MRCP(UK) PACES examining

The PACES exam (Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills) is the practical component to the MRCP(UK) Examination. It assesses essential skills such as identifying physical skills, communication skills and patient welfare in a clinical setting.

Become a PACES examiner

In order to maintain the high standards of the exam, we are looking for experienced physicians to get involved with examining and supporting PACES.

Becoming an examiner can add an extra perspective to your career: examining is an excellent source of CPD points, and is recognised by most NHS trusts as a supporting professional activity for consultant staff, which will add to your revalidation portfolio.

By becoming a PACES examiner you will be supporting the RCP in its work in maintaining high standards of medical practice and the continual improvement of patient care. Fellows also value the opportunity to share the company and knowledge of other examiners, and find the work rewarding.

Responsibilities and duties of PACES examiners

Hear from some of our current PACES examiners

Dr Indranil Chakravorty

Consultant in acute and respiratory medicine, St George's Hospital and Medical School; SW London MDECS sector lead for CMT

One of the cornerstones of medical training and practice and a zone of calm in this decade of turmoil has been the RCP and its long honoured institution of the MRCP(UK). Being a member of the college for many years and recently elected as a fellow gave a new dimension to being a doctor and one of the rare and most coveted privileges turned out to be ‘becoming a PACES examiner’. As a PACES examiner, I have re-discovered the value that passing the MRCP(UK) brings to a trainee doctor and the consistency of the standard that is upheld by an army of similar thinking fellow consultants from different parts of the country and world that makes MRCP(UK) probably the most valued and internationally recognised medical diploma.

The entire experience of training in medicine and practising as a qualified doctor has undergone a series of metamorphoses over the last decade and many of us have either marvelled at the changes, embraced them with enthusiasm, struggled to adapt, pined for what is lost and wondered when all this will stabilise.

In addition to the joys of seeing excellent trainees perform well under pressure and taking pride in the quality of their training, a hidden pleasure is interacting with other dedicated consultant colleagues who gladly give up their personal time in fulfilling their moral duty towards the future of medical education and training. When economic turmoil and a shrinking healthcare budget threatens many things we value in medical training and practice, at least for the near future examining for MRCP(UK) remains a shining beacon of what we should continue to cherish. I would gladly recommend this to all fellows of the RCP.

Dr Graeme Dewhurst

Consultant Physician with responsibility for the Elderly and Stroke, St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester

Dr Fiona Clarke

Consultant rheumatologist, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough and tutor on the Masters in Clinical Education course, Newcastle University

Dr Peter Newman

Consultant neurologist, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough

Eligibility

To be considered for appointment as a PACES examiner, you must:

Hold MRCP(UK) (desirable)
(UK only) Be a Collegiate Member or Fellow in good standing of one of the Royal College of Physicians of the UK
(Non-UK only) Hold Fellowship of one of the UK colleges of physicians and be in good standing
Be GMC registered with a licence to practise and in good standing (or regulatory equivalent in country of practice)
Have been involved with physicians in training within the last two years
(UK only) Participate in revalidation, including annual appraisal in current post, and adhere to CPD requirements
(UK only) Have undergone equality and diversity training within the past three years
Be interested in, but not necessarily expert in, medical assessment
Be a Collegiate Members who has achieved the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be on the specialist register, and be in a substantive consultant post.

Five years on, I still find the work rewarding.

Dr Fiona Clarke

Consultant rheumatologist and PACES examiner

Examiner commitment

Those who meet the criteria to become an examiner will be required to successfully complete PACES examiner training and commit to examine at least six cycles (30 candidates) per annum (averaged over two years), ie a minimum of 2/3 days of examining per year.

Once appointed, examiners must abide by the PACES examiner code of conduct and maintain adherence to the eligibility criteria. You will be asked to confirm this on an annual basis via the MRCP(UK) clinician census. Examiners must also be familiar with the 'Responsibilities and duties of examiners' document, which can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

If you are unable to take part in the required number of cycles over two years, you will be asked to refresh your examiner training.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying to become a PACES Examiner, please email examinerservices@rcplondon.ac.uk for further information on the application process and for future application period dates.