VIROLOGY

The MRCPath examination in virology is part of the integrated portfolio of assessment methods that are
designed to monitor the progress of trainees through the objective-based curriculum in virology and to certify
that a candidate is fit to practise as an independent specialist clinical virologist.

Part 1 of the examination for Membership of the College in microbiology and virology now consists of a
joint paper, which is described below.

Part 2 of the examination will focus entirely on specialist virology. It will consist of a formal written
examination with a practical component and an assessed portfolio with research, clinical and service
components.

The ‘old style’ Part 2 examination in virology will continue for trainees currently in programme, but new
trainees will sit the ‘new style’ examination.

Part 1 examination (joint examination with microbiology)

Medically qualified candidates are required to have trained in a recognised Regional Specialist Training
Programme in microbiology or virology for a period of normally not less than 12 months.

Non-medically qualified candidates are required to have trained in a recognised training programme in
microbiology for a period of normally not less than 12 months. In addition, they must be state registered, or
the equivalent of state registered in another country.

Purpose
To act as early assessment of the trainee’s knowledge and understanding of the scientific basis of medical
microbiology, virology and infectious diseases.

Format
Multiple-choice; a mixture of one-best-answer and extended-matching formats, designed to test both
knowledge and understanding.

Curriculum
The examination will test core knowledge in medical microbiology/virology and in particular the scientific
basis of virology/microbiology and infection. The medical microbiology and virology curriculum is available
on the Training and Education > ‘Specialty-specific guidance’ section of the College website
(www.rcpath.org/training).

Standards and marking

• Objective multiple-choice question (MCQ) examination (single three-hour paper) with computerised
marking.
• One-best-answer and extended-matching question formats.
• Experienced group of examiners involved in standard setting and curriculum mapping.
• The pass mark is set by an objective procedure by the Panel of Examiners (individual question review
to create minimum standard).
• Examination review is biannual.

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Part 2 examination

• Medically qualified candidates are required to have trained in a recognised Regional Higher Specialist
Training Programme in virology for a period of normally not less than three years.
• Non-medically qualified candidates must be state-registered and normally have at least four years’
experience in a clinical virology laboratory recognised for higher specialist training.

‘Old style’ Part 2 examination

Trainees in programme will be examined under existing guidelines if they have successfully completed the
old Part 1 examination. There will therefore be a need to continue to offer this Part 2 examination until all
such trainees have completed training.

The old Part 2 assessment involves two components:

• completion of a research project involving some practical work carried out by the candidate. This
research can be written up as a dissertation for the Part 2 examination. Alternatively the College can
accept submission of a completed PhD, MD thesis or portfolio of published papers
• a viva voce examination of approximately one hour, during which the candidate is assessed by two
examiners on all aspects of the specialty. This oral examination may or may not include a discussion
of the candidate’s research. The examiners must be satisfied that the candidate shows evidence of
competency in all aspects of clinical virology and may proceed to completion of his/her training and
independent practice.

‘New style’ Part 2 examination

This examination will have three components, as listed below.

1. Formally assessed virology examination portfolio (module assignments for the Part 2 MRCPath)

Successful completion of the module assignments will be an integral part of the Part 2 examination in
virology.

Core modules in virology

• The curriculum contains six core modules, which have written assignments as part of the assessment
• These module assignments will form a significant proportion of the core examination portfolio.
• This portfolio is separate from the training portfolio, as it specifically relates to core (compulsory)
virology topics in the curriculum. The virology examination portfolio may, however, be part of the
documents used by the Record of In-Training Assessment (RITA) process.
• Each assignment will be prepared by the trainee under the guidance of their educational supervisor or
trainer for that module.
• The educational supervisor and module trainers will have an active role in the continuous assessment
of the assignments.
• When an assignment is complete, it will be formally assessed by an external member of the Virology
Examining Panel, who will award the work a grade of ‘satisfactory’ or ‘not satisfactory’.
• Portfolios from overseas trainees will be assessed by members of the Virology Examining Panel. The
educational supervisor and module trainers should send a brief abstract of the assignment before it is
carried out to the College Examinations Department. This is to ensure that the portfolio contents are
standardised and avoid any delays in the training programme.

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• Candidates should submit their completed portfolios to the Examinations Department, together with a
Part 2 Written Option application form (available on the website www.rcpath.org/exams) and current
CV. The portfolio must be submitted at least four months before the closing date for the Part 2 (written
and practical/clinical modules) which the candidate wishes to enter.
• The portfolio must be approved before a candidate may attempt the formal written and
practical/clinical modules of the Part 2 examination in virology.
• Trainees should be encouraged to start their virology examination portfolios early in their career and
may start their portfolios before taking the Part1 examination.
• Assignments will normally be virological but some flexibility is acceptable, e.g. an assignment which
describes the trainee’s experience of the management of an outbreak of infectious gastroenteritis
caused by salmonella. Trainees should always take advice from their educational supervisor before
embarking on any assignment.
NB Special provision may need to be made for trainees who have already taken the new Part 1
examination, as they will have less time than later trainees to complete the module assignments.

2. Formal written and practical/clinical examination

Timing of the written and practical/clinical examination

• The portfolio must be approved before a candidate may attempt the formal written and
practical/clinical modules of the Part 2 examination in virology.
• Medically trained candidates will normally sit the written and practical/clinical part of the Part 2
examination after at least three years’ higher specialist training.
• Non-medically trained candidates must be state-registered and normally have at least four years’
experience in a clinical virology laboratory recognised for higher specialist training.
• The number of attempts that a candidate can make will be determined by normal College regulations.
• The examiners agreed that there would need to be some flexibility in place for candidates who have
taken the new Part 1 examination without knowing the format of the new Part 2 examination and may
not have time to fully complete their portfolio prior to taking the written examination for Part 2.
• The written and practical components of the Part 2 examination will be held together. Candidates must
apply for and attempt both components in the same session. Candidates will not be able to sit either
the written or the practical component at overseas centres.

Format of the written examination

• The Part 2 examination will include a formal written component.
• The written component will consist of two parts, each of 90 minutes.
• The first part will consist of two compulsory essay questions, one on a general clinical topic and the
second on service delivery and management.
• The marking for each question in the first part will be based on model answers.
• Essay topics will map across the curriculum and will, wherever practical, avoid topics already the
subject of in-course written assignment in the portfolios of intending candidates.
• The second part of the written examination will consist of nine compulsory questions of the
‘structured short-answers’ variety.
• The marking for each question in the second part will be based on model answers and the questions
will map across the curriculum.
• MCQ-type questions are inappropriate at Part 2 level and will not be used.
• Care will be taken to ensure that questions do not favour UK candidates over those from overseas.

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Format of the practical/clinical examination
• The formal practical/clinical examination will take place over two days.
• Some ‘wet’ manipulation will be retained but this will be less than in the ‘old style’ practical
examination.
• OSCE-style stations with result interpretation and clinical scenarios will make up a major component
of the examination.
• There will be a sufficient number of examiners present to examine candidates orally at each station.
• The final oral assessment will be retained to ensure candidates’ clinical competence.
• The practical/clinical examination will normally be offered twice a year. In exceptional circumstances,
the examination may be offered once a year only.

Optional modules in virology

The optional modules in the virology curriculum will not be assessed as a part of the Part 2 examination
portfolio.

General information on College examinations

General guidance, regulations and information about the College examinations are available on the Exams
section of the College website (www.rcpath.org/exams).

Examinations Department
The Royal College of Pathologists
October 2005

Tel: 020 7451 6760/6734

Fax: 020 7451 6701
Email: exams@rcpath.org
Website: www.rcpath.org/exams