The MCCQE exam or the Medical Council of Canada qualification test is a standard exam for international doctors who intend to practice medicine in Canada. The MCCQE exam is used to check the level of clinical competence, the knowledge of doctors in facing real scenarios and the necessary care of the patient. This exam is to acquire medical knowledge and is organized by the Medical Council of Canada (MCC).
MCCQE exam consists of two parts, MCCQE exam part 1 and MCCQE exam part 2. In this article, we intend to introduce you to MCCQE part 2. MCCQE Part 2, unlike MCCQE exam Part 1, is not computer-based and is the final step in obtaining a medical license to work in Canada
In MCCQE part 2, a clinical situation will be simulated for you and your performance in this situation will be evaluated and measured.
MCCQE2 eligibility
To participate in the MCCQE part 2 exam, which is held only twice a year in May and October, you must meet the following conditions
1.Success in MCCQE Part 1 and obtaining a passing grade
2.If you plan to participate in the exam as an international doctor, your degree must be approved by Canadian authorities
3.If you have graduated from a medical school in Canada, don’t worry, your graduation certificate will be sent to the Medical Council of Canada by the school where you studied.
4.You must complete at least 12 months of clinical training after graduation, which varies depending on which month you want to take the exam.
- If you intend to participate in the May exam, you must complete your training courses by June 30 of the same year, and if you intend to participate in the October exam, you must complete these courses by December 31 of the same year.
These requirements are because you must have completed your practical training for the MCCQE Part 2 exam.
How to apply for MCCQE Part 2
After you, as an applicant, have met all the requirements for the MCCQE Part 2 exam, it is time to start applying for the MCCQE Part 2
1.First, you must add your name to the pre-registration list through your account at physiciansapply.ca
2.An invitation will be emailed to you
3.In this invitation, 3 test centers are displayed in order of priority for you to choose one of these 3 test centers.
4.Before the day of the exam, an exam package will be sent to your user account at physiciansapply.ca, and you must deliver these forms in the exam hall.
- The test package includes the following items
- Exam entrance card
- Volunteer confidentiality agreement
- Code of conduct form
In the exam hall, you will be given a volunteer notebook for taking notes about the exam stations and an identification number that you must have with you during the exam.
What is the format of the test?
During the MCCQE, part 2 of your exam is station-based, and your evaluation is based on the following items
- How to take history from the patient
- The amount of information you have from the clinical examination
- Use your medical knowledge in dealing with the patient
- How you advise the patient’s family or the patient himself
- Your proficiency in answering oral questions
- The extent of your knowledge of test results and charts
- Your level of composure and self-confidence
Note:
After completing each station, you have to wait until you are allowed to leave the station
Your first stop is listed on the identification card given to you at the beginning of the session
If your first station is station 3, the next stations are stations 4, 5, etc. Follow the order
OSCE stations
In the MCCQE part 2 exam, there are 12 stations, 10 stations that present clinical scenarios, and the other two stations are waiting stations that are not included in your final score.
In general, there are two categories of stations in MCCQE Section 2, which we have described below:
- 14-minute stations
- Paired stations of 6 minutes
14-minute stations
The format of the 14-minute stations in the MCCQE part 2 exam is as follows:
- In eight 14-minute stations, only seven stations count towards your final score, and the eighth station is just for practice and waiting.
- Before entering the station, you will have two minutes to read the instructions.
- After that, you have to stay in the room for 14 minutes and do your tasks.
- When 13 minutes have passed, you will receive a warning signal that the time is up.
- After the time is up, you have to leave the room and go to the next station
Paired stations of 6 minutes
The 6-minute paired stations include four stations, one of which is a waiting station and does not affect your final score. These stations are divided into two sections:
1.Encounter Section: You will meet standard participants such as doctors or skilled non-doctors and you will be scored based on your interactions with them.
2.Non-Meeting Section: Includes reading instructions or answering extensive compliance questions.
3.Before starting, you will have 2 minutes to read the instructions. Then you will have 6 minutes to complete the tasks in the room and after hearing the warning signal at minute 5, you will have to leave the room and go to the next station.
How Is MCCQE 2 Scored?
You should note that in the MCCQE part 2 exam, there is no exact score like other exams, but the Canadian Medical Council determines the minimum pass score with careful review. This quota is approved by the central committee of the exam. This work is done because of setting a fair and transparent standard. You can receive your result as accepted or rejected through an email.
Effective strategies and tips for success in the MCCQE part 2 exam
1.Getting to know the format of the MCCQE exam part 2
The MCCQE2 exam includes the assessment of your professional skills as a doctor and how doctors communicate and cooperate in the process of clinical scenarios.
2.Practicing clinical scenarios
Note that in this section you are dealing with clinical scenarios, so in order to prepare as much as possible for the exam, it is better to simulate OSCE cases with your colleagues or professors so that you can learn the skills of taking a patient’s history, performing physical examinations, and communicating properly with patients. strengthen in yourself.
3.Adequate mastery of ethical scenarios
Be sure to have a general overview of medical ethics issues, including patient independence in decision-making and maintaining the confidentiality of patient information.
4.Improving time management skills
MCCQE exam part 2, although it is a practical exam, but you have a time limit for each practical station, in other words, you must do each practical station in the MCCQE2 exam in a certain time frame, so try to improve your time management skills with a lot of practice. To be able to pass the practical stations successfully
5.Using efficient study resources
In addition to all the above points, you should keep in mind the use of reliable educational resources, and more importantly, choosing the most reliable resources is very effective in your preparation for the exam. We at Course in Use are proud to have the most experienced teachers. We will be with you on this challenging road to success.
