EXAMINATION PROCESS

1. The exam is distinct from the credential process. Exams treat all candidates similarly. The only pre-requisite for the exam is prior approval of the credentialscommittee. [Candidates' credentials are assessed first and if they meet with that committee's approval then they are assessed independently in the exam.] It is proposed that the Council advises the candidates in writing of the outcome of their application to the credentials committee and if successful that they are eligible to enter the exam within a finite time (to be advised by the credentials committee). A copy of this letter should then be part of the application to take the DipECLAM exam.
2. The candidate completes an application form to take the Examination. (Closing date 31st March, except for 2005 when it will be 1st May) Candidates will be notified of the time and venue of the exams (see below) by 31st May. Written Papers will be taken normally in September. Successful candidates (see below) will go forward to the Practical/Oral exam.
3. Written exams will be taking place about two months before the oral/practical exams. The exams will be in places with (a) member(s) of the examinations committee, as decided by the Board in agreement with the Committee each year.
4. Written examinations will be marked blind by at least two of the examiners. Written and Oral examination will each consist of two days of examination in English.

Part I: Written Papers over 2 days. The maximum duration of the written papers is designed to allow those for whom English is not their first language to have plenty of time. We anticipate that the timing is very generous. It is not necessary for you to use all the time available. The questions remain in the possession of the examiners.

Day 1:

Paper 1: (100 marks) Multiple Choice - questions. Time allowed - up to 4 hours. 100 questions. These questions will be multiple choice, with one correct answer (although in places this may be 'all of above, 'none of above, answers a and b etc.). Some will ask for the one correct answer, others for the one incorrect answer. Questions are intended to give you the chance to demonstrate a wide range of knowledge. We are not looking for the obscure, or unusual, but for the answer, knowledge of which is useful in clinical circumstances. The MCQ is positively marked i.e. correct answers gain a mark, incorrect and no answers score a zero; there is neither subtraction for a false answer nor for no answer.

Paper 2: (100 marks) Short Answer - questions. Time allowed - up to 4 hours (20 questions, no choice). These questions cover all aspects of laboratory animal medicine (basic and clinical). The short questions should be answered in the form of 'Essay-notes'. Answers should be concise, with facts rather than discussion (unless requested). Lists and note form answers may be used where relevant. As a guide to the length of answer, they are expected to be half a page of A4 with normal handwriting - with a maximum of one such page (we estimate this as between 200-300 words). Diagrams may be used

Day 2:

Paper 3: (100 marks) Essay - questions Time allowed – up to 4 hours. Four questions. The paper is in two sections and candidates are expected to answer two questions out of four in each section. There is a choice. Read them very carefully. There will be plenty of time. The questions in the first section will be on the:

• Prevention, diagnosis, control and treatment of diseases of laboratory animals;
• Prevention, alleviation and minimisation of animal pain and distress;
• Training scientific, animal care and ancillary staff;
• Providing research support (e.g. animal research techniques), information (e.g. comparative and normative biology, nomenclature), and services (e.g. pre- and post-operative care, critical care, anaesthesia and analgesia, euthanasia);
• Developing and managing animal husbandry programmes (incl. genetic and microbiological standardisation procedures) Preparing and reviewing animal use protocols
• Designing and operating laboratory animal facilities
• Controlling the environment (e.g. physical, social) of laboratory animals
• Providing consultation and advice on compliance with laws, regulations and standards
• Selecting and producing animals for research
• Being professionally involved in the design and conduct of biomedical research
• Contributing to the humane use of animals in biomedical research together with the search for alternatives.
  

The questions in the second section will deal with more special topics in laboratory animal medicine. The timing of these papers is generous, and it is anticipated that it would take no more than 3 hours for each paper. Marking will be on quality, not quantity. Each answer is expected to be around 3 sides of an A4 paper with normal handwriting (1200-1800 words).

Part II: Oral and Practical Examinations may be over 2 days depending on schedules. 

(Please bring PPE and be aware you may be asked to observe some barrier restrictions with respect to (a) prior contact with certain species and (b) laboratory animal allergies). There will be 2 oral/practical examinations; a spot session; a viva and a final interview. At least two examiners will participate in each oral, whilst a third will be present as an observer and may participate. The oral/practical sessions, the viva and the final interview will take up to one hour each and the spot session up to two hours. During all oral/practicals, the candidate may be questioned on any aspect of laboratory animal medicine, and may be given diagnostic material on which tocomment (laboratory reports, radiographs, ECGs, etc.). However, there will be some division between the sessions as follows:

A. Oral/practical 1: (50 marks) The candidate will be given cases (a large and a small animal) to investigate

B. Oral/practical 2: (50 marks) This will be centred around a facility, equipment and records.

C. Spot Session: (100 marks) This will be in the form of a "spot-on" session with written answers. The candidate will be asked a question related to a clinical case/equipment showing diagnostic material such as laboratory reports, radiographs, ECGs, photographs etc. Up to ten cases may be presented. The time for answering each question is very limited (a few minutes, to be specified later) and the answer is supposed to comprise a few lines only

D. Viva: (50 marks) The candidate may be required to attend a case (This may be an experimental animal undergoing procedures - here both technical and/or ethical advice may be required).

E. Final interview: (50 marks) The candidate will be invited for a final interview with all examiners present to discuss points that were raised during the previous sessions and to discuss points that were raised during the previous sessions and any other issues.

Examiners should make notes throughout the oral/practical exam and should mark independently of each other and then agree a final mark for each component. The examiners will meet after the final interview and agree the candidate's marks for each component of the exam.

Pass Marks:

Written Examination: A combined total of 100 marks from the essay questions and short answer questions papers out of a maximum of 200 and 60 marks out of 100 from the MCQ paper.

Oral/Practical Examination (5 sessions): A combined total of 150 marks out of the maximum of 300 with at least 50% in at least 4 of the components. A candidate will be successful if he/she passes both the written and Oral/Practical exams.

A candidate will be successful if he/she passes both the written and Oral/Practical exams.

Compensation between parts of the exams: In order to pass the candidate would have received at least 50% in the essay and short answer papers with no limit on compensation; at least 60% in the written MCQs with no compensation from other parts of the exam; at least 50% in at least 4 of the five oral/practical sessions, again with no compensation from other parts of the exam.

Re-sits: Candidates who fail the written part of the exam will not be allowed to go forward to the practical exam, however they may apply (using the same application form) to re-sit the written exam limited only by the time specified by the Credentials Committee. Candidates who pass the written exam and do not pass the oral/practical exam the same year will have to apply (using the same application form) to re-sit. The fee for re-sitting both the written and oral/practical exam will be the full fee. Candidates who fail the written exam (and hence do not go forward to the practical exam) will be eligible for a two thirds discount of the full fee for taking a re-sit.

1. The Examination Board will invite examiners (four) to sit for four years. At least one examiner will be a member of the Board. The four examiners will be Observer, Deputy, Chief and Vice-Chief. The Observer will be in his/her first year, the Deputy in the following year, the Chief during the third year and the Vice-Chief during their final year. They will have expertise representing the breadth and depth of European Laboratory Animal Medicine.

The Examination Board will also appoint the examiners and advise on curriculum and technical standards. The Examination Board will also provide an independent appeals committee on behalf of the Council, should one be necessary.

It will be the Examiners who interface with the candidates and decide whether acceptable standards have been attained.

Examiners will be responsible for organising and conducting the exams. Written papers would normally be taken at an ESLAV scientific meeting. Practical and oral examinations would be organised at one location, as decided by the Board in agreement with the Committee each year.

Examiners will propose questions, to be included in written papers, to the Board. The precise questions will be decided by the Board and remain confidential to the Board until the time of the written papers. It is anticipated that all existing Diplomates will submit proposed written and oral/practical questions for use in the following year.

It is expected that the examiners will be unanimous in their decision, however if there is a split decision then the outcome will be decided by the majority, with the Chief examiner having the deciding vote if necessary.

The Examiners will recommend to the Board and Council if an adequate standard has been met. These recommendations will be made at each stage. It will be the Council who makes the final decision. The President will inform the candidates of the outcome in writing, normally within two weeks. The Diploma is awarded at the AGM.

A candidate may appeal the recommendations only. Appeal must be in writing, within a specified time (to be discussed) explaining the nature of the appeal and the reason(s). The allowable reasons will be specified (to be discussed but should not include the standard).

Conflict of interests: Should the candidate be from the same institute/organisation. As any of the examiners then the examiner should not be involved in setting questions, conducting examinations nor discussions about the result and stand down (for that candidate). Such an examiner would not normally be replaced/substituted.

Appeals: These would be heard by a sub-group (previously specified) of the Examination Board - details to be decided - may be co-opt relevant person. The decision of the appeals group is final.

Confidentiality: The confidentiality of all correspondence between examiners, Board members and with the candidate is the prerogative of the Board.