MSC CONSULTATION:

Examination Policy and Guidelines

The Medical Sciences Council is planning to

introduce an online examination as a pathway for

registration for overseas-trained practitioners.

This consultation document sets out the Council’s

proposed policy and guidelines for an online

examination.

The Council is seeking feedback from all

interested stakeholders in respect of the

proposed policy and guidelines

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CONTENTS Consultation: Online Examination .......................................................................................................... 3

Consultation Feedback ........................................................................................................................ 3

Consultation Timeframe ..................................................................................................................... 3

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 4

Policy Statement ................................................................................................................................. 4

Who, How and What ............................................................................................................................... 5

What is the basis for introducing an examination? ............................................................................ 5

Who will be required to sit an examination?...................................................................................... 5

How will practitioners know if they have to sit an examination? ...................................................... 5

What is the examination based on? ................................................................................................... 6

Competence Standards for the Practice of medical laboratory science in New Zealand ............... 6

Competence Standards for the Practice of Anaesthetic Technology in New Zealand ................... 7

How is an examination delivered? ...................................................................................................... 7

Sitting an examination ............................................................................................................................ 8

How will an examination be structured? ............................................................................................ 8

Taxonomy ................................................................................................................................................ 9

Examination Rules ................................................................................................................................. 10

Professional Conduct ........................................................................................................................ 10

Identification Requirements ............................................................................................................. 10

How is an Examination Scored? ........................................................................................................ 11

Previous Examination Papers ............................................................................................................ 11

Practice Examination ........................................................................................................................ 11

Examination Results .............................................................................................................................. 12

Failing an Examination ...................................................................................................................... 12

Special Considerations ...................................................................................................................... 12

The Council May Refuse to Grant Registration or Issue a Practising Certificate .............................. 13

Additional Needs ............................................................................................................................... 13

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CONSULTATION : ONLINE EXAMINATION

The Medical Sciences Council (the Council) is working on the development of an online examination as a pathway to registration for overseas-trained practitioners. In the longer-term an examination may also be used as mechanism for the issue of a practising certificate for practitioners returning to practice after an extended absence. In this consultation document we are seeking feedback from the medical laboratory science and anaesthetic technology professions and other interested stakeholders on the foundations of the examination framework the Council is intending to establish.

Consultation Feedback

Your feedback is important to the Council and to assist with ensuring the process allows for information to be provided in a consistent format and in a timely manner, we have prepared an online questionnaire. Click here to access the questionnaire.

Consultation Timeframe

The consultation questionnaire is open until

5.00 pm Friday 2nd March 2018

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INTRODUCTION

From 20191 the Medical Sciences Council (the Council) will introduce an examination for the purpose of registration and recertification under the Health Practitioners Competences Assurance Act 2003 (the Act). This guideline provides information on the circumstances in which sitting of an examination is required and information to assist candidates in their preparation for the examination.

Policy Statement In certain circumstances, the Council will require practitioners to sit an examination which has been designed as an assessment tool to measure an individual’s knowledge of foundational knowledge pertaining to the competencies required for the practice of medical laboratory science and anaesthetic technology in New Zealand.

The examination will be set under sections 12 and 15 of the Health Practitioners Competence

Assurance Act 2003 (the Act).

1 The exact date is yet to be determined

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WHO , HOW AND WHAT

What is the basis for introducing an examination? Under the Act, the Council is responsible for ensuring all practitioners wanting to medical laboratory science or anaesthetic technology in New Zealand are competent and fit to practise.

The examination will be used where specific circumstances require a more detailed and objective assessment of a practitioner’s competence to practise in the profession. It will be used to establish a form of equivalence in professional competence to practise, and therefore meet the qualification requirements for registration under sections 12 and 15 of the Act.

The examination is based on the:

Competence Standards for the Practice of medical laboratory science in New Zealand (these standards are currently being finalised following a public consultation process);

Competence Standards for the Practice of anaesthetic technology in New Zealand (the proposed standards are being prepared for a public consultation process).

The examination is designed to assess a practitioner’s ability to:

Critically review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge; and

Differentiate theoretical concepts, to exercise critical thinking and judgement in identifying and solving problems; and

Use initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision-making in professional practice; and

Analyse a range of circumstances encountered in clinical practice and evaluate options to maximise patient health; and

Adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts; and

Account for professional practice and inter-professional practice

Who will be required to sit an examination? The examination may be used in a number of circumstances to determine if a practitioner has the required foundational knowledge to practise medical laboratory science or anaesthetic technology in New Zealand.

These include:

Before deciding an application for registration

Where a practitioner’s qualification is not on a list of approved or equivalent list of programmes leading to registration

Practitioners returning to practice after an extended break from practice

Where there are concerns about the safe practice of a practitioner

How will practitioners know if they have to sit an examination? The Council will advise practitioners in writing if they are required to sit an examination, inclusive of the reasons for that decision.

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What is the examination based on? The exam will be based on the Council’s Competence Standards for the Practice of Medical Laboratory Science in New Zealand, and Competence Standards for the Practice of Anaesthetic Technology in New Zealand which set the entry-level requirements medical laboratory science and anaesthetic technology practice. The standards form a part of eligibility requirements for registration. These eligibility requirements are relevant to practitioners who:

Qualified in New Zealand

Qualified overseas

Are returning to practice

Require remediation The competence standards identify the minimum knowledge, skills and professional attributes necessary for practice and it is expected that practitioners will demonstrate elements from a number of competency domains in any given circumstance. This recognises that competent professional practice is more than a sum of each discrete part but rather requires ability to draw on and integrate the breadth of competencies to support overall performance.

Competent practice requires practitioners to apply their knowledge holistically to a clinical problem and/or appropriately manage the clinical environment.

Graduates of programmes that have been accredited and/or approved by the Council as being substantially equivalent have their professional competence assessed over a number of years and in a variety of ways. For practitioners who have not completed an accredited or approved programme of study, the Council may use an examination to evaluate their ability to apply knowledge and clinical reasoning.

Competence Standards for the Practice of medical laboratory science in New Zealand As indicated above, the Competence Standards for the Practice of Medical Laboratory Science in New Zealand (finalised version in development) identify the minimum knowledge, skills and professional attributes necessary for safe practice as a medical laboratory scientist, medical laboratory technician and medical laboratory pre-analytical technician. In order to be granted registration, a medical laboratory science practitioner must be able to demonstrate these competencies.

The competencies are grouped into domains which identify elements of practice. The domains for the competencies for medical laboratory science practice are:

Domain 1: Professional and Ethical Conduct Domain 2: Communication and Collaboration Domain 3: Evidence-Based Practice and Professional Learning Domain 4: Safety of Practice and Risk Management Domain 5: Medical Laboratory Science Practice Domain 5A: Medical Laboratory Scientist Domain 5B: Medical Laboratory Technician Domain 5C: Medical Laboratory Pre-analytical Technician

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Competence Standards for the Practice of Anaesthetic Technology in New Zealand As indicated above, the Competence Standards for the Practice of Anaesthetic Technology in New Zealand (these standards are in development and will be subject to a consultation process prior to adoption) identify the minimum knowledge, skills and professional attributes necessary for safe practice as an anaesthetic technician. In order to be granted registration, an anaesthetic technician must be able to demonstrate these competencies.

The competencies are grouped into domains which identify elements of practice. The domains for the competencies for anaesthetic technology practice are:

Domain 1: Professional and Ethical Conduct Domain 2: Communication and Collaboration Domain 3: Evidence-Based Practice and Professional Learning Domain 4: Safety of Practice and Risk Management Domain 5: Anaesthetic Technician

Competent professional practice requires an ability to draw on and integrate the breadth of competencies during the usual course of practice.

Consequently an examination will investigate a practitioner’s ability to apply elements from a number of domains to gather information, establish the clinical question, consider evidence and intuit, and conclude or devise a plan to answer or resolve the clinical question.

The competency documents will be available on the Council’s website once they have been

finalised.

How is an examination delivered? An examination will be delivered through an online environment – that is, practitioners will sit at a computer terminal in an approved exam centre.

An exam is overseen by an examination supervisor or invigilator who is responsible for verifying the identification of the practitioner taking the exam and making sure the instructions specified by the Council are carried out.

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S ITTING AN EXAMINATION

An exam can only be undertaken at an exam centre that has been approved by the Council. Those exam centres are available in a number of countries.

When a practitioner registers for an examination they will be able to select an exam centre that is convenient for them. The exam centre will be advised in an email that is also sent to the practitioner, confirming the arrangements for their examination.

How will an examination be structured? The exam will be a computerised multiple choice question (MCQ) format. This form of assessment asks respondents to select the best possible answer from a selection of choices.

The exam will allow a maximum period of 3-hours (180 minutes). However exam candidates must be available for a total of 4-hours to allow for completion of registration procedures, and pre-examination and post-examination administration activities.

The exam will contain up to 200 questions that can be separated into two broad categories:

Approximately 50% of questions will pertain to practice that is relevant to a particular scope of practice:

Medical laboratory science profession:

Medical Laboratory Scientist (Domain 5A)

Medical Laboratory Technician (Domain 5B)

Medical Laboratory Pre-analytical Technician (Domain 5C)

Anaesthetic technology:

Anaesthetic Technician (Domain 5)

And

Approximately 50% of questions pertain to Domains 1 – 4 or 5 which are common competencies for all scopes of practice.

Questions are not evenly distributed across Domains. For example, in any one examination, there may be more questions from Domain 4 (safety of practice and risk management), than another domain.

Exam questions are mostly in the format of:

Single topic questions; or

A vignette or clinical scenario All questions have four options, of which one is the correct answer and three are incorrect. The correct answers are determined by the Council’s Examination Committee, with the correct answer being the best, or most correct option in the view of the committee. The Examination Committee reviews all questions for content validity and analyses their statistical reliability (this provides the basis for further question development and improvement).

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TAXONOMY The Council is currently finalising the competencies for medical laboratory science and preparing a consultation document for anaesthetic technology competencies. Once these have been completed an updated communique will be published on the taxonomy of the examination questions across all domains for each profession.

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EXAMINATION RULES

All formal examinations have rules in relation to their conduct.

Before sitting the examination candidates will be required to agree to a set of terms and conditions in respect of the examination, including keeping the content of the exam and questions confidential.

Candidates are not allowed to take into the exam centre, or to use any reference material (electronic or hard copy), during the examinations.

Mobile phones and other equipment are not allowed in the examination centre.

Access to the internet is not allowed in the examination room or in the examination waiting areas.

Professional Conduct Candidates sitting an exam are subject to the usual rules of ethical and professional conduct.

Failure to comply with the rules of an examination or any instruction of the invigilator may be regarded as a breach of professional conduct. A notification may be made against a candidate sitting an examination by any person, including an exam invigilator.

The Council regards misconduct during an examination as a serious matter. Falsifying results, fraudulent or dishonest conduct in connection with an examination has the potential for practitioners who are not qualified or otherwise competent and safe to practise, to be improperly registered. The Council will consider any allegations of misconduct by a practitioner during an examination. It may result in the candidate being denied registration. It could also involve referring the matter for a substantive investigation by a Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) with the potential for charges to be laid with the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.

Identification Requirements Examination centres require practitioners to provide two forms of identification, one of which must be a government-issued photo identification. To satisfy the identification requirements an invigilator may ask the candidate to produce additional photographic identification. Examination candidates should therefore take more than one form of photographic identification from a reputable source, to the examination centre.

Should an invigilator have a reasonable concern about a candidate’s ability to properly establish their identity or there is concern that identity documents are being misused, the candidate will be refused access to the exam. Any candidate refused access to the exam forfeits the fee they have paid to sit the exam.

Fraudulent use of identity documents is a serious matter and may be referred to the police.

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How is an Examination Scored? An examination operates as a pass/fail examination with the pass mark set to ensure practitioners adequately meet the Council’s competence standards for medical laboratory science and anaesthetic technology professions.

All questions are of equal value and there is no deduction of marks for wrong answers. Individual questions are not weighted and contribute equally to the candidate’s overall examination score.

The passing score is determined by the Council’s Examination Committee and is set at a level that ensures candidates are safe to practise. When setting the passing score the Committee considers other data, including statistical and performance data to ensure the standard that must be achieved is fair, valid and consistent with the principles and objectives of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.

The passing score may be adjusted after the conduct of an examination. As an example2 – on occasion a particular question and its answer (and/or distractors) may have been impossible to use accurately. This may be due to the grammar or expression used or, on review, there is more than one reasonable answer for a question. In these circumstances a question may be removed from the exam and marks for all candidates adjusted accordingly.

Previous Examination Papers Previous exam papers are not available.

Practice Examination A practice exam is available for practitioners who have registered and paid to sit an exam. The practice exam is a sample set of questions that provides candidates with a sense of how the exam is structured, the types and style of questions and how exam time will need to be managed.

2 Please note this example is given as an illustration only

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EXAMINATION RESULTS Examination results will be provided approximately four weeks after the candidate has sat the examination.

Failing an Examination If a candidate does not pass the exam the Council is of the general view that they are not able to apply foundational knowledge and concepts to the minimum level required for safe practice. If the Council proposes to decline an application for registration or issue of a practising certificate the applicant will have an opportunity to be heard in respect of that matter.

Special Considerations Special considerations3 may be available to candidates who are unable to sit or complete an exam due to exceptional circumstances beyond their control. Candidates may be given an opportunity to re-sit the examination at the next available date without incurring an additional exam fee.

Special considerations:

Are only accepted from eligible candidates; and

Are not approved unless, in the view of the Council’s Examination Committee there are exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the candidate; and

Must be supported by adequate evidence to satisfy the Examination Committee

Special consideration may be available when the following circumstances reasonably and materially impact on a candidate’s ability to sit an exam (whether imminently or during an exam):

Acute illness (such as hospital admission, onset or serious illness)

Loss or bereavement (e.g. death of a close family member)

Hardship or trauma (such as being a victim of crime, severe disruption to domestic life)

Unforeseen call-up for service (e.g. military service, court appearance, jury service, emergency service)

Work commitments and circumstances beyond the candidate’s control (a letter on company/organisation letterhead from an employer confirming this must be attached to the application for special consideration)

Religious convictions (a letter from a religious leader must accompany the application)

Computer malfunction at the examination centre

Bomb threat or similar such event necessitating the evacuation of the examination centre

A request for special consideration that is based on the content of the examination will not be considered.

Special consideration will not lower the pass mark, nor will it improve a candidate’s overall score. A successful application for special consideration only allows a candidate to sit (re-sit) a future examination without incurring an additional fee levied by the Council.

3 Special consideration is a means for circumventing the Council’s usual examination process

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The Council May Refuse to Grant Registration or Issue a Practising Certificate The examination is set at the minimum competencies level for safe practice in the profession. The Council may refuse a new application or an application for issue of a practising certificate for any of the following reasons.

The candidate has:

Not attempted the examination at least once in the same practising certificate period

Failed an examination on at least three occasions

Engaged in misconduct in connection with an examination

Not met all other requirements for registration or recertification under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003

Preparing for the Examination4

To prepare for the examination candidates should:

Read and understand the requirements of the Competence Standards for the Practice of Medical Laboratory Science in New Zealand, or Competence Standards for the Practice of Anaesthetic Technology in New Zealand.

Review the reading resource list and use those resources in conjunction with the relevant competence standards.

Develop a programme of revision of academic and professional literature that aims to meet the Competence Standards requirements

Attempt the practice examination

Additional Needs Candidates with a disability are able to request support to provide appropriate assistance to allow them to sit the examination. Special needs requests will need to be made to the Council by email to msc@medsci.co.nz at least 30 days in advance of a scheduled exam.

Candidates with special needs can be provided with facilities to support the following:

Mobility Condition: all exam centres have wide passages, wheelchair access, accessible toilets and adjustable desks.

Visual Impairment: the examination can be delivered with larger fonts and higher contrasting colour, and reader assistance.

Hearing Impairment: site support can be provided to ensure that invigilators can communicate instructions in a satisfactory manner.

Other Physical or Mental Impairment: other impairments, supported by appropriate documentation, are addressed case-by-case.

4 Medical laboratory science or anaesthetic technology practitioners with little or no recent study or practice

are likely to have difficulty with the examination