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International Examination Centres

FRCPath Part 2 Histopathology International Examination Centres

Call for Expressions of Interest

The Royal College of Pathologists is a professional membership organisation with more than 13,000 fellows, affiliates and trainees worldwide. We are committed to setting and maintaining professional standards and promoting excellence in the teaching and practice of pathology, for the benefit of patients. Our members include medically and veterinary qualified pathologists and clinical scientists in 17 different specialties, including cellular pathology, haematology, clinical biochemistry, medical microbiology and veterinary pathology.

The College works with pathologists at every stage of their career. We set curricula, organise training and run exams, publish clinical guidelines and best practice recommendations and provide continuing professional development. We engage a wide range of stakeholders to improve awareness and understanding of pathology and the vital role it plays in everybody’s healthcare. Working with members, we run programmes to inspire the next generation to study science and join the profession.

The College develops and delivers specialty fellowship examinations that are recognised around the world as quality benchmarks of medical and scientific knowledge and skills. Fellowship of the College (FRCPath) is a mark of professional standing and esteem. The FRCPath examinations constitute an assessment of the candidate’s knowledge of their specialty and their ability to apply that knowledge in the practice of the specialty.

The tests of theory, taken as MCQ or EMQ, short answer or essay papers in Part 1 of the examination, aim to determine whether an individual has successfully acquired a core body of knowledge that will underpin their ability to practise in their chosen specialty. The practical examinations, largely taken at Part 2, are designed to test candidates’ practical skills and understanding of the specialty and may include written tests in some specialties. They aim to show whether the candidate can apply their knowledge appropriately and safely to the practice of the specialty.

The overall aim of the examination for medical and science trainees is to provide external quality assurance that a trainee is on course to reach the standard appropriate for practice as an unsupervised specialist or practitioner in the specialty.

The College currently delivers the FRCPath Part 1 examinations globally via an online platform and the Part 2 Histopathology examination in 3 overseas centres. We are now looking to expand our roster of centres to further provide international candidates who have successfully passed the FRCPath Part 1 examination, with improved access to the College’s FRCPath Part 2 examinations.

Criteria and requirements

Essential

Location, accessibility and visa entry requirements

  • Candidates from across the region must be able to access the centre. 
  • Candidates located outside the region should be able to access the centre to sit the FRCPath Part 2 examination. 
  • The centre must be located in a country which is safe and easy for candidates and College examiners to travel independently to and around and will not create visa issues at a later date for travelling to other countries. 
  • The centre must be located in a country with a straightforward visa process for examiners, ideally where they can be obtained on arrival. 

Experience

  • The host institution must have previous experience of either successfully delivering the FRCPath Part 1 examination pre-2020 or an equivalent postgraduate higher medical specialist examination.
  • The host institution must have previous experience of involvement in delivering postgraduate medical training in the specialty.

Engagement and support of regional fellows

  • Demonstrate its willingness and ability to engage with College’s fellows within the region, including encouraging them to take on roles as College examiners.
  • Identify a College Fellow, based in the country, who would be willing to act as the College’s Local Examinations Co-ordinator (LEC) and ideally has previous experience and involvement in College examinations. The LEC will be a key point of contact for the College and will be responsible for overseeing the implementation and administration of the FRCPath Part 2 examinations.

Local promotion of the examination

  • The host institution must be able to demonstrate its willingness and ability to work with the College to market and promote the FRCPath Part 2 examinations to potential candidates both within and outside of the region. This will include establishing relationships with key stakeholders such as training institutions, pathology and laboratory medicine associations and local Fellows who could act as College examiners. 

Examination venue

  • Must be able to provide an examination venue which is of a sufficient size to comfortably accommodate the predicted number of candidates (30-40), i.e., main examination room/6-8viva rooms/examiner room/candidate waiting room.
  • Has appropriate secure storage for examination material.
  • In an appropriate location and well signposted.
  • Appropriately lit and heated/cooled.
  • Accessible to candidates with restricted mobility.
  • Capable of meeting the needs of any candidates who have had additional time agreed for their examination by the College. This will include the provision of separate or additional examination rooms.
  • The venue is within an easy commute of recommended examiner accommodation and easily accessible either by foot, taxi or public transport for candidates staying nearby.

Desirable

Engagement and support of regional fellows

  • The host institution should have local Fellows either based within the institution or within the country who have already been involved in College examinations.

Procedure

Institutions wishing to partner with the College must complete and submit an online Expression of Interest Form.

Applications from individuals without the support of an institution will not be considered.

Any supporting documentation to accompany the online form must be sent to: [email protected]. 

Any questions or requests for clarification in relation to this call should be submitted to: [email protected]

Timescale

  • Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) - Monday 4 March
  • Deadline for submission of EOI - Monday 25 March
  • Shortlisting process - Monday 22 April
  • Interviews w/c - Monday 27 May
  • Selection of institution/partner - Friday 7 June