There has been much criticism of the format and process of the certification examination in psychiatry, and some of this is based on lack of information regarding the history of the specialty certification procedures, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Board of Examiners. In this first of three reports the history of the Royal College as the certifying organization is traced, and the relevant College structures are briefly described, including the Specialty Committee on Psychiatry which is instrumental in appointing the clinical examiners. The clinical examiners since 1965 are identified.
References
1.
JonesR.O.: “The Examination Process and the Certification of Psychiatrists — the Canadian Experience.” Symposium presented to Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, Toronto, Ontario, May, 1977.
2.
LeichnerP.P.: Present psychiatric post-graduate education and professional trends in Canada: a survey of the opinions of fourth-year residents.Can Psychiatr Assoc J, 22: 123–136, 1977.
3.
LeichnerP.P.: The Certification Examination: viewpoints of fourth-year residents.Can Psychiatr Assoc J, 22: 149–153, 1977.
4.
LewisD.S.: The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada 1920–1960.Ottawa: The Runge Press Limited, 1962.
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LippM.R.: Experiences of psychiatry board exam casualties: a survey report.Am J Psychiatry, 129: 658–663, 1972.
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LowyF.H., ProsenH.: The Canadian Certification Examination in psychiatry. III: Towards better examination techniques.Can J Psychiatry, 24: (4) 292–301, 1979.
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PersadE., GarfinkelP.: Practising psychiatrists’ views on the Certification Examination in Psychiatry.Can J Psychiatry, 24(4): 303–307, 1979.
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