The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7261 p175
9 August 2003

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  The new contract
  Methotrexate
  Tablet crushing
  Registration exam
  The Society
  CPD

Letters to the Editor

Registration exam

Time to abolish the registration examination

From Mr J. P. Lincoln, MRPharmS

I have been a preregistration tutor for many years, well before the inception of the registration examination. Since its introduction, I am finding that the last three to four months of the preregistration year are now clouded by anxiety instead of being part of a beneficial learning experience for both student and tutor.

This is a plea on behalf of preregistration trainees for the abolishment of this unnecessary torture at the end of a year that is a steep learning curve, in which they not only have to put professional theory into practice but also, certainly in community practice, have to learn how to manage a busy retail establishment and staff.

Surely it is time for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society to rely, once again, on the professional integrity of preregistration tutors. Competence should be judged on the impression built up over the time of working together, much like the old system of master and apprentice, not on how much can be crammed into one's brain and regurgitated in the short period of the registration examination. That way leads to exceptional theoretical, but not necessarily practical and competent, pharmacists.

All our work with trainees through the preregistration year to instil a sense of professional pride and competence in their work stands or falls on their ability to negotiate an examination. It used to fall on the tutor to declare that his or her trainee was a fit and proper person to be registered. This reflected on the tutor's reputation and those giving false or misleading declarations could, rightly and properly, be investigated as to their ability to be a tutor and possibly even to practise. Ensuring tutors are competent becomes easier with the advent of continuing professional development since those who cannot be bothered to keep abreast of new developments in their profession surely discount themselves from the role of teaching and training others and, indeed, practising.

As well as causing stress for trainees, the current system feels like an insult to my own professional ability and competence. I hope I am not the only tutor who feels this way.

Jeff Lincoln
London N21

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