iMAP (Membership by Assessment of Performance) the route to RCGP membership for established GPs
iMAP requires candidates to complete a portfolio of activities they carry out during the working day. The portfolio breaks these down into fifteen separate criteria which should be relevant to and achievable by GPs with a wide variety of work patterns.
Those who want to use iMAP to gain MRCGP will need their submission for each of the fifteen criteria to be accepted by our assessors. Those who want to use the iMAP templates solely to look at certain aspects of their practice can submit only the criteria they wish.
Assessment through iMAP
iMAP comprises two distinct assessment stages – the production of a satisfactory portfolio followed by an oral assessment. Gaining membership through iMAP confers the MRCGP and is the same as any other route to membership.
There are three steps:
- Step one: application
- Step two: portfolio stage
- Step three: oral stage
Costs
|
Portfolio iMAP
|
Modular iMAP
|
| Application |
£990 |
0 |
Portfolio
Payable on original submission only |
£770 |
£120 per module
(£1,800 in total)
|
| EKU or PEP learning resources |
Both free with RCGP
associate membership, granted
after your eligibility is confirmed
|
Assuming not associate member:
EKU £79 or PEP £50 |
| MSF and PSQ tools |
Approximately £100 |
Approximately £100 |
| Oral assessment (per attempt) |
£770 |
£770 |
Send a cheque, made payable to RCGP, to the iMAP office, RCGP, 30 Euston Square, London, NW1 2FB. The multi source feedback (MSF) and patient satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ) tools are provided by external parties, and so have separate payment arrangements. Full details are provided in the iMAP handbook.
Regulations
By applying for iMAP candidates confirm that they are familiar with, and agree to abide by, the iMAP regulations.
Step one: complete the application form
Complete and return the application form first for eligibility checks to be carried out by the iMAP office.
Those who are planning to submit the portfolio criteria as individual documents should complete all 15 then send the application form.
Step two: compile the portfolio
Download and fill in the templates to compile the portfolio following the guidance in the iMAP Handbook. When this is complete, email it to the iMAP office and make the required payment.
Evidence for the Significant Event Analysis, Audit, Multi Source Feedback, Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire and Complaints (the same evidence required for revalidation) can be up to five years old on the date it is submitted. Other evidence must be no more than one year old.
Submitting the portfolio as one document (Portfolio iMAP)
Those planning to submit the portfolio altogether should download and complete the portfolio template (below). The portfolio must be submitted within one year of application.
For help compiling the portfolio see the guidance documents below as well as the Handbook.
Submitting the portfolio as separate modules (Modular iMAP)
Those planning to submit the portfolio as 15 separate modules should download and complete the iMAP module templates listed below. There must be no more than two years between submission of the first and last criteria.
A candidate context form must be sent with the first module submitted.
Module 1: prescribing
Module 2: audit
Module 3: significant event analysis
Module 4: personally administered drugs
Module 5: acute illness management
Module 6: providing treatment in an emergency
Module 7: long term patient care
Module 8: maintaining good medical practice
Module 9: patient satisfaction questionnaire
Module 10: complaints
Module 11: working with colleagues and in teams
Module 12: referrals
Module 13: keeping good medical records
Module 14: ethical principles
Module 15: safeguarding children
Portfolio assessment
Portfolios are marked by a pair of assessors according to the iMAP definition of scores:
Marking usually takes approximately four weeks for a whole portfolio, or up to three weeks for individual modules. Marked submissions are returned to candidates by email by the iMAP office and will contain guidance on any changes required. A maximum of two resubmission attempts are permitted.
Step three: take the oral assessment
Candidates will be invited to attend the oral assessment when the portfolio has been accepted (this may be after one, or several, attempts) and their eligibility for iMAP has been confirmed by the iMAP office.
The basis of the oral is to discuss and justify particular actions or approaches to general practice. This is an opportunity for candidates to reflect on their personal practice and review the evidence that underpins their professional activity.
It is important that candidates are familiar with their portfolio in its entirety, including comments made by the portfolio assessors.
The iMAP office will request payment and confirm the precise time and date of the oral at least four weeks in advance. Limited dates are available.
The oral assessment is the same for those who complete Portfolio and Modular iMAP.
The oral lasts for 90 minutes and is divided into three separate sessions with three different pairs of iMAP assessors. There is a 5 minute break between each session.
The first session (Oral 1) lasts 40 minutes and comprises a discussion mainly around the candidate’s submitted portfolio. The questions will be based around elements of the portfolio where the justification for action might not be clear or require further exploration. Some, but not all, of these issues will have been highlighted by the portfolio assessors which means that the candidates will be aware of them before the oral assessment.
The second part of the oral is divided into two sessions (Orals 2 & 3), each lasting 20 minutes, and the questions are based on the criteria in the iMAP Handbook.
Up to two attempts at the oral assessment are permitted.
Click here for some additional guidance on the Oral Assessment
iMAP, Revalidation, appraisal and CPD
iMAP is modelled on the appraisal portfolio and an appraiser should accept the iMAP portfolio or criteria in the portfolio for appraisal with very little additional information.
Five areas required for Revalidation are also required for iMAP. These are:
- Significant Event Analysis
- Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire
- Multi-Source Feedback
- Audit
- Complaints
The iMAP templates provide a good structure by which to fulfil the requirements for Revalidation. The other criteria in iMAP can be used as additional supporting information for Revalidation / appraisal.
Successful iMAP candidates
Contact us
Email: imap@rcgp.org.uk
Tel: 020 3188 7661
Local support
Candidate support and study days are provided by local RCGP faculty offices. Use the links below to find contact details for your local faculty.
Local Faculties
Click on the tab towards the top of the page entitled "Courses and Events" to search for iMAP study days - enter iMAP as the keyword.