Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists

Training Programs of Excellence:Institution or Individual

12th July 2013

Dr Mark Owen and Dr Peter BennettTraining & Credentials Committee

Board of Examiners

• Training & Credentials Committee Dr T Muurlink, K Briscoe, P Bennett, G Musk

• Review of Training Program Documents• Continual review of Training requirements• Modified Activity Log Summary – reduced

reporting requirements without compromising integrity of program

• Driven by Chapters• Wish to provide Programs of Excellence

Training Programs of Excellence

• Institution or Individual ?

Aims of Training Programs

• Prepare a candidate for Fellowship examination

• Achieve the minimum requirement for specialist registration

• Train specialists in the relevant field

Do Programs Achieve Their Role?

• Candidates pass the examination

• Candidates can register as a specialist

• How do you assess someone working as a specialist?

Reviewing Programs

• Submission of a proposal by an individual that is scrutinised by TCC

• Approval of an institution to train individuals in nominated specialities

• Combination of both

Approving the Institution

• Candidate’s perspective– Less paperwork initially– When applies for position knows approved– No difference in case log requirements– No difference in publication requirements– Annual reports submitted to college– If program altered can be placed on probation, but

does not affect candidate unless no supervisor

Approving the Institution

• Supervisor/Institution’s perspective– More paperwork– Increased appeal to resident candidates– Requirement to maintain minimum staffing levels– Scrutiny by the college• Annual reports• Visits• Review of examination pass rates

Approving the Institution

• College/BoE/TCC’s perspective– More detailed and formulaic guidelines– Regular review of guidelines and programs– Monitoring of adherence to program• Site visits• Review of outcomes

– Increase in efficiency when large numbers of candidates

Approving the Individual

• Candidate’s perspective– More paperwork initially– Option of alternative program– When accepts offer of position does not know if

program will be approved– No change case log requirement– No change publication requirement– Annual reports to college– Continuation reliant on presence of supervisor

Approving the individual

• Supervisor/Institution’s perspective– Less paperwork – Less scrutiny by college– Less attractive to resident applicant– More flexibility with staffing as long as approved

by college

Approving the Individual

• College/BoE/TCC’s perspective– More paperwork to review (candidate numbers)– Less efficient for large numbers– Guidelines can be a bit less rigorous– Regular review of guidelines– How to assess program?• Outcomes are individual• Site visits?

Which Meets the Aims Best?

• No clear answers• Both have good and bad• Neither allows assessment of long term

outcomes of candidates• Large numbers tend to force into institutional

approval• Is a blend the best option?