Revised 2020 Examination Timetables:
Pathology Examination Timetable
Faculties Examination Timetable
The Examination venues for October are now available here.
Current DHHS advice regarding Travel to Examinations for Trainees and Attendees based in Victoria
Last updated 22 September 2020
Those who are employed by the Department of Health / Public Health Services are permitted to travel with an approved letter from the RCPA and photo ID (such as a hospital / laboratory staff ID or driver licence). Please download, complete the necessary details, print a copy and carry with you. (Click here).
Those employed by Private Laboratories are required to travel with a Permitted Worker Permit. Those in this employment situation are required to:
- Download the Form and fill it out (Click here).
- Sign the worker permit
- Ask your employer to sign the permit
- Print hard-copy and carry the permit with you whilst travelling to and from the examination/s. The College advises that photo identification (such as hospital/laboratory staff ID or drivers licence) should also be carried when commuting to and from the Approved venue from workplace and/or place of residence.
NB It is the responsibility of the examination attendee to ensure that they are travelling with a copy of the RCPA letter and/or signed permit and ID.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please email exam@rcpa.edu.au as a priority and prior to the scheduled examination.
I have safety concerns about attending for examinations. Has the College considered the safety of examination candidates?
The College will manage examinations in relation to the evolving situation as per respective COVID-19 government guidelines. To this end, the College will ensure that all approved venues have a COVID Safe Plan in place to help ensure the health and safety of all candidates, examiners and support personnel involved. This will include temperature checks upon arrival to the exam, the availability of hand sanitiser and face masks in all venues, appropriate hygiene and social distancing.
What if I am sick just prior to, or on the day of the exam?
If you are unwell you will not be permitted to attend and sit for examination. Candidates in this position may defer until 2021 without penalty.
All Candidates presenting for examination will be required to complete and sign a Self-Declaration Form to confirm that they are fit and well to be examined.
NB Candidates meeting requirements for self-isolation or quarantine cannot attend for examination.
I am scheduled to sit an Oral Examination. How will this work?
All oral examinations will take place via ZOOM from centralised and approved venues. Technical support will be available at centralised venues. Candidates will be offered mock oral opportunities.
How will the College ensure the quality and integrity of examinations?
All Candidates will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement in case of unexpected technical delays. Technical support will be made available at all centralised venues to support oral examinations, for example.
What if I am not available to sit my examination on the revised scheduled date?
The College appreciates and regrets that the rescheduled examination timetable might make it impossible for some trainees to sit the examinations. If you can’t sit the examination on the revised scheduled date, you can defer until 2021 without penalty.
If candidates are unable to sit examinations as per the revised 2020 Timetable, will the College offer full refunds?
If you would like to withdraw from your examination, you will have the opportunity for the College to hold your fee until 2021 or you may choose a full refund, on request. However, you will need to submit another examination application for 2021 to indicate your intention to sit.
I will now have the required training time to sit the examination at the end of 2020. Can I apply to sit examinations?
The College will not be accepting any further examination applications in 2020.
What will happen to my examination fee if I decide to defer my examination to 2021?
The College will hold your examination fee to 2021. However, you will need to submit another examination application for 2021 to indicate your intention to sit.
I will no longer be in a laboratory position at the time of examination. What should I do?
If you have guaranteed employment in a laboratory position up to August 2020, then you will be eligible to sit.
I have planned deferment due to maternity leave in the revised examination period and I will be sitting an examination. What fee will I be required to pay?
Trainees will be required to pay a pro-rata training fee. Please contact the College to arrange this payment.
I will no longer be in a training position at the time of the new scheduled examinations. Will I be able to sit the postponed examinations?
The College will consider this, on request, on a case by case basis.
Will it be possible for Haematology and Microbiology Joint Trainees to sit Part I and Part II in their final year of training?
Yes, the College has considered this in the revised timetabling. However, the Part 1 and Part II oral examinations will be on consecutive days. Candidates who have applied to sit both Part I and Part II (relevant to Joint Haematology and Microbiology candidates only):
Haematology:
- Candidates eligible to sit both Part I and Part II examinations in the same year, will be allowed to sit the Part II Oral Examination before 2020 results of Part I (Dry Practical) are known. NB This is for 2020 only.
- However, if a candidate passes the Part II examination but fails a component of the Part I Examination, the Part II pass will be held and not released until 2021 and only where Part I Examinations have been satisfactorily completed and passed. The failed components of Part I will need to be repeated in August 2021. NB This arrangement is for 2020 only. A Pass in the Part II Oral Examination will only be valid for 12 months without an accompanying Pass in all components of the Part I.
- It is anticipated that Part II examinations will be held as usual in August 2021 and a repeat in November 2021.
Microbiology:
- Candidates eligible to sit both Part I and II examinations in the same year, will be allowed to sit the Part II Oral after notification of a pass in the Part I Examination. Candidates who are successful in Part I and fail Part II on their first attempt in November/December will get an opportunity to repeat in January 2021.
Will Trainees in their final year of training be offered repeats for all disciplines? When will the repeats be held?
Repeat examinations will be offered as specified in the Trainee Handbooks for each discipline. Refer to the Revised 2020 Pathology Examination Timetable (22 July 2020) for the proposed dates of repeat examinations for eligible candidates.
What will the gap be between the slide/phase 1 and oral/phase II examinations?
Please refer to the Revised 2020 Examination Timetable.
Will examinations be rescheduled again?
The College will continue to closely monitor the situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic and it may be necessary to make further changes to our examination arrangements later in the year. Should this eventuate, the College will provide as much notice as is feasible.
When will the 2021 Examination Timetable be available?
We anticipate the timetable will be available early November 2020.