How to become a CASC examiner

CASC online has worked well since it first launched in September 2020. Over 2,000 candidates have taken the online CASC and over 99% of candidates successfully completed their exams.

The format of the CASC exam is that candidates complete two circuits, each of eight stations (plus one rest station). In each station, you will encounter a candidate, an invigilator and a roleplayer.

In a face to face exam, the candidate and roleplayer would be in the room with you so that you can see the candidate and evaluate their performance.

In the online exam, all of this will be done by video. You will see all four participants in the same window.

Before the exam, we will provide you with a chance to try out the live system, so that you can have a brief practice, check your connection and feel confident in your ability to use the system.

Most examiners choose to examine from home or their workplace, whichever is more convenient.

To find out more about examining in the remote CASC take a look at the examiners’ CASC exam guide.

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.