How to become a CASC examiner

To apply to become a CASC examiner, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must have held a substantive consultant or equivalent post in any psychiatric speciality for at least one year.
• You must be fully registered with the General Medical Council or the Irish Medical Council.
• You must have a licence to practice in the UK/Ireland.
• You must be a current member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, having passed the MRCPsych examination.
• You must be registered, and be in good standing for CPD.
• You must be a practising psychiatrist.
• You must not be involved in any commercial courses or have any conflicts of interest as advised by the College’s Statement of Conflict of Interests.
• It is desirable but not essential, that applicants are currently involved in the formal teaching of medical students and/or psychiatric trainees
• Experience of writing examination questions or examining at OSCE type examinations is particularly welcome, either at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
  

If selected to become a CASC examiner, the successful candidate(s) must adhere to the following requirements:

• You must abide by the Examiners Code of Conduct.
• You must attend a one-day training and assessment course for CASC examining.
• You must rate training videos at induction to a satisfactory standard.
• You must shadow an examiner for one day at the CASC before examining candidates.
• You must be able to attend at least one session of Examiner Refresher Training every two years, which includes Equality and Diversity training.
• You should be prepared to participate in examining the Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competencies (CASCs) at least once a year. Adequate prior notice of CASC dates will be given.
• You should be able to commit to serving as a member of the Board of Examiners for a period of seven years.
• You must agree not to disclose any information that one may obtain about the examination by virtue of one’s position as a Member of the Board of Examiners to anyone external to the Board.
• You must be engaged in Medical Appraisal and be revalidated.
• You must agree to stand down from the Board if, during one’s period of appointment, circumstances change making one unable to meet any one of the eligibility criteria:
  • Examiners who retire from clinical practice whilst a member of the Examination Board can continue to examine for one year, post-retirement.
  • Examiners who leave a substantive post and take up a locum position must demonstrate continued involvement in training or medical education, in order to remain on the Board.
• You must agree to inform the Chief Examiner of any circumstances, such as ill-health or suspension, which could affect one’s ability to be an examiner or call into question the good standing of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and its examining procedure.