Examination and Training FAQs

2022 Examinations

The College appreciates that these continue to present as challenging times for all.

Late 2021 the Board of Education and Assessment (BEA) and the Board of Directors (BOD) approved that  all College examinations in 2022 will be held in local training jurisdictions. No candidate is required to travel either interstate or internationally to attend an examination.

The College will contact candidates in due course with specific details and examination arrangements. NB The dates remain as per the published 2022 Examination Timetable which can be found below. Please be assured that the quality and integrity of all examinations remains unchanged.

Please note: Should you have any questions that are not addressed here or you need to contact the College, please e email: bea@rcpa.edu.au

2022 Examination Timetables:

Pathology Timetable All Programs

API DIGITAL SLIDE EXAMINATION
Candidates for the 2022 Anatomical Pathology Part I Digital Slide Examination will be emailed detailed information to help prepare for the exam. This includes a unique SECTRA login, SECTRA shortcut instructions, and access to a digital slide practice set.

When will my results be available?
For full details and key dates, please refer to the College Examinations Results Policy here
NB Candidates are encouraged to read the Policy thoroughly in order to be familiar with the process and timing of examination results.

Current government advice regarding travel to examinations for trainees and attendees
The health, safety and wellbeing of all examination attendees is paramount to the RCPA. The College will continue to monitor the situation relating to COVID-19 and will provide updated advice as soon as is practicable.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please email bea@rcpa.edu.au as a priority and prior to your scheduled examination.

What if I am required to self-isolate or self-quarantine in accordance with the Diagnosed persons and Close Contacts Direction?
Any candidate who is required to self-isolate or self-quarantine in accordance with the Diagnosed persons and Close Contacts Direction, must inform the College with immediate effect via bea@rcpa.edu.au and by submitting a special consideration application with supporting evidence.

Where a candidate is unable to attend a Cliftons or other exam venue for the above reasons, the College will do its best to support the Trainee to sit the exam from their home. However, in some instances, this may not be possible based on the type of examination and if there is insufficient notice provided. Should this be the case, the Trainee will be asked to defer until 2023 without financial penalty.

 

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 and venue guidelines. To this end, the College will ensure that all approved venues have a COVID Safe Plan in place, which may include temperature checks on arrival to the exam, proof of vaccination, the availability of hand sanitiser and face masks in all venues, appropriate hygiene and social distancing where required.

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 meeting requirements for self-isolation or quarantine cannot attend for examination.

Candidates in this position may defer until 2023 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.

I am scheduled to sit an oral examination. How will this work?
All oral examinations will take place via ZOOM or MS Teams from centralised and approved venues. Technical support will be available at centralised venues. Candidates will be offered mock oral exam opportunities prior to the exam.

How will the College ensure the integrity of the oral examination process?
All Candidates will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Technical support will be available at all centralised venues to support confidentiality and integrity of oral examinations.

I plan to sit an examination during my period of maternity leave
Such candidates will be required to pay a pro-rata training fee. Please contact the College to arrange this payment.

Will candidates in their final year of training be offered repeat examinations? When will the repeats be held?
Repeat examinations will be offered as specified in the Trainee Handbooks. Refer to the 2022 Pathology Examination Timetable for the dates of repeat examinations for eligible candidates.

Will there be any changes to the published examination timetable?
The College will closely monitor the situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It may be necessary to make changes to our examination arrangements. Should this eventuate, the College will provide as much notice as is feasible.

2022 BPS information can be found here: https://www.rcpa.edu.au/Education/Basic-Pathological-Sciences

When will the 2022 BPS Mock Exam be available?
The on-line mock exam will be available from Friday 18 February 2022. All registered BPS exam candidates have been granted access. The mock exam will remain open until the day of the BPS 2022 exam.

When will the webinar take place?
The webinar will be held on Tuesday 29 March 2022 at 6.30pm AEDT. A recording of the webinar will be made available here https://www.rcpa.edu.au/Education/Basic-Pathological-Sciences/BPS-Seminar

If I cannot attend the BPS examination in 2022, can I apply for a full refund?
If you are unable to sit the exam in 2022 due to COVID, you can withdraw your application and the College will hold your fee until 2023..

When are pre-exam supervisor reports due?
Pre-exam supervisor reports will be due on 9 July 2022, as per the normal schedule.

My hospital has cancelled all face-to-face meetings. Will the College consider this when assessing portfolio requirements?
The College recommends that you attend relevant virtual meetings where possible.

If I exceed the 8 week leave allowance, due to quarantine requirements, will my training still be accredited?
Please use your leave allowance of 8 weeks and contact the College if you exceed this. The College will consider these matters on a case-by-case basis. Time in training will be accredited.
NB Joint Trainees are advised to contact the RACP for additional information.

I am working a 60-hour week. Will this be counted towards my training time?
No, the College counts weeks, not hours in its calculation of training time.

When do I need to submit my Project
Project submission dates are specified in the discipline specific Trainee Handbooks and here: Important Dates

To request an extension, please contact the College at bea@rcpa.edu.au

Some trainees’ access to normal laboratory activities may be disrupted by COVID-19 affecting their ability to carry out laboratory-based project/dissertation requirements. Can the due dates be deferred?

• If COVID-19 disruptions have caused difficulties in completing a Project by the due date, request an extension via bea@rcpa.edu.au Trainees should recognise that examiners require 6 weeks for project marking and late submission may impact on the date of being awarded Fellowship.
• Final year Microbiology trainees may be advised to change Projects if the planned Project requires extensive PCR.

I am an Anatomical Pathology trainee and have submitted an e- Poster/s for Pathology Update and/or the International Academy of Pathology (IAP) Meeting. Will this count as part of my PPD?
All Anatomical Pathology trainee posters accepted by, and prepared for, and accepted by, Pathology Update 2022, or accepted for presentation at the IAP will be accepted for PPD purposes if the following are provided:

• Email of acceptance of poster by conference organisers.
• A4 copy of the e-Poster.
• Declaration from Trainee Handbook signed by supervisor and trainee. Posters prepared by Trainees in non-AP disciplines may be counted for portfolio purposes.

My oral presentation has been selected for the DS Nelson/QAP prize in 2022. If I am present on-line can I use it to satisfy the curriculum requirements in my discipline?
Trainee oral presentations, including those for the RCPA BEA DS Nelson prize and RCPA Quality Assurance Program prize will be recognised as oral presentations at an international conference.

‘Meet the Chief Examiner’ talks
These are available on the RCPA College website here

I have been selected to do a virtual oral presentation at the IAP conference? Will this be accepted as part of my PPD?
Oral presentations prepared for the International Academy of Pathology Conference in 2022 will be accepted for PPD purposes if the following are provided;

• Email of acceptance of oral presentation by either the session convenor or the conference organisers
• PowerPoint presentation
• Declaration from Trainee Handbook signed by supervisor and trainee.

The College recognises and understands the impact, and importance of the decisions made. The College would like to acknowledge that there is significant planning around examinations and that they are a source of stress and anxiety to you and your families. The decision to defer exams, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic was not made lightly. You will be notified of the examination dates as soon as possible.

College staff are here to support you:
In the event of COVID-related disruptions, College Education Advisors Dr Kathy Robinson (kathyr@rcpa.edu.au) or Ms Teresa Stuart (teresas@rcpa.edu.au) to discuss the impacts of on you and your family.

External support services are also available to our Trainees here.

Please note: Should you have any questions that are not addressed, or you need to contact the College about any training or examination matters, please email bea@rcpa.edu.au

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