Exam Details - Fellowship in Immediate Medical Care (FIMC)
Key Facts
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The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Examinations Department
Phone: +44 (0)131 527 1600
Fax: +44 (0)131 557 6406
E-mail: fphc.exams@rcsed.ac.uk
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Fellowship in Immediate Medical Care (FIMC)
The Fellowship in Immediate Medical Care (FIMC) is the highest level of formal qualification available for pre-hospital practitioners. The level of performance expected is that commensurate with level 8 on in the Skills for Health Key Elements of the Career Framework (http://www.skillsforhealth.org.uk)
The exam focuses on the timely recognition, diagnosis, and management of conditions and situations in a pre-hospital environment rather than on the use of facilities for investigation and treatment that may be available predominantly within a hospital. However, the level 7 practitioner would be expected to be able to undertake safe emergency transfer between hospitals and therefore be capable of interpreting the range of investigations typically found in the emergency department setting.
This examination is blueprinted against the current UK Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine (PHEM) curriculum (available on the GMC and Intercollegiate Board websites). Potential candidates are strongly advised to read and consider the content of the curriculum thoroughly before applying for the examination.
As a multi-professional examination, it can test any curriculum element and will not be limited by national or local professional scopes of practice. Success in the examination, however, should not provide the sole evidence of competence to practice in every one of these elements.
Exam Benefits
- Highest level of formal qualification available in the UK for pre-hospital practitioners
- Utilised by the Intercollegiate Board for Training in Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine (IBTPHEM) as the phase 2 national summative assessment for clinicians working in pre-hospital emergency medicine training programmes
- Eligible to join the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care as an Advanced Practitioner Fellow
- Opportunity to demonstrate a specialist interest in pre hospital emergency medicine
- Required for sub-specialty recognition by the GMC and FPHC Register of Consultant (Level 8) Practitioners.
Exam Format
The Fellowship in Immediate Medical Care (FIMC) exam will consist of two parts (A and B), conducted on 3 separate days as follows:
- Part A: Written Exam of Underpinning Knowledge
A written paper of 180 minutes duration consisting of 180 Single Best Answer (SBA) questions
- Part B: An Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE)
The OSPE will normally consist of 14 OSPE testing stations. 12 of the stations will each be of eight minutes duration and two will be of 24 minutes duration. Each 24 minute OSPE will involve simulation of a pre-hospital or an emergency interfacility transfer scenario. There may also be one or more rest stations or preparation stations
To gain a pass overall, candidates must achieve a pass in both parts. Candidates who are unsuccessful at either Part A or Part B may re-sit the relevant component alone provided it is within 3 subsequent available diets of the first attempt.
Advice to Exam Candidates
This examination has a limited number of places available which will be allocated in the order detailed below.
- Firstly, specific exam places are allocated to PHEM trainees currently in a PHEM training post and at the pre-determined point of their training as directed by the Intercollegiate Board for Training in Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine (IBTPHEM) (including resit candidates).
- Secondly, exam places are allocated to all other applicants (including current PHEM trainees applying outside of their IBTPHEM allotted exam slot) in strict chronological order of application.
Once the exam is full, applicants will be placed on a waiting list in chronological order of application. Those on the waiting list will be offered places that become available on the next available exam diet.
Exam Eligibility
There are two parallel sets of eligibility requirements: one for trainees completing approved subspecialty training programmes in Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine (PHEM) and one for practitioners who have undertaken alternative forms of pre-hospital care training.
All applicants must have been engaged in the practice of their profession for a minimum of five years post registration with either the UK General Medical Council, UK Nursing and Midwifery Council or the UK Health and Care Professions Council and hold the Diploma in Immediate Medical Care RCSEd.
- Trainees in approved PHEM sub-specialty training programmes must show documented evidence, countersigned by the Training Programme Director of a GMC approved PHEM sub-specialty Training Programme, of sufficient clinical experience (at time of application) in the area of pre-hospital emergency care.
- Practitioners who have undertaken alternative forms of pre-hospital care training outside of approved PHEM sub-specialty training programmes must demonstrate that their experience and training can be considered comparable to that of a sub-specialty trainee. This requires that the applicant submits a Certificate of FIMC Eligibility issued by the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care. Detailed regulations regarding the criteria for the Certificate of FIMC Eligibility can be obtained directly from the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care.
Candidates are permitted four attempts in which to pass the exam. A re-sit of an individual component part constitutes an attempt.
Additional Information
Before applying for this exam, please ensure you have read and understood the relevant documentation.
Our Exam Policies and Procedures page will provide you with more general information about sitting an exam at the College.