Following the decision to defer the 2020 spring FRCPath exams due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the College’s Exams team has been working to set out a new timetable to deliver 50 FRCPath exams across 17 pathology specialities.
In May, a survey was sent to potential candidates to gauge likely candidate numbers for the upcoming exams. Over 1200 candidates across all 17 pathology specialties completed the survey, with over 70% expressing a preference to sit the exams in Autumn 2020.
The Exams team are considering alternative arrangements to deliver the exams such as video meetings for oral exams and online testing for written exams, pending regulatory approval. A number of candidates expressed concerns around travel and social distancing, and the team is carefully considering this issue going forward. The survey found that over 60% of candidates were either confident or slightly confident in their ability to take their exams in this way. There were a number of concerns expressed around the reliability and security of an online exam platform, and the team is working to ensure that the same high standards can be maintained in any alternative arrangements.
The survey feedback is currently being considered by the team and discussed as all levels within the College including the Trainees Advisory Committee. The concerns and preferences raised by candidates will be carefully considered when making arrangements and any decisions made will be with the best interests of candidates, examiners, and centre organisers in mind. All candidates will be updated as soon as a way forward has been agreed, and further information on the results of the survey can be found here.
Applications for the Autumn 2020 examination session are now open and close on Friday 3 July. Please note that if you registered for the Spring 2020 examinations and have not withdrawn, you do not need to reapply for Autumn. If you registered for Spring 2020 and do not wish to sit this Autumn, please email us to withdraw. Thank you.
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