About Competency Assessments

Assessment Overview

Paramedic assessment is based on the Professional Capabilities for Registered Paramedics and the assessment is for regulatory (i.e. public safety) rather than educational purposes. The assessment is not an opportunity to seek feedback about performance or tips on how to demonstrate paramedic competency.

The competency assessment addresses two domains of practice, namely cognition (knowledge), and behaviour which is further devolved into affective (attitude and behaviour) and psychomotor (skills) in the context of paramedic practice, at the level of professional capability required by the Board for Registration as a Paramedic.

The consortium uses contemporary, evidence-based methods to assess competence across the three educational domains, with the assessment process consisting of a written examination, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) and scenarios. The assessments are conducted in a single day, at one of the five university campuses.

The approach to competence assessment uses current, evidence-based methods to assess candidates across the three educational domains, with overlap between the three. Assessment standards comply with expected paramedic competencies, as outlined by the Paramedicine Board.

The assessment suite reflects the Professional Capabilities for Registered Paramedics. A summary of the relationship between the Professional Capabilities and the assessment components is shown in the following figure.

Assessment Standard

The standard to be met is one of a competent, safe-practising paramedic as required by the Paramedicine Board of Australia.

The competency assessment centre examiners do not determine whether or not a candidate receives registration

The role of competency assessment is not to ‘educate’ candidates as it is there solely for assessment purposes. As such pre-assessment instruction, and feedback on the day of assessment is not provided to candidates by assessors. The Board will receive the marking rubric for each candidate’s assessment.

• Written exam - Assessment result, 60 questions

• OSCE - Marking rubric for each of the 5 OSCEs

• Scenario - Marking rubric for each of the 2 scenarios

A recommendation on registration or overall capability is not made by the assessment centre. Assessment centres provide the Paramedicine Board with the results of each assessment in order to support the Board’s decision-making process. In line with Board requirements, candidates are not told of their result on the day of assessment. Candidates may be informed of the results for each of their assessments by AHPRA. Assessment centres will inform AHPRA of the results of candidate assessment no more than 7 working days after assessment day.

Written Examination

Overview

The written examination, consisting of 60 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) assesses knowledge and application of knowledge across the 5 paramedicine domains of practice. The MCQs may be cased based, and some will be multi-step requiring a correct sequence of answers. This approach ensures that this task provides evidence of the candiates ability to interpret information required to inform safe and effective clinical and operational decisions.

The five areas covered in the written examination are:

• Professional & ethical conduct

• Professional communication & collaboration

• Evidence based practice & professional learning

• Safety, risk management & quality assurance

• Paramedicine practice

Examination Length

The MCQ examination is 1-hour in length.

Format of Examination

The written examination will be provided either online (completed at the assessment centre), or in written format. If written, it will be provided in approved fonts and in black text on white paper.

The examination is closed book, and reference material, mobile phones, calculators, tablets etc are be required to be secured prior to the examination.

Should an individual candidate require special requirements for their examination, such as large font, they must inform the relevant consortium member in advance, supported by medical evidence of the need. Special examination conditions will be included in the exam report provided to AHPRA.

Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

Overview

Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are task focused assessments, which test a candidates competence in specific paramedic skills.

Number of OSCEs

The OSCE process will involve 5 OSCE areas with a number of skills within each OSCE area. Candidates are run through in one ‘session’ with the use of task trainers to demonstrate skills. The standard expected can be seen in ‘expert in my pocket’ project skills sheets (See http://expertinmypocket.com.au/), acknowledging variations in clinical practice which remains safe and effective. The OSCEs which may be assessed include:

OSCEs

OSCE Length

OSCEs will be conducted over a 12-minute period per OSCE including briefing, followed by the actual OSCE. OSCEs will take approximately 1 hour per candidate. Time for equipment familiarisation has been built into the day to ensure candidates can review the equipment used by each of the consortium members.

Marking Rubric

For each of the paramedic skills/procedures:

• Was the procedure performed with adherence to best practice infection control principles?

• Was it performed in a way that is safe for patient and paramedic?

• Was it performed in manner that would have optimised likelihood of success?

• Was it performed in a timely manner commensurate to the context in which it is being performed?

Scenarios

Scenario Overview

As the penultimate assessment of competency, candidates will undergo two competency scenario assessments. Scenarios test a candidates’ overall competence across the Paramedic Domains of practice in a mock treatment setting.

Scenarios

Scenarios assist determining competency across the five Paramedic practice domains. In particular the non-specifically unwell patient will examine the candidate’s competency in relation to testing capacity, decision making and selection of appropriate care pathways. Scenarios may be video taped for quality assurance.

Scenarios will be performed using manikins and the assessor will act as the ‘voice’ of the manikin and respond to questioning by the candidate. Scenarios may be run across the lifespan from paediatric to geriatric.

There will be two scenarios for each candidate, which may include:

• Acutely unwell patient

  • Respiratory

  • Cardiac

  • Neurological

  • Endocrine

  • Trauma

• Non-specifically unwell patient

  • Medical

Scenario Length

Scenarios will not exceed 25 minutes including 5 minutes for briefing and 20 minutes for the actual scenario. At the end of 20 minutes actual scenario time, the scenario will cease. There is 5 minutes set aside for reset, making a total of 1 hour of scenario testing per candidate.

Marking Rubric

Scenarios will each be assessed against a common rubric, an example of which is shown below.

Clinical Equipment

We appreciate there is a wide range of clinical equipment in use across Australia. Time has been built into the assessment day to ensure that candidates can become familiar with the equipment being used. All equipment has been selected due to it’s commonality of use across the country.

Assessment Timing & Costs

Assessment timing may vary between institutions for operational reasons and depending on the number of candidates, however an indicative timetable is shown below.

The cost of assessment includes all assessment materials on the day. Candidates are responsible for their own travel and transport costs, meals and any incidentals. The cost to the candidate is $2,000 + GST.

Candidate Behaviour

We understand that undertaking a competency assesment is a stressful experience for candidates. It is important to remember that the Consortium members are acting on behalf of the Paramedicine Board, and did not have any input into the request that the candidate undertake a competency assessment.

Candidates are expected to display appropriate professional conduct throughout the assessment day, in line with the Paramedicine Board’s Code of Conduct.

Candidates who do not display appropriate behaviour will be referred to the Board as part of the assessment report. Those candidates who display unacceptable conduct during the assessment process may be removed from the assessment by the assessor, and will be referred to the Board. If this occurs no refund will be available to the candidate.

Candidate Identification

Each candidate is required to show photographic identification at the time of registration on the day of their assessment. The photographic identification used will be recorded on the registration form at the start of the day.

Acceptable forms of identification are a drivers licence, passport, or government-issued identification showing the candidates photograph, name and date of birth.

Health and Safety

All consortium members have comprehensive health and safety plans, approved by their institutions. Candidates must abide by all reasonable requests of the assessment centre and assessors in order to minimise risk. All consortium members hold comprehensive insurance. Candidates confirm, by attending the assessment, that they are fit to undertake the competency assesment. These standards include, but are not limted to:

• Knowledge of, and engaging in ethical behaviour in practice.

• Emotional maturity and behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse and uncontrolled, stressful, multi-professional clinical environment.

• Knowledge of and compliance with Australian Law, professional regulations and scope of practice.

• Effective and efficient verbal communication, in English.

• Effective non-verbal communication needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic, honest and non-judgmental.

• Effective written communication.

• Consistent and effective knowledge and cognitive skills.

• Competent literacy skills.

• Competent and accurate numeracy skills.

• Adequate visual acuity.

• Adequate auditory ability.

• Sufficient tactile ability.

• Physical demands and requirement for fine and gross motor function and strength.

• Manual dexterity

• Physical, mental and emotional performance at a consistent and sustained level over time.

Clothing and Footwear

Candidates should dress with long trousers and enclosed boots/shoes. Steel capped boots are not required. Uniform (if used by the candidate) should not be worn. Ideally, clothing should not be branded with the candidates employer. No offensive slogans or graphics should be worn.