Sitting the Divisional Clinical Examination
While preparing for the exam, you’re still required to meet your AT program requirements, including work-based assessments.
If you’re approved for pAT, you must sit the exam on the postponed date for the 2020 cohort in late 2020/early 2021. You’ll be able to re-sit the exam later in 2021 if you don’t pass.
If you're not applying for or in pAT, but were eligible to sit the 2020 DCE, you’re encouraged to sit the first DCE in late 2020/early 2021. Alternatively, you can choose to wait and sit later in the year with the 2021 cohort instead.
If you pass the Divisional Written Examination in 2021, you’re not eligible to sit the DCE in late 2020/early 2021.
All trainees have been granted a 12-month extension to complete their current training program.
Special considerations
When you apply for pAT, you’re making a commitment to sit the first available DCE in late 2020/early 2021.
Some trainees may be unable to keep this commitment due to unforeseen exceptional circumstances at the time of (or just prior to) the DCE. In these circumstances, the Special Consideration for Assessment policy (PDF) applies.
Exceptional circumstances covered in the policy include:
- Temporary impairments: acute medical condition or serious injury that may cause substantial disruption to your preparation or performance during the exam or prevent you from attending the exam.
- Non-medical compassionate grounds or serious disruption: situations that may cause substantial disruption to your preparation or performance during the exam or prevent you from attending the exam.
If a special consideration is granted, the pAT completed up to the date of the first available DCE in late 2020/early 2021 can be considered by the relevant supervising AT Committee. Further AT time after this date will not be considered under any circumstances until the DCE is passed.
If a special consideration is not granted, no pAT time will be considered.
Note: We’ll provide more details on how to apply for a special consideration when they’re available.