Geriatric Medicine in 2009. To be eligible to sit the exam UK based trainees must have successfully completed MRCP (UK) or be enrolled in a UK higher specialty training post (ST3+). Overseas candidates must have completed MRCP (UK). KBA/SE will be mandatory for all trainees registering with the JRCPTB for higher training in the specialty from August 2007 onwards. The curriculum for the SCE in Geriatric Medicine is the curriculum for higher training in Geriatric Medicine available from the JRCPTB website has important details about the “blueprint” for the Geriatric Medicine exam. Please note that because of the nature of our specialty there is considerable overlap between the sub-specialty areas of our examination. While the BGS has been successful (in concert with other specialist societies) in negotiating a number of aspects of KBA/SCE with the Federation (in particular removing the word Diploma from the awards to be conferred and agreeing a higher award for trainees on UK based training programmes) we have as yet been unsuccessful in re-negotiating the costs of sitting the exam with the Federation. These remain at £800 if the exam is taken in the UK and £1000 if taken overseas. However the BGS has not given up the fight, negotiations/ discussions continue, in particular the possibility of linking the cost of the exam to College subscriptions and enabling any candidate who might fail the exam to re-sit it for free. Another concern which trainees have raised about KBA/SCE is that there may be variability in SpR/StR teaching programmes between regions/deaneries which may potentially benefit or disadvantage trainees in their preparation for the exam. Obviously one hopes the standard of teaching/training between different regions/deaneries is of a high standard and of uniform consistency but this is an aspect which the BGS Education and Training committee will be monitoring closely. I was left in no doubt about the strength of feeling trainees had about the Federation’s proposed exam costs and was presented with a petition signed by over 50 trainees objecting to the costs, which I shall draw to the Federation’s attention. As one trainee at the meeting put it (I should add, with tongue firmly in cheek) “it is after all, the cost of a Prada handbag!” (I suspect she won’t be applying to the BGS for a hardship grant!) May I take this opportunity to once again thank all those associated with KBA/SE Geriatric Medicine to date. In particular, all question writers, Richard Fuller (Chair) and the Standard Setting Group, members of the Examination Board, in particular Mike Vassallo for the exceptional level of support he has given me over the past year as secretary to the Board (double-checking exam questions and papers). I am also extremely grateful to Prof Steve Allen (Chair) and members of the SAC (Geriatric Medicine) and Rhian Morse, Tash Masud (Chairs) and members of the BGS ETC for their considerable input into the KBA/SCE process. Knowledge by Assessment and Revalidation Update Oliver Corrado summarised the current status of KBA and how it has been robustly developed since the pilot in 2006. The MRCP (Geriatric Medicine) will be conferred only on those passing the KBA who are on a UK specialist training programme in geriatric medicine. Those not on a recognised specialist training programme can sit the exam for a certificate, maintaining the Diploma in Geriatric Medicine (DGM) as a separate entity. The controversial cost of £800 per candidate, per exam is to remain, although negotiations continue to try and spread the costs in other ways, including free resits. Peter Belfield provided an overview of the history and future of appraisal and its link with revalidation. His message was “It’s easy.. meet the standards of Good Medical Practice”. Good practical advice was given in balancing the everyday crises of the NHS with the requirements for revalidation. The importance of linking the process with speciality standards in geriatric medicine, service development and clinical excellence awards was emphasised. The audience left the conference hall, if not happier, better informed of the processes required in the next few years. BGS Newsletter, Dec 2008 |