Statement on development of new exam module

At its meeting on 26th February RCGP Council considered whether a new consultation assessment should be developed to replace both the CSA and the RCA (the temporary assessment put in place in lieu of the CSA during the Covid-19 pandemic).

This has been proposed in response to the potential difficulties in delivering a large scale face-to-face examination in the light of pandemic restrictions, the challenge presented by the climate emergency in requiring large numbers of trainees and examiners to travel across the UK to an exam centre in London, and the changes to training and real practice that have been brought about by the pandemic, and which are likely to have a long-lasting impact on general practice.

Council was supportive of the proposal to investigate the creation of an alternative assessment and now work will begin to explore how the strengths of both the CSA and the RCA can be built upon to develop a new examination which is reflective of the realities of current practice, while maintaining the quality standards which are central to the MRCGP. 

An initial scoping stage of work, which will include wide-ranging stakeholder engagement, will begin immediately and will report back to the RCGP's Trustee Board in April.

Further information

(For media only)

RCGP Press office – 020 3188 7633/7494/7574

Out of hours: 0203 188 7659 

press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editor

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 52,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.