Introduction
The Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK, in association with the Specialist Societies, has developed a programme to deliver Specialty Knowledge Based Assessments (Specialty KBAs) within the new training structure. The purpose of the Specialty KBAs is to:
- ensure that certified specialists have sufficient knowledge of their specialty to practice safely and competently as consultants;
- complement workplace-based assessments;
- provide a rigorous national assessment to establish public confidence; and
- offer a challenge similar to sub-specialty certification examination in North America.
Place of Specialty KBAs in Training
A Specialty KBA is now a compulsory component of assessment for Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) for all UK trainees whose specialist training began in or after August 2007 and is in one of the following specialties: Acute Medicine; Cardiology; Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics; Dermatology; Endocrinology and Diabetes; Gastroenterology, Geriatric Medicine; Infectious Diseases; Medical Oncology; Nephrology (Renal Medicine); Neurology; Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology.
The Specialty KBAs meet requirements for knowledge based assessments that are a part of the curricula submitted to Postgraduate Medical Education & Training Board (PMETB) by the Specialist Advisory Committees (SACs). UK trainees who have completed MRCP(UK) would normally take the Specialty KBA during higher specialist training, and should have made at least one attempt by the time of their penultimate year assessment. The Specialty KBA is a prerequisite for attainment of the CCT.
Role of Specialty KBAs
The Specialty KBAs play an essential role in the overall educational experience and continuing professional development of trainees in the United Kingdom. They also provide a professional standard against which physicians working outside the United Kingdom can measure their level of attainment. They are designed to assess a candidate’s knowledge and understanding of the clinical sciences relevant to specialist medical practice and of common or important disorders to a level appropriate for a newly appointed consultant.
The aim of the Specialty KBAs is to:
- identify those practising trainees who have acquired the necessary professional knowledge and problem-solving skills to enable them to practise independently as specialists;
- evaluate the professional competence of medical graduates during specialist training in areas such as clinical science, epidemiology and statistics.
Contact us:
For further information regarding the Specialty KBAs please contact the office at: kba.queries@mrcpuk.org