APPENDIX 1 Structure of the Primary Fellowship Examination There are 4 sections:

(a) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) - 90 questions, 3 hours This consists of approximately 30 questions in pharmacology, 30 questions in physiology and biochemistry, 20 questions in physics, clinical measurement, and 10 questions in clinical anaesthesia.

(b) Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) - This consists of 15 stations (with 1 rest stations) in approximately 2 hours. This may consist of stations in resuscitation, practical skills, anatomy including surface anatomy, history taking, physical examination, communication skills, interpretation of ECG, X-ray, biochemistry/haematology results, photographs, scans, charts, anaesthetic equipment, SimMan Simulation, monitoring equipment, measuring equipment, clinical anaesthesia and statistics.

(c) Viva examination in Physiology - 25 minutes 

(d) Viva examination in Pharmacology - 25 minutes The viva’s will be structured. They will be conducted over a 25 minutes period with two examiners in each subject. Each viva will consist of 5 x 5 minute sections.

• A candidate in the Primary Examination who does not attain the required standard in the MCQ section will not be permitted to proceed with the remaining elements of the examination.

Changes to the Primary FCA from June 2008 
1. MCQ to become a stand alone examination from June 2008 
2. Candidates with a Pass mark in MCQ are eligible to apply for OSCE/Viva section of Primary 
3. Results to hold for 3 years Max 
4. No negative marking in MCQ´s from September 2008 
5. Candidates can apply to sit the MCQ part of the examination once he/she is in an approved training post in anaesthesia.7

Appendix 1b

Marking System for the Primary Fellowship Examination

A new close marking system is used. A - Outstanding, potential medal winner B - Pass C - Marginal Fail D - Veto Fail The minimum grades necessary to pass the examination are: B, B, B, C Any candidate who obtains a D in any part of the examination will be an outright fail.8

Final FCARCSI : 

APPENDIX 2 Structure of the Final Fellowship Examination There are 5 sections: 
(a) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) - 40 MCQ's in 90 minutes, comprising of questions on Anaesthesia, Pain Management, Intensive Care Medicine, General Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy related to Anaesthesia Practice.

(b) Essay and Short Answer Question (E&SAQ) paper (all are compulsory) - 3 hours on the principles and practice of Clinical Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine.

(c) Clinical Case Viva (case study / viva exam). Case study to be read by the candidate. Followed by 30 minutes of examination discussing the case including relevant investigations.

(d) Viva 1 - Clinical Anaesthesia and Pain Management - 25 minutes. A structured viva examination is held relating to the clinical material provided, and also on Clinical Anaesthesia and Pain Management unrelated to the clinical material.

(e) Viva 2 - Intensive Care and Clinical Science - 25 minutes. A structured viva examination is held relating to Intensive Care topics followed by application of Basic Sciences to Anaesthesia.

• A candidate in the Final examination who does not attain the required standard in one or both of the written sections will not be permitted to proceed with the remaining elements of the examination.

Appendix 2b Marking System for the Final Fellowship Examination The College uses a five-point close–marking system, the marks being: 4 Outstanding Performance 3 Pass 2 Fail (Borderline) 1 Fail9

Candidates with a mark = 1 in either the MCQ section or the Essay & Short Answer Questions section will not be invited to attend the Clinical or Viva elements. The following marks are required to pass the Final FCA RCSI Examination 3, 3, 3, 3, 2 No Negative marking in the MCQ. Essay and Short Answer Question paper – ALL 10 questions must be attempted. A mark of 0 will be given for each whole question not attempted.

Overseas exam:

APPENDIX 3 COA Overseas Qualifying Exam (OQE) Exemption Exam for the FCARCSI

APPENDIX 4

Regulations for requests for counselling and conduct of appeals 1. Introduction 1.1 The College of Anaesthetists of Ireland will have a formal procedure in place to deal with an examination candidate’s requests for counselling or appeal against examination results as outlined hereunder. 1.2 A committee (The Examinations Appeals Committee) consisting of the Chairman of the Examination Committee, the Chairman of the appropriate examination and the Examinations Officer will consider every request for counselling, or request for appeal formally made. 1.3 The process cannot be invoked if the examination candidate has initiated legal proceedings. 1.4 A fee will apply to requests for appeal. No fee applies to requests for counselling. 1.5 Requests for counselling or appeal will be conducted under these regulations.

2. Regulations for requests for counseling

2.1 Requests for counselling must be submitted on the appropriate form by the candidate to whom the request relates within thirty calendar days of the publication of results of the examination in question. Forms are available from, and should be submitted to, the Examinations Officer, College of Anaesthetists RCSI, 22 Merrion Square North, Dublin. 2.2 The Examinations Officer or deputy will inform the chairman of the Examination Committee and the chairman of the appropriate examination of the request within ten working days of receipt of the formal request. 2.3 The Appeals Committee will arrange a meeting between the candidate and an experienced examiner (the counsellor) to discuss the candidate’s results. 2.4 The candidate must supply the counsellor with full information.12

2.5 The candidate will travel to the counsellor at a mutually agreed time and date. 2.6 A record of the meeting will be maintained by the college. 2.7 The college counsellor may communicate with the candidate’s trainers any advice/recommendations discussed. 3. Regulations for the conduct of appeals 3.1 Candidates may not appeal against the academic judgment of the examiners. However, appeals will be considered where a candidate has reason to believe that: 3.1.1 There may have been an error in the collation of marks. 3.1.2 There may have been an irregularity in the conduct of the examination. 3.1.3 The College may have failed to take into account extenuating circumstances of which it had been informed prior to the examination. 3.1.4 The College may have failed to make allowance for unusual examination conditions. 3.1.5 Unlawful discrimination against the candidate may have occurred. 3.1.6 Malpractice in the marking of the candidate’s examination may have occurred. 3.2 The appeal process will proceed in three stages: 3.2.1 Submission of request for appeal. 3.2.2 Decision on admissibility of the appeal. 3.2.3 Formal hearing of the appeal, if admissible. 3.3 Submission of request for appeal 3.3.1 Formal requests for appeal must be submitted on the appropriate form by the candidate to whom the request relates within thirty calendar days of the publication of results of the examination in question. Forms are available from, and should be submitted to, the Examinations Officer, College of Anaesthetists of Ireland. All supporting evidence, which the candidate wishes to rely upon in the appeal, should be enclosed.

3.3.2 On receipt of a request for appeal, the Examinations Officer or deputy will acknowledge receipt of the form, and inform the chairman of the Examination Committee and the chairman of the appropriate examination of the request within ten working days of receipt of the formal request. The chairman of the Examination Committee will call a meeting of the Appeals Committee.

13

3.3.3 The Appeals Committee will consult and consider the admissibility of the appeal. If the appeal is considered inadmissible, the candidate will be informed immediately, setting out the reasons for rejecting the appeal (see clause 3.1). 3.3.4 If a candidate identifies valid reasons that his/her rejected appeal (under clause 3.3.3.) may be legitimate, he/she should send full details to the College Council within 30 days of the date of issue of the rejection letter. College Council will review the case and may either direct the Examinations Committee to allow the appeal to proceed or confirm that the appeal is inadmissible. College Council’s decision in this regard is final. 3.4 Formal hearing of appeal

3.4.1 If the appeal is considered admissible, the Examinations Officer will inform the appellant that the appeal is to progress, and request payment of €750.00 to convene an Appeals Panel. College Council will also be informed that the appeal is admissible.

3.4.2 The Appeals Committee will set up an Appeals Panel to conduct the appeal.

3.4.3 The appeal will not be referred to the Appeals Panel until the appropriate fee has been received.

3.4.3 The appellant must submit any additional further evidence that the appellant may rely on and the fee of €750.00 to the CAI within 30 calendar days of the date of issue of the confirmation letter. No evidence will be accepted after this 30-day period.

3.4.4 On receipt of the appropriate fee, the chairman of the examinations committee will activate the appeals panel which will be made up as follows:

§ A Chairperson

§ Three examiners who were not involved in the examining the appellant in the examination under appeal

§ An extern examiner

§ Legal adviser

§ An Appeals Panel Secretary, to minute the meeting but not to participate in the decision

3.4.6 The Appeals Panel Secretary will inform the appellant of the names of the panel and date, time and location of the hearing, giving at least four weeks notice to the appellant.14

3.4.7 The Appeals Panel will consider all admissible documentation and written statements from all those involved, and may call witnesses if appropriate. The appellant will have an opportunity to present his or her case, in person or through a representative. 3.5 Outcome of the appeal 3.5.1 The Appeals Panel will deliberate in private and may make findings as follows:

§ The appeal is dismissed

§ The appeal is upheld

3.5.2 In the event of the appeal being dismissed, if the appellant has evidence that the appeal was conducted unfairly, they may make representations to the College Council, who will review the case. The College Council may rule that the hearing was fair or order a second panel, with a different membership, to hear the case afresh. The Council’s decision in this regard will be final.

3.5.3 If the appeal is upheld the grounds on which the appeal is successful will be defined and the Appeals Panel will make recommendations based on these grounds. The Council of the College will consider these recommendations. College Council will instigate appropriate action in response to the recommendations.

3.5.4 If it can be proven that the candidate scored the marks required to pass but was not credited with them through administrative or other error, the result may be declared void and the candidate awarded a pass.

3.5.5 For the avoidance of doubt, it is open to the Appeals Panel to make recommendations, under regulation 3.5.3 above, which do not include the altering of the mark given to the candidate in respect of the result under appeal.

3.5.6 The Appeals Panel Secretary will inform the appellant of the outcome of the hearing.

3.5.6 In all cases of a successful appeal altering the result of an examination the appeal fee shall be refunded.

15