Change to introduction date regarding increase in number of exam attempts

This news item supersedes the previous notice dated 20 June 2013, which has now been removed from the College website

Following their meeting on 10 September 2013, the Examinations Committee exceptionally agreed to advance the introduction date regarding the maximum number of attempts for all Primary FRCA examinations being increased to six attempts. This change to the regulations will now come into force from 1st November 2013.  The reason for reducing the standard notice period (normally one year), is to provide assistance to candidates who have recently failed the Primary OSCE and/or SOE examinations at their fourth attempt, to complete the Primary exam and where possible return to a training programme.

The change of the introduction date to 1 November 2013, will allow candidates to take a 5th attempt at the January 2014 Primary OSCE/SOE examination, providing they meet all other eligibility requirements.

Candidates who intend to apply for a sixth attempt at the March Primary MCQ or the March Final Written examinations must submit an AET Form 1, three months before the date of the examinations.  The need to submit an AET form 1 three months before the exam date at the final (sixth attempt), applies to all examinations after 1 January 2014, the advance of the introduction date does not affect applicants who have applied for the December 2013 SOE at their sixth attempt.

Regulations
With effect from 1 November 2013 – the following amendments will be made to the Examination Regulations:

1. Section 3: Examinations, Regulation 5(e)
   Candidates will be allowed six attempts at the MCQ, OSCE and SOE, subject to remaining eligible under Regulation 13.  Candidates will be required to provide evidence of additional educational training for the sixth attempt at each component.  Details of additional evidence are set out in Regulation 8. Candidates must complete the ‘Additional Educational Training form AET Form 1’ at Appendix 8.

2. Section 3: Examinations, Regulation 8(c)
   Candidates will be allowed six attempts at the Written and SOE, subject to remaining eligible under Regulation 17.  Candidates will be required to provide evidence of additional educational training for the sixth attempt at each component.  Details of additional evidence are set out in Regulation 8. Candidates must complete the ‘Additional Educational Training form AET Form 1’ at Appendix 8.

3. Section 11: Failures and Guidance, Regulation 34
   There are no mandatory requirements for candidates to attend guidance interviews up to the fifth attempt for each component.  At the sixth attempts candidates must have attended a guidance interview subject to Regulations 34 (b) and 34 (c).

4. Sections 5, 6 and 7 at Regulations 14, 16 and 18
   A person shall not be eligible to enter for the [*Primary *MCQ, *OSCE and/or SOE] [*Final *Written, *SOE] who has failed the [*relevant] examination of the [*Primary/*Final] FRCA six times.  Evidence of additional educational training/experience must be provided in accordance with Section 3 Regulation 8 at the sixth attempt.

[*Will be reflected as applicable].

With effect from 1 November 2013 – the following additions will be made to the Examination Regulations:

5. To be added to Section 3

8. In addition to remaining eligible under Regulations 13 or 17 as applicable, at the sixth attempt at any component of the Primary or Final FRCA, a candidate must provide evidence of additional educational experience/training as follows:

1. Prior to application for further attempts after the fifth attempt a candidate must:
   Discuss their final attempt and suitability for anaesthetic training with their College Tutor or equivalent.  Their College Tutor or equivalent must support a further attempt in writing through the submission of the ‘Additional Educational Training form AET Form 1’ at Appendix 8.

1. The form must be submitted to the Director of Training and Examinations at least three months in advance of the date of the next intended sitting.
2. If a candidate has not already attended a guidance interview for this component then they must attend a guidance interview in accordance with Section 11 of the Regulations.
3. Re-application must be made after a period of additional training which has been discussed and agreed by the College Tutor or supervising Anaesthetic Consultant after consultation with the in-house anaesthetic training team.  A full training programme is mandatory and is set out on the form as follows:

1. Attendance at a recognised FRCA course either locally or nationally.
2. Examination practice for the relevant  component (e.g. OSCE, SOE practice, MCQ practice etc).
3. Evidence of modules undertaken in e-LA if applicable to the relevant examination component since failing at the fourth attempt.
4. Further clinical exposure and training as discussed with a College Tutor appropriate to the relevant examination component.