An Overview of Examination Requirements Muhammad Usman Munir MBBS FCPS Consultant Pathologist CMH Mardan The Royal College of Pathologists Science Behind The Cure Sequence of Events Learning Objectives ID: 211762
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Slide1
FRCPath An Overview of Examination RequirementsMuhammad Usman MunirMBBS, FCPSConsultant PathologistCMH Mardan
The Royal College of
PathologistsScience Behind The CureSlide2
Sequence of EventsSlide3
Learning ObjectivesSlide4
Introduction
T
he FR
CP
at
h
e
x
a
m
i
n
a
t
i
o
n
i
s
t
h
e
a
p
p
r
op
r
i
a
t
e
p
r
o
f
e
ss
i
on
a
l
q
ua
l
i
f
i
c
a
t
i
o
n
f
o
r
m
e
d
i
c
a
l
t
r
a
i
n
e
e
s/consultants in
C
he
m
i
c
a
l
P
a
t
ho
l
o
g
y/Clinical Biochemistry.
This examination
is taken in two parts and
applicants
are awarded Fellowship status of the Royal College of Pathologists upon successful completion of both parts.Slide5
Content of ExaminationSlide6
Stages of Training & LearningThere are four stages in the chemical pathology curriculum. Trainees may not progress to the next stage of training until they have satisfactorily completed the preceding stage. Slide7
Stage A – ST 1Trainees must be assessed against the standard expected of a trainee at the end of the stage of training that they are in. Stages of training are normally defined as:Stage A – ST1 The trainee will be developing a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of the specialty under direct supervision.A minimum training period of 12 months (whole-time equivalent)Slide8
Stage B –ST 2 & 3Stage B of training is between 13 – 36 month of whole-time equivalent training. Trainees must have:Satisfactorily completed a total of at least 24 months of training (whole-time equivalent) of which at least 12 months should be in Stage BPassed the FRCPath Part 1 examination in clinical biochemistrySlide9
Stage CIn order to complete stage C of chemical pathology training, trainees must have:Satisfactorily completed a total of at least 42 months of training (whole-time equivalent) of which at least 12 months should be in Stage CAchieved satisfactory outcomes in the requisite number of workplace-based assessmentsPassed the FRCPath Part 2 examination in clinical biochemistrySlide10
Stage DMeets the requirements of the Certificate for Completion of Training (CCT) programme. The trainee will have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the principles of the specialty.Slide11
Timing of the ExaminationsSlide12
Access to RCPath Web pagehttp://www.rcpath.org/Log in is required for accessing detailsSlide13
Interactive SessionProblem 1Slide14
Problem 1The UK Departments of Health have determined that all medical laboratories should been rolled with an approved accreditation body.a)
Most NHS laboratories choose to
be enrolled with CPA. What is the full name of the organization abbreviated to CPA? [2]
b)
The CPA standards for laboratory accre
d
itati
o
n
are ba
s
ed on which international standard for the accre
d
itati
o
n of
m
edical
laboratorie
s
?
[2]
c)
The CPA standards place
great e
m
phasis
on the laboratory service
m
eeting the needs and require
m
ents of its users. List four ways in which a laboratory
m
ay d
e
monstrate that it is co
m
plying with this standard. [4]
d)
Quality
m
anage
m
ent is centr
a
l to
C
P
A laboratory
accreditation. List three features of an effective
q
uality
m
anag
e
m
ent
syste
m
. [6]Slide15
What is the timetable used by CPA for full accreditation assessments and surveillance visits? [4]Name one other body approved for accreditation of UK medical laboratories. [2]Problem 1Slide16
Part 1Slide17
Eligibility Please note that the College cannot comment on eligibility before receiving an application and CV. Applicants that are rejected will be contacted and refunded in full.Slide18
Laboratory Experience Candidates will usually sit the Part 1 written examination when they have gained about two years of laboratory experience at specialty registrar trainee level or equivalent.Slide19
Part 1 ApplicationCurrent training positionCandidate’s sponsor:Applicants should ask their educational supervisor or departmental head to sign their form Sponsors should ideally be a fellow of the college recently involved in the candidate’s training but this is not compulsorySlide20
Entry & Training RequirementsThere is no specific timing for entry to the examination although it is expected that medical trainees will normally have passed the FRCPath Part 1 examination by the end of ST3. Trainees who have not passed the FRCPath Part 1 examination by the end of ST3 will be prevented from progressing to Stage C of training. Slide21
Written ExaminationSlide22
It is a three
hour
essay
pa
per
.
C
a
nd
i
d
a
t
e
s
a
r
e
r
e
q
u
i
r
e
d
t
o
w
ri
t
e
f
ou
r
e
ss
a
ys
f
rom a choice of six questions set in broad topic areas aligned with the Curriculum.Laboratory management competencies Analytical techniques and instrumentation Analytical methodologyThe chemical pathology of disease – biochemical basisThe chemical pathology of disease – diagnosis and principles of managementThe chemical pathology basis of metabolic medicine
Paper I
written
examinationSlide23
Paper II written examinationIt consists of
20
compul
so
ry
S
h
o
r
t
A
n
sw
e
r
Q
u
e
st
i
o
n
s
(
S
A
Qs
)
,
t
o
b
e
a
n
s
w
e
r
e
d
i
n
three hours. SAQs are designed to test factual knowledge and understanding across th
e
r
a
n
g
e
o
f
t
h
e
C
u
rri
c
u
l
u
m
.
E
a
c
h
q
ue
s
t
i
o
n
c
o
m
p
ri
s
e
s
a
st
e
m
an
d
s
i
x
s
u
b
-
qu
e
s
t
i
o
n
s
.
Slide24
Paper II written examinationThe stem def
ine
s the top
ic
of
t
h
e
qu
e
s
t
i
o
n
an
d
ma
y
i
n
c
l
ud
e
a
s
ho
r
t
s
c
e
na
r
i
o
o
r
vignette. Each sub question is designed to elicit a specific piece of information, or demon
st
r
a
t
i
o
n
o
f
u
n
d
e
r
s
t
a
nd
i
n
g
o
f
th
e
t
o
p
i
c
an
d
i
t
s
c
on
t
e
x
t
.
U
n
l
e
s
s
s
t
a
te
d
o
th
e
r
w
i
s
e
,
t
h
e
a
n
s
w
e
r
r
e
q
u
ir
e
d
w
il
l
r
e
l
a
t
e
s
pe
ci
f
i
c
a
ll
y
t
o
t
h
e
m
a
t
e
ri
a
l
p
r
o
v
i
d
e
d
i
n
t
h
e
s
te
m
a
n
d
n
o
t
t
o
t
h
e
t
op
i
c
i
n
gen
e
r
a
l
.Slide25
Points to note
SAQs are criterion-marked against an explicit model answer Marks are only awarded:
Information required by the questionNo marks are available for additional materialIf a defined number of facts are requested (e.g. State two causes of…..), only that number of responses will be marked Answers requiring more than single word or phrase responses will be answerable in a single sentence or a small number of sentences.Slide26
Standards & Marking MethodsAll parts of the examination are marked by two examiners, neither of whom sees the marks awarded by the other.Paper 1 (
e
ssay p
ape
r)
i
s
m
a
r
k
e
d
u
s
i
n
g
t
h
e
C
o
l
l
e
g
e
c
l
o
s
e
d
m
a
r
k
i
n
g
scheme. In the case of a discrepancy, a third examiner (usually the
P
an
e
l
C
ha
ir
)
a
l
s
o
ma
r
k
s
t
h
e
p
ap
e
r
s
.Slide27
Standards & Marking MethodsPaper II Criterio
n
marked
o
n
t
h
e
b
a
s
i
s
o
f
m
o
d
e
l
a
n
s
w
e
r
s
a
n
d
t
h
e
t
o
t
a
l
m
a
r
k allocation to each part of each question is indicated on the ques
t
i
o
n
p
ap
e
r
.
A
s
ta
n
d
a
r
d
s
e
t
t
i
n
g
p
r
o
c
e
du
r
e
i
s
u
s
e
d
t
o
d
e
t
e
r
m
i
n
e
t
h
e
n
o
t
i
on
a
l
p
a
s
s
m
a
r
k
f
o
r
P
a
pe
r
2
,
a
n
d
e
n
a
b
l
e
a
p
p
r
o
p
r
i
a
t
e
sc
a
l
i
n
g
b
ef
o
r
e
a
gg
r
e
ga
t
i
o
n
w
i
t
h
t
h
e
m
a
r
k
s
f
o
r
P
ap
e
r
1
.Slide28
Use LinksAmerican Association for Clinical ChemistryThe Association for Clinical Biochemistry Lipids and Cardiovascular DisordersHeartUKBritish Atherosclerosis SocietyBritish Hypertension Society DiabetesDiabetes UK EndocrinologySociety for Endocrinology Inherited Metabolic DiseaseBritish Inherited Metabolic Disease GroupSociety for the study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism (SIEM) British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN)Slide29
Interactive SessionProblem 2Slide30
Problem 2A 4-day old baby boy presents with poor feeding, vomiting, and reduced level of consciousness. He was born at term
and was initially well. You are duty biochemi
st and receive a ph
one call from
paediatric
ad
m
i
ss
i
ons wanting to add on ammonia to the U&Es and LFTs already sent to the laboratory.
a)
Can the ammonia be added on?
Explain your answer
b)
State 2 other EMERGENCY tests
that you
would recom
m
end?
c)
State two
f
urther c
r
isis
s
a
m
ples
that should
be collected to investigate for a
m
etabolic
disorder
d)
N
a
m
e three groups of
metabolic disorders
that
m
ay result in a raised ammonia
level
e)What acid-base disorder would you expect to see if the child had a urea cycle defect? f)
What is the most common urea
cycle disorder
, and what is its mode of inheritance? Slide31
a)No [2]Requires sp
ecific c
ollection pro
cedu
re [2] (
Paediatric
lithium
heparin tube and trans
f
er to l
a
b on ice)
b)
Two fr
o
m
: [2]
Blood gases Plas
m
a glucose Lactate
c)
Two fro
m
: [2]
urine organic acids plas
m
a
a
m
ino acids
blood spot or plas
m
a
acylcarnitines
blood for galactose-1-phosphate
uridyl
transferase
d)
Urea cycle
d
efects
Organic acidurias
Fatty a
c
id
o
xidation defects [2] marks eache)Respiratory alkalosis [2]f)
Ornithi
n
e
transcar
b
a
m
o
ylase
deficiency
(OTC) [2]. X-
li
nked [2]Slide32
Part 2Slide33
Examination RequirementsCandidates may sit the Part 2 examination at an appropriate time after they have passed the Part 1 examinationThe time of entry should be as advised by their Educational Supervisor, who must support the application It is anticipated that most candidates will attempt the Part 2 examination in the fourth year of Specialist TrainingSlide34
Examination RequirementsCandidates may apply to sit modules individually. Candidates should apply to sit either module 1, module 2 or both modules. A module pass will be carried forward and this module will not need to be taken again when the other modules are attempted.Slide35
Entry & Training RequirementsMedical trainees must pass the FRCPath Part 2 examination by the end of ST4.Trainees who have not passed the FRCPath Part 2 examination by the end of ST4 will be prevented from progressing to Stage D of training. Slide36
Part 2 examination Slide37
Module IPractical skills moduleSlide38
Paper IA three hour 19 station objective structured practical examination (OSPE). Candidates will be provided with laboratory material such as: Analytical outputs (e.g. electrophoretic strips, chromatography scans)Clinical scenarios (e.g. sample requirements, investigation protocol questions)Quality control and/or external quality assurance dataAnalytical, physiological or pharmacological calculationsOne station will test communication skills using a simulated encounter with a clinician.Slide39
Paper IIA three hour bench practical which tests the candidate’s ability to: Plan an experimentExecute simple bench practical workRecord resultsAnalyse raw data Draw appropriate conclusions. Slide40
Paper IICandidates will be provided with:Raw experimental dataPerform simple laboratory bench practical work.Candidates will therefore no longer be permitted to take books or other reference material into the examination. Appropriate equipment such as pipettes and scientific calculators will continue to be permittedFurther information about this will be available prior to each session of the examination.Slide41
Module IIClinical, scientific and management skillsSlide42
Paper IIIA three hour written paper in which candidates are required to interpret clinical cases and critically appraise journal articles. Slide43
Paper IIIClinical cases section:Candidates are given six questions comprising a brief history and laboratory resultsAsked to describe and interpret them. Journal article evaluation section:Candidates are required to answer questions that test their critical reading and appraisal skills and Understanding of experimental methods and statistical techniques based on two journal articles.Slide44
MarkingPaper III is
criter
i
on
-
m
a
r
k
e
d
o
n
th
e
ba
s
i
s
o
f
m
o
d
e
l
a
n
s
w
e
r
s
.
T
h
e
c
l
inical cases and journal article sections
o
f
t
h
i
s
p
ap
e
r
c
a
rr
y
e
qu
a
l
w
e
i
g
h
t
.
A
s
ta
n
d
a
r
d
s
e
tt
i
n
g
p
r
o
c
e
du
r
e
i
s
u
s
e
d
t
o
e
na
b
l
e
ap
p
r
o
p
ri
a
t
e
s
c
a
l
i
n
g
.
T
h
i
s
p
ap
e
r
c
a
rr
i
e
s
6
0
%
o
f
t
h
e
a
v
a
i
l
a
b
l
e
m
a
r
k
s
f
o
r
M
o
d
u
l
e
2
.Slide45
Module IIClinical, scientific and management skillsSlide46
MarkingThe Oral e
x
aminati
on
i
s
ma
r
k
e
d
o
n
t
h
e
b
a
s
i
s
o
f
m
od
e
l
a
n
s
w
e
r
s
u
s
i
n
g
st
a
ndard mark descriptors and the College closed marking scheme. A tota
l
m
a
r
k
o
f
4
7
.
5
%
o
r
l
e
s
s
i
n
O
r
a
l 1
o
r
O
r
a
l
2
i
s
a
d
e
f
i
n
i
t
e
f
a
i
l
.
A
t
o
t
a
l
ma
r
k
o
f
b
e
t
w
e
e
n
47
.
6–
49
.
9
%
i
n
o
n
e
O
r
a
l
c
a
n
b
e
c
o
m
pe
n
s
a
t
e
d
b
y
a
c
o
r
r
e
s
p
o
nd
i
n
g
s
u
r
p
l
u
s
o
f
m
a
r
k
s
i
n
t
h
e
o
th
e
r
O
r
a
l
.
T
h
i
s
p
a
p
e
r
c
a
rr
i
e
s
4
0
%
o
f
t
h
e
a
v
a
i
l
a
b
l
e
ma
r
k
s
f
o
r
M
o
d
u
l
e
2
.Slide47
MarkingA total mar
k
of 47.
5%
o
r
l
e
s
s
o
n
P
a
pe
r 3
o
r
t
h
e
O
r
a
l
e
x
a
m
i
n
a
t
io
n
i
s a
de
f
i
nite Module fail. A total mark of between 47.6–49.9% in one paper can b
e
c
o
m
pe
n
s
at
e
d
b
y
a
c
o
rr
e
s
p
o
n
d
i
n
g
s
u
r
p
l
u
s
o
f
m
a
r
k
s
i
n
th
e
o
t
he
r
pa
pe
r
.Slide48
Module IIIWritten component moduleSlide49
Module III The written component module requires the candidate to demonstrate competence in the specialty by carrying out a laboratory project that is written up and presented in a dissertationCandidates intending to submit a dissertation must obtain agreement for their project proposal from the College. It is advisable to submit the project proposal well in advance of starting the project in case it is not deemed suitable or requires modification. Slide50
Module IIIFailure to submit a proposal or make any required amendments will mean that the dissertation will not be accepted. Candidates are recommended to begin to plan their project and submit a project proposal as soon as possible after entering specialist training or equivalent, and before completion of the Part 1 examinations.Slide51
Module III - Written component moduleFor further guidance, please see the section on ‘Guidance for candidates undertaking written options for the Part 2 examination’ in the Regulations and Guidelines – College examinations for Membership and Diplomas.Slide52
Module III - Written component moduleDissertations are reviewed by two examiners and are graded as follows:A = passB = modification or additional work requiredC = unacceptableDissertations must be of a standard equivalent to that required for peer-reviewed publication in order to achieve a Grade A.Slide53
Module III - Written component moduleMD or PhD theses and portfolios of published works are assessed in the first instance by the Chair of the Panel of Examiners, who will refer them to other examiners for further assessment if necessary.Slide54
Passing Part IICandidates should normally pass their part 2 examinations within seven years of passing part 1.Slide55
IELTS RequirementsIf you do not work or do not intend to work in the UK you do not need to prove your English language skills before sitting the FRCPath exam. Slide56
The Royal College of PathologistsScience Behind The CureThanks