A Person Specification and Job Description is provided for examiners, with full details about the selection and appointment process found in the FRCA Examiner Regulations.
All FRCA examiners are experienced consultants, and the RCoA is fortunate that most examiners are able to commit to at least 10 days examining per year, with the vast majority of examiners committing to a 10-year term. This ensures consistency in the board of examiners and gives all examiners regular exposure to examining and the examination process.
Examiner training is mandatory for new examiners, which includes a series of online modules as well as face-to-face training in which examiners take part in mock examinations. CPD sessions are held for existing examiners, and throughout their examiner term, all examiners undergo audit and appraisal.
All examiners are expected to undertake annual E&D training sessions in the form of presentations, workshops and e-learning sessions, all of which are designed in-house and specific to the assessment methods used by the FRCA.
The FRCA examinations do not currently use lay examiners, although lay input is encouraged through attendance at committees and working groups. Members of the Patient Voices group may also provide advice in the construction of clinically focused scenarios.
