Taking the Qualifying Examination -
Part II (OSCE)
Registration and Sign-in Procedures
When you arrive for the examination, you will be admitted only at the time indicated on your PEBC Identification / Card of Admission. You must report to the registration desk at the examination location to register.
• Present your PEBC Identification / Card of Admission to the registration desk.
• Your PEBC ID / Card of Admission will be exchanged for an exam Identification Badge, which you must wear throughout the examination. When you hand in your Identification Badge (at sign-out), your ID / Card of Admission will be returned to you. Please keep this as your receipt for the examination fee, as it will not be re-issued.
• Hand in all personal belongings for storage when you arrive.
• Please leave all texts and reference materials at home; storage space is limited and references are provided in the stations.
• Items that you may keep with you are: a snack (in a clear plastic bag or see-through container, with all packaging removed) and materials provided by PEBC at registration.
At registration, you will also be given:
• a personalized Candidate Notebook for use in the examination (e.g., for making notes when interviewing patients and doing simple calculations)
• a sheet of bar code labels (attached to the back cover of your Notebook)
• two copies of the Candidate’s Agreement, which you must read and sign prior to entering the examination area (one copy will be returned to you just before leaving the examination)
• a pencil with eraser tip
Examination staff will then give a brief orientation to explain the procedures for the day and escort you to the examination area.
Using Bar Code Labels
The bar code labels attached to your Candidate Notebook identify your PEBC Identification number. You will be instructed to check that you have received the correct bar code labels, place one bar code on your PEBC Identification Badge and then sign your Candidate Notebook cover, verifying that your set of bar code labels matches the PEBC Identification number on your Identification Badge and the label on your Candidate Notebook cover.
You will also be instructed to attach one bar code label to both copies of your signed Candidate’s Agreement.
As you enter each station, give one bar code label to the assessor present or, in stations, where there is no assessor, place one label on your answer sheet provided for the station. This bar code labelling is necessary to ensure that you receive credit for your performance in each station. In some stations you will be required to give one barcode label to the assessor (or health professional that is present) and place one on the answer sheet found in the station.
The original bar code label sheet with all unused bar code labels should not be detached from your Candidate Notebook (which is to be turned in during Sign-out).
Exam Stations
The examination consists of 16 “stations” or tasks to be completed. Each station is set up in a different room. Each station is furnished with a table or desk, chairs, and the materials and references required to complete the task. A “patient record” or other clinical records may be provided in the station. You may need to interview the patient (or health professional or client) to obtain necessary information.
Each station consists of a short task or problem that may be completed in 7 minutes. You will not be required to complete a complex scenario. For example, you may be instructed to perform only specific components of the pharmaceutical care/dispensing process (e.g., take a medication history, evaluate the appropriateness of the prescription, resolve a drug-related problem, check dispensed medication, counsel, and/or provide follow-up).
Instructions for each station are posted outside the station, to read as you wait for the signal to enter and begin. (The same instructions are also provided inside the station.)
Some interactive stations may contain a small selection of non-prescription medications, a medication device, and/or a labelled prescription container to help you complete the station task. When medications are provided in the station, you must select from those provided if you want to recommend self-treatment with a non-prescription medication. These packages and vials may not have any actual drug product in them, unless the station task requires that the product be checked. Also, disregard all expiry dates on station medication materials.
Please read the instructions provided at each station very carefully.
Some candidates’ station interactions with one or two Standardized Patients/Health Professionals/Clients may be videotaped, for PEBC’s use, for quality assurance purposes. The Candidate’s Agreement (see page 21) includes acknowledgement of this procedure.
Timing
In addition to the examination stations, there are several rest stations (see below). The stations are numbered starting with 1, 2, 3, etc. You will start the examination at either an examination station or a rest station, then you will follow through all stations in numeric order.
You will have 7 minutes in each station. A buzzer system is used to signal the beginning and the end of the 7-minute period. There is also a signal given to indicate that you have only 2 minutes left to complete the station. You are to remain in the station for the full 7 minutes, even if you have completed the station early. The timing is coordinated so that you and the other candidates will have another two minutes to move to your next station, read the instructions, and re-focus on a new task.
| Note: Candidates must adhere to the time signals. Those who disrupt the examination process by not following instructions may be removed from the examination. |
Interactive Stations
Twelve or thirteen stations are interactive and will involve one of the following:
• a “Standardized Patient” (SP)
• a “Standardized Client” (SC), [e.g., a parent or caregiver] or
• a “Standardized Health Professional” (SHP) [e.g., a physician or nurse]
The SP or SC or SHP (see below) is a person trained to present a typical problem or request. You are expected to respond as you would in practice. An assessor is present to observe and record your responses on a scoring sheet.
In some stations, there may be more than one assessor, which is for examination quality assurance purposes. In some stations, SPs may also fill in a scoring sheet (also for quality assurance purposes).
Upon entering the station, hand one of your bar code labels to the assessor (or to each one if there are two assessors present). Take a quick look at the materials and references available for your use in the interaction.
You may choose to sit or stand when interacting with the SP/SC, positioning yourself where you prefer to be in relation to the SP/SC, as you would in practice. You may notice that some SPs/SCs will not shake your hand if you offer to shake hands with them when you greet them. Some SPs avoid hand-shaking with anyone to minimize the possibility of transmitting a virus, so it may be best that you do not offer to shake hands with the SP/SC when you greet them.,
You may use the references provided at any time during the interaction. Keep in mind that you have 7 minutes in total for each station, including any time that you spend using the references.
Within 20 seconds after you enter the station, the SP/SC/SHP will enter and seek your assistance. You are expected to respond as you would in practice. When the interaction is finished, the SP/SC/SHP will leave the station, even if it is before the 7-minute signal. Once that happens, the SP/SC/SHP CANNOT be asked to return for further consultation. Otherwise, the interaction must end at the 7-minute signal.
In some Standardized Health Professional stations, the SHP will stay in the station for the whole time – from before you enter and for the entire 7 minute duration. In these stations, the SHP is available to consult at any time.
Standardized Patients/Clients (SP/SCs)
“Standardized patients” (SPs) and “standardized clients” (SCs) are lay persons who follow a written script and are well-trained to present the station scenarios and to respond to candidates’ questions or advice in a consistent way. The interaction is designed to support the station objectives and to ensure that the scenario presentation does not change from candidate to candidate. Some information may be volunteered by the SP/SC or provided on the patient record/profile. You may ask the SP/SC for any additional information you need in order to plan your response.
Standardized Health Professionals (SHPs)
“Standardized health professionals” (SHPs) are health professionals who follow a written script and are well-trained to present a scenario and/or respond to any concerns/questions you may have about a new prescription. The SHP is only present in one, two or three stations, to provide an opportunity for dialogue regarding any drug-related problems or for sharing information.
Assessors
Assessors are pharmacists who are trained to observe and evaluate your responses. Assessors use standardized scoring criteria and evaluation forms (scoring sheets). There will usually be one assessor in each station. An additional assessor may be present in some stations. These assessment procedures are designed to ensure that the evaluation is objective and is based on examination criteria. The assessor is instructed NOT to interact with the candidates. If you have any questions, you should direct them to examination staff, NOT to the assessors.
Non-interactive Stations
There will be three or four stations that do not involve an SP/SC or SHP. These non-interactive stations require you to respond in writing (e.g., to identify errors or problems on prescriptions, answer a drug information request, etc.). Before entering the station, read the Candidate Instructions posted outside the station, take one Candidate Answer Sheet from the folder marked "For Candidates Only" on the door or wall outside of the station, and attach one bar code label to the Candidate Answer Sheet in the space indicated. When the start buzzer sounds, enter the station, find the station materials on the desk / table and begin immediately. Do the exercise, writing or marking your answers clearly on the Candidate Answer Sheet, as instructed. When the final buzzer sounds, stop writing immediately, turn your Candidate Answer Sheet over on the desk/table, for collection by examination staff. Proceed to the next station, taking your notebook (with bar codes) with you.
Notes:
It is your responsibility to place your bar code label in the designated space and properly complete the answer sheet within the allotted time.
Do NOT write in, or in any way mark, the reference materials provided in the stations.
Stop writing immediately and leave the station when the final buzzer sounds. Do not remove any of the materials.
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Pretest Stations
One of the 16 stations is being "pretested" for possible use in future examinations. Your responses in this station are recorded for station evaluation purposes and are not used to calculate your score. You will not know which station is the pretest station.
Rest Stations and Mid-session Break
Half-way through the examination there will be a 20-minute break for SPs and Assessors. During this mid-session break you are required to remain in the station you just completed. Water and snacks will be offered to you by examination staff.
There will also be four or five 7-minute “rest” stations, some before the mid-session break and some after. Drinking water will be available during these rest stations. You are advised to bring a snack (in a clear plastic bag or see-through container, with all packaging removed) which may be eaten during a rest station.
During these 7-minute rest stations, you may ask for permission from the examination staff to use the washroom facilities. Only one person can leave at a time. During the longer mid-session break, you may use the washroom only in an emergency (as assessors and SPs/SCs/SHPs are given priority during this break).
Notes: You may NOT leave an examination station/room and return.
You are permitted to use the washroom facilities only during rest stations and only if accompanied by an examination staff person.
Please maintain the cleanliness of the rest stations and washrooms for the benefit of all.
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Sign-out Procedures and Dismissal
Once all 16 stations are completed, examination staff will escort you to the Sign-out area where you will be given at least 15 minutes to complete and hand in your Candidate Feedback Questionnaire, provided to you at that time. After completing and handing in the questionnaire, you will be directed to sign out.
At Sign-out you will be required to:
• hand in your completed Candidate Feedback Questionnaire
• turn in your Identification Badge / badge holder in exchange for your ID / Card of Admission (official receipt)
• return your Candidate Notebook with attached bar code sheet, with no pages missing
• hand in all other materials used during the examination including your snack bag (if applicable)
• sign the register to indicate that you have completed all 16 stations in accordance with examination procedures and returned all examination materials
• if required, wait for a short time (be sequestered) under examination conditions and rules, if you are instructed to do so by examination staff**
• retrieve your personal belongings when officially dismissed and permitted to leave
**In some locations, you will be required to wait (be sequestered) for up to 1 hour before leaving. This is done to ensure that candidates entering the second sitting (at the same centre or at other centres) are admitted before candidates leave the first sitting. During this sequestering time, all examination regulations continue to be in effect: you are not to converse with other candidates, write on anything, use a telephone or leave the waiting area unless escorted.
Leaving the Examination
You must leave the examination centre promptly when instructed to do so.
You may
NOT re-enter the examination centre once you leave.
You are not allowed to remain on site or re-enter to wait for rides, use washrooms or telephones, or for any other reason.
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