Coronavirus POSTPONES ALL Royal College Exams

[Confused Resident]

So as we all know the Royal College has been flip flopping on exams this year. I completely understand the huge wrench Coronavirus has thrown into things, but I'm finding it extremely difficult to study not knowing what is going on. Also, our protected study time immediately before the exam is likely going to get taken back as residents are pulled to areas of need.

 

A week ago people were saying it was an overreaction to postpone exams. Now I am wondering how they can even be thinking about not postponing. Most (all?) of the American boards have been pushed to Fall. Canadian Family Medicine exams seem to be doing the same. And yet I might be writing on April? And they're only going to give us one month notice? 

 

To make things worse, it sounds like they might keep the written exams as is and push the orals back to the Fall. How is this not the worst idea? You'll have to start studying again after such a long gap.

 

What does everyone else think? Anyone heard any rumors about how things might go? 

 

Well, it seems all exams are postponed to the Fall. Wow.

[rmorelan]

not sure at about all exams but radiology just got pushed to the fall. 

That is going to have so many implications and added stress. I am still processing the change - I cannot imagine being forced to endlessly study with no clear end point. It is truly hard to tell someone how bad studying for those exams are (closest I can think of imagine studying for your final exams in hard university courses that you really have to do well in - except that stress and process never ends for an entire year. Or now more than a year)

[omentum]

3 minutes ago, rmorelan said:

not sure at about all exams but radiology just got pushed to the fall. 

That is going to have so many implications and added stress. I am still processing the change - I cannot imagine being forced to endlessly study with no clear end point. It is truly hard to tell someone how bad studying for those exams are (closest I can think of imagine studying for your final exams in hard university courses that you really have to do well in - except that stress and process never ends for an entire year. Or now more than a year)

I always hear how bad studying for Royal College Exams are...it makes me question thinking of pursuing a 5 year specialty tbh 

[islam620]

http://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/documents/about/update-coronavirus-e

 

This is absolutely terrible and unfair. The implications of having the stress and having to study into ?independent practice as well as taking unpaid study and exam leave is terrible. There should have been further advocacy by programs and program directors to look more closely in alternative licensing options. 

[rmorelan]

36 minutes ago, omentum said:

I always hear how bad studying for Royal College Exams are...it makes me question thinking of pursuing a 5 year specialty tbh 

I am not saying the family medicine exam is that much easier ha - all these exams suck, but it that intense studying that actually makes people in the end know their stuff. 

[rmorelan]

11 minutes ago, islam620 said:

http://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/documents/about/update-coronavirus-e

 

This is absolutely terrible and unfair. The implications of having the stress and having to study into ?independent practice as well as taking unpaid study and exam leave is terrible. There should have been further advocacy by programs and program directors to look more closely in alternative licensing options. 

I will say the college is can be quite rigid in their approach to things. This is how I expected them to deal with it really. 

[blah1234]

2 hours ago, omentum said:

I always hear how bad studying for Royal College Exams are...it makes me question thinking of pursuing a 5 year specialty tbh 

It was the worst year of my life and I was a professional before medicine too. I really think the exam should be adjusted to be more considerate with how difficult this year is given COVID19.

[omentum]

27 minutes ago, blah1234 said:

It was the worst year of my life and I was a professional before medicine too. I really think the exam should be adjusted to be more considerate with how difficult this year is given COVID19.

Ya the way people describe how bad it is studying for it makes it not worth it to me 

I actually can't imagine studying for a whole year straight - I would crumble under pressure I think

[ellorie]

Catastrophic. I have no idea if I still have a job. I am still waiting for my contract and now I won’t be able to practice independently. I have no idea how the system will be functioning in July - the CPSO will have to review an unprecedented number of applications for supervised practice. Could be out of work for months while they process it. Might have to leave my ongoing outpatients without care for an indeterminate period of time.  I have no idea if they’ll be issuing billing numbers or how the hospital will be doing with approving applications for privileges. If I even still have a job when services are shutting down and redistributing. 
 

The implications of this are just catastrophic for all of us. 

[Confused Resident]

I agree this is extremely disruptive to our long made plans.

 

I think we need to keep a bit of perspective, though. I really don't think there were any "great" options for the RC. And Coronavirus is going to have a much larger effect on many, many people than a delay of exams.

 

Anyhow, I would now like to see the RC and programs pour their energies into figuring out how to help graduating residents move ahead. What are they going to do to advocate for our temporary licenses, etc.? 

[islam620]

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfC63jV31Ptd5iMuktc98Av9G_a5vmtHDTEuvWEEGO8C8s71g/viewform?fbclid=IwAR0thDfzGotNM0uC9z_UBEOMmdILUiTMzVaVFr3UDRS72e8cz5if2vAheIo

 

Really great to see a PD advocating on resident's behalf, hopefully will see some creative solutions from this 

[Confused Resident]

6 hours ago, islam620 said:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfC63jV31Ptd5iMuktc98Av9G_a5vmtHDTEuvWEEGO8C8s71g/viewform?fbclid=IwAR0thDfzGotNM0uC9z_UBEOMmdILUiTMzVaVFr3UDRS72e8cz5if2vAheIo

 

Really great to see a PD advocating on resident's behalf, hopefully will see some creative solutions from this 

I saw this... I think it's a bit of a long shot, to be honest. But... who knows.

[LostLamb]

This might be the year to do a fellowship year, so at least you have an income and potential to take some vacation to study...

I feel for all the final year royal college specialty residents. Horrible position to be in!

 

For what it's worth, I signed the petition. These are exceptional times we are in, we need to make exceptional decisions.

[ChemPetE]

I had absolutely no qualms about signing the petition. Doctors are about to face a COVID shitstorm, and I don’t think it is humane to indefinitely postpone certification and have this looming while dealing with the pandemic. We need these specialists to be able to go out and provide care to their communities now, and not half-assed. Their mental faculties will already be stretched to the limit as new staff and with COVID demands. The studying was basically done, but the opportunity is now lost for them to prove it with a local exam, written and/or OSCE. 6 months from now? Take their program director’s recommendation, pass them, and think about planning for virtual exams in the future. 

[LostLamb]

My argument exactly. 
if the program is doing its job and your PD is willing to sign off on your FITER, you ought to have a Very high likelihood of a pass. 
 

I feel worse for those trying to do the exams who did not do residency here and hoped this was their door to starting Canadian practise. 

current circumstances will fast forward more innovative testing and examination strategies being put in place. I think it’s a good thing.