A fitting venue Developments with the Royal College of Pathologists

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A fitting venue! Developments with the Royal
College of Pathologists

• Geraldine Hartshorne
• geraldine.hartshorne_at_warwick.ac.uk

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Why did ACE get involved with RCPath?

• promote high standards of practice in clinical
  embryology and to support the professional
  interests of embryologists working in the UK.

Problem how to ensure that senior clinical
embryologists are recognised by (1) their
employers, (2) their peers in other scientific
disciplines and (3) internationally
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Mandate, ACE 1997

• Recognition needed for embryologists at high
  level, but reflecting job of clinical
  embryologist
• Not agreed whether every lab must have one
• Portfolio approach appropriate ie not
  MSc/University based
• Legal basis of accreditation to be considered
• Compatible with state registration

Go away and think about it!
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Timeline (1)

• Early 1990s - first approach from ACE to RCPath
• 1997 - Establishment of ACE Professional
  Development Committee
• Considered how to quantify and document senior
  status
• Considered possible accrediting bodies
• 1999 - Exploratory meetings with shortlisted
  accrediting bodies (RCPath, RCOG, ESHRE)
• 2002 - Consultation of ACE membership
• 2002 - Consultation of ACE honorary members

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Timeline (2)

• May 2003 Feedback from consultation. Firm mandate
  to negotiate with RCPath
• Embryology reps coopted to
• Specialty Advisory Committee (SAC) Genetics
  (currently Ginny Bolton, Mike Hooper)
• Standing Committee for Clinical Science (SCCS)
  (currently Dave Morroll)
• April 2004 Negotiations concluded
• May 2004 Approval by College Council

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What is the Royal College of Pathologists?

• The Royal College of Pathologists' mission is to
  promote excellence in the practice of pathology
  and to be responsible for maintaining standards
  through training, examinations and professional
  development.
• The Royal College of Pathologists is the
  competent and authoritative body for professional
  training and standards in the pathology
  specialties in the UK. Fellowship and Membership
  of the College are widely respected indicators of
  specialist status and evidence of a commitment to
  high professional standards in the science and
  practice of pathology.

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• Membership conferred by examination

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Who are the Pathologists?

• Biochemistry
• Genetics
• Toxicology
• Histocompatibility
• Immunogenetics
• Haematology
• Histopathology

• Immunology
• Medical microbiology
• Cytopathology
• Neuropathology
• Forensic pathology
• Etc.

Proportion of medically qualified and
scientifically qualified consultants varies
across disciplines from 0 to 100
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Terms of agreement

• Clinical embryologists become eligible for full
  membership of college and election to Council
• Able to take same roles as other disciplines
  (reps to CSSC and SAC formalised)
• Initially to work closely with SAC Genetics
  (renamed to Genetics and Embryology) until gain
  30 members, then can form own SAC
• Grandfathering allowed through part I (2 yr
  window of opportunity) but not part 2
• Eligibility for grandfathering (see later!)
• Exams to be set up in clinical embryology (as for
  other disciplines)

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Timeline (3)

• 2004 - ACE and College agree the terms
• 2005-2006 - Preliminary discussions with College
  Examinations Officer re transitional arrangements
  and examinations structure
• 7 December 2006 first grandfathered entrants
  examined (viva x 2)
• 15 March 2007 first grandfathered entrants
  hopefully approved by council.

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Structure of MRCPath exams
TWO PARTS

• Eligibility. 1st or 2nd class hons degree (or
  others considered on individual basis)
• Part 1 (3 years after beginning training)
• Part 2 (minimum 2 years after part 1)

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Part 1

• aims to determine whether an individual has, at
  an early stage of training, successfully acquired
  a core body of knowledge that will underpin their
  ability to practise in their chosen specialty.
• ..Knowledge

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Part 2

• Medical to provide quality assurance that a
  trainee who has successfully completed the
  curriculum and programme (including assessment
  through the Record of In-Training Assessment
  RITA process) is able to practise as an
  unsupervised specialist and be awarded a
  Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training
  (CCST) in the specialty.
• Non-medicalpassing the MRCPath examination
  indicates they have reached a standard of
  unsupervised practice.
• ..Skills

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Structure of MRCPath exams

• Part 1
• Theory exam (2 x 3 hour paper one short answer,
  one essay)
• (must pass theory before taking practical exam)
• Practical exam (1 x 3 hour paper, plus oral)
• Part 2
• Written submission
• case histories
• PhD or MD during training
• Dissertation (practical topic agreed in advance)
• Portfolio of gt6 published papers
• (must have submission accepted before oral)
• 1 hour searching oral interview
• prepared questions and free discussion
• (science, regulation, management)

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Awarded ACE certificate
Get trainee embryology job
State Registration (4 years)
Relevant BSc or equivalent
ACE certificate 2 years
Further supervised experience
Independent Practitioner doing CPD
Do embryology Masters course
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First RCPath Examiners Panel in Clinical
Embryology

• Sue Avery, Mary Herbert, Greg Horne, Geraldine
  Hartshorne (Chair)
• We will facilitate
• Grandfathering past part I (via CV and interview)
  UK only
• Establishing discipline-specific exams for part I
• Examination of part 2 submissions and interviews
• Maintenance of standards equivalent to other
  disciplines

• Aims
• Establishment of a recognised consultant level
  qualification
• Eventually available internationally

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Grandparenting.

• NBGRANDPARENT THROUGH PART ONE ONLY
• To be eligible
• ACE Diploma plus
• 5 years working as a clinical embryologist
• Or
• 6 years working as a clinical embryologist
• Part time pro rata

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Grandparenting.

• Evidence required
• Academic certificates
• ACE Diploma (if you have one)
• Detailed CV
• Professional references
• Statement of practice (ie HOW YOU TRAINED, WHAT
  YOU DO)
• Interview
• No fee!
• NB, a grandparent application does not guarantee
  acceptance.
• ACE setting up advisory group to prescreen
  potential applicants to help avoid problems.

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Grandparenting.

• What the examiners look for
• Basic theoretical knowledge
• Safe and legal in lab
• Know own limits
• Range/breadth/depth of practice
• Logical approach to problem solving
• Responsibility
• Presentation

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Grandparenting.

• Window of opportunity 2 years ONLY.
• Likely dates, submission deadlines between mid
  2007 and mid 2009.

Dont miss out!!
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Examinations

• Usually twice yearly opportunities
• First Part 1 theory exams, likely 2008
• First Part 1 practical exams, hopeful 2008
• First Part 2 oral exams, as required - further to
  passing part 1 successfully.

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Fees

• Grandfathered part 1 Free
• Exam part 1 theory 370
• Exam part 1 practical 370
• Exam part 2 written and oral 405
• Annual membership fees
• Fellow (Member of 8 yrs standing) 354
• Member 279
• Diplomate (after pt 1, before pt 2) 116

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International applicants?..

• RCPath generally not restricted by nationality or
  where training undertaken
• There are international centres where exams can
  be taken
• International applicants not accepted for
  grandparenting (with possible exception of
  Ireland for discussion with the College)
• Exams oriented towards UK practice
• Robust overseas training programme and/or
  secondment to work in UK

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Conclusions

• Opportunity to reach the highest levels and be
  recognised!
• Not (yet?) needed for career progression
• Watch for the opportunity to apply
• Get involved