Role Description for Part 3 MRCOG Lay Examiners
Background
The Membership Examination (MRCOG), for hospital doctors wishing to specialise in obstetrics
and gynaecology, currently consists of a Part 1 written examination and Part 2 written and oral
examination. The Part 1 MRCOG and Part 2 MRCOG are held in the British Isles and in many
centres overseas.
A new Part 3 MRCOG examination will be introduced in November 2016, replacing the existing
Part 2 Oral Assessment. It will consist of a role play-style Clinical Assessment of 14 tasks and will
be held in the British Isles and at selected overseas centres in the future.
The Part 3 MRCOG Clinical Assessment aims to assess candidates’ ability to apply core clinical skills
in the context of the skills, knowledge, attitudes and competencies as defined in the Part 2
MRCOG curriculum. Further information regarding the format of the examination can be found on
the RCOG website.
With an increased emphasis on communication skills and patient safety, the Part 3 MRCOG
examination involves lay examiners assessing candidates alongside clinical examiners in 4 of the 14
tasks. Lay examiners are non-medically qualified individuals with no previous medical or clinical
training. They will assess the areas of Communication, Patient Safety and Information Gathering
from the perspective of the patient.
The Part 3 MRCOG will be held twice a year, in May and in November, usually over a period of two
days. A briefing session will take place in the afternoon on the day before each exam.
Part 3 MRCOG Lay Examiners are required to:

Attend the examiner training and selection session on one of the dates listed below

Indicate availability to examine in the Part 3 MRCOG Clinical Assessment at least once
every year

Attend the MRCOG preparation course for one day prior to examining for the first time

Attend the examiner briefing session prior to each examination (usually in the afternoon
on the day before)

Examine in the Part 3 MRCOG Clinical Assessment (usually two full days)

Award marks consistently in accordance with agreed criteria

Work professionally with co-examiners, actors and members of the examination team.

Maintain confidentiality of the examination

Demonstrate commitment to continued learning through any training updates provided by
the College

Respond in a timely manner to correspondence from the College.
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Dates of 2016 Examiner Training
Successful applicants are required to attend a training session on one of the following dates:
 Tuesday 28 June 2016

Thursday 29 September 2016
Note: Equality and Diversity training will be included as part of the training session
Representative dates of Part 3 MRCOG examination in November 2016:

Sunday 6 November 2016:

Monday 7 November 2016: Exam Day 1 (8am to 5pm)

Tuesday 8 November 2016: Exam Day 2 (8am to 5pm)
Examiner Briefing Session (4pm to 7pm)
Note: The above dates are unconfirmed and are representative only
Remuneration

A fee of £125 will be paid for each day of the examination. The training session and the
briefing session on the day before each exam will not be paid

Lay examiners will work with the College on a self-employed basis and will be required to
submit an invoice for their services following each examination session.
Expenses

Travel (within the UK) and accommodation, where required, will be organised and paid for
by the College according to the RCOG travel policy.
Further Information

Should you have any further queries about this position, please email
examiner-recruitment@rcog.org.uk
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Person Specification for Part 3 MRCOG Lay Examiners
Essential Criteria:

Not have been a registered medical or clinical practitioner in the UK or internationally

Ability to make fair, unbiased judgments in the examination setting

Ability to remain objective and dispassionate where necessary

Effective oral and written communication skills

Commitment to high levels of integrity and professional standards as an examiner

Commitment to equality and diversity

Commitment to ongoing assessment, training and development as an examiner

Commitment to improving women’s health and the clinical practice of obstetrics and
gynaecology in the British Isles and across the world
Desirable Criteria:

Evidence of active involvement in education

Experience as a lay examiner or lay representative in the medical educational context
The College welcomes applications from all sections of community. It follows fair and consistent
processes, in which recruitment decisions are made based on the abilities, merits and qualifications
of the candidates.
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