As I am now in my ST3 year and due to complete GP training next August, I am eligible to take my Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA). But when?
Having entered GP training at ST2, I completed 6 months in general practice and 6 months in an innovative post during my ST2 year. During ST3 I have 6 months of paediatrics, followed by 6 months of general practice. And there lies my dilemma.
I could sit the CSA in October or January/February, but at that time I'll be doing paediatrics. Although useful for my general practice career, not the best preparation for the CSA, as this will test a much wider area of practice.
Option 2 is to sit the CSA in May. I'll be back in general practice by this time so will have a chance to prepare properly for the assessment. However, results aren't published until June, just 2 months before I complete my training. I would therefore be applying for jobs without having completed my nMRCGP — would I even be eligible for short-listing? And if I don't pass … My training programme complete but no nMRCGP. With the expense and time involved in taking the CSA, I don't want to just ‘give it a go’ in January without feeling properly prepared.
I am aware that other deaneries schedule the whole of ST3 in general practice, allowing trainees to choose from all three sittings of the CSA. Perhaps a sitting in mid-March for those of us doing a more restrictive training programme?