At 19:31 18/12/2004, you wrote:
>There is a positive side to taking exams to reacredit. Having just had to
>go through the exam process to stay working in Canada (three stages of exams
>to pass the Medical Council of Canada licencing requirements, which was
>mandatory, and the Certificate of Canadian Family Practice, which is like
>MRCGP and was voluntary for me though not for new Canadian GPs) I can say:
>
>1. Having to sit exams at age 44 is certainly somewhat anxiety inducing
>2. Having to revise for multiple choice exams certainly increased my
>knowledge base and has helped my practice in my opinion
>3. Having to think about taking a 14 station clinical exam (LMCC) and a
>further 5 station MRCGP-type OSCE (CCFP) is tough
>
>Passing the exams (I got the final result yesterday - yippee) has led to a
>sense of revitalisation and confidence in what one I'm doing. Speaking
>personally, at mid-career I felt uncertain that I was up-to-date enough in
>my practice. Having to study for exams certainly forced me to ensure that I
>was and in a way that the planned GMC revalidation would not. Whether I
>_am_ a better doctor than I was two years ago _because_ of having to take
>the exams I do not know for certain. I think I probably am.
>
>Overall I think that resitting exams is the only way to reaccredit us, but I
>admit that doing it every five years would be time-consuming and worrying.
>
>Jonathan
Jonathan,
Congratulations (on a not unexpected result).
As you say there are compensations, and in any case something is inevitable.
Julian
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