Exam day

What do exam candidates in and outside of Canada need to know about written exams?

What do exam candidates in Canada need to know about the applied exams?

What do exam candidates outside of Canada need to know about applied exams?

What if I can’t travel to a Canadian hotel exam site to take my exam in 2023?

Refunds, withdrawals and deferrals

What if I fail or withdraw from the exam?

What to expect on exam day: FAQs

What do exam candidates in and outside of Canada need to know about written exams?

• All candidates must take the written exam in one of the 18 Canadian hotel exam centres where they will be provided with:
  • a computer that has been tested and compatible with the examination system; and;
  • on-site technical and invigilation support to assure completion of their exam.
• Candidates can choose one of 18 hotel centres (located in each Canadian city with a medical school to limit the need for air travel).
• Candidates who are required to be under quarantine or isolation in the days preceding the exam must provide documentation to the Royal College at candidates@royalcollege.ca up to 24 hours before the exam start time.
• Accommodations will be managed on a case-by-case basis.

• Notification of withdrawal must be received by the Royal College at least twenty (20) business days before the first component of the examination. Upon receipt, 50% of the examination fees will be refunded.

• Notification of withdrawal less than twenty (20) business days before the examination will result in no refund of the fees.

• Candidates who withdraw from the examination, or do not appear at the examination, will have been considered to have used one year of eligibility, unless granted a deferral pursuant to the deferral of examination eligibility policy. 
• Candidates who wish to withdraw or defer are asked to contact us at candidates@royalcollege.ca.

What do exam candidates in Canada need to know about the applied exams?

• Candidates must have taken the written exam before taking their applied exam.
• All candidates must take the applied exam at one of the 18 Canadian hotel exam centres where they will be provided with:
  • a computer that has been tested and compatible with the examination system; and
  • on-site technical and invigilation support to assure completion of their exam.
• Candidates who are required to be under quarantine or isolation in the days preceding the exam, must provide documentation to the Royal College at candidates@royalcollege.ca up to 24 hours before the exam start time.
• Accommodations will be managed on a case-by-case basis.

• Notification of withdrawal must be received by the Royal College at least twenty (20) business days before the first component of the examination. Upon receipt, 50% of the examination fees will be refunded.

• Notification of withdrawal less than twenty (20) business days before the examination will result in no refund of the fees.

• Candidates who withdraw from the examination, or do not appear at the examination, will have been considered to have used one year of eligibility, unless granted a deferral pursuant to the deferral of examination eligibility policy.
• Candidates who wish to withdraw or defer are asked to contact us at candidates@royalcollege.ca.

What do exam candidates outside of Canada need to know about applied exams?

• Candidates must have taken the written exam in the discipline before taking the applied exam.
• All candidates must take the applied exam in one of the 18 Canadian hotel exam centres where they will be provided with:
  • a computer that has been tested and compatible with the examination system; and
  • on-site technical and invigilation support to assure completion of their exam.
• There will be no test centres for the applied exam located outside of Canada.
• Candidates who are required to be under quarantine or isolation in the days preceding the exam will be required to provide documentation to the Royal College at candidates@royalcollege.ca up to 24 hours before the exam start time.
• Accommodations will be managed on a case-by-case basis.

• Notification of withdrawal must be received by the Royal College at least twenty (20) business days before the first component of the examination. Upon receipt, 50% of the examination fees will be refunded.

• Notification of withdrawal less than twenty (20) business days before the examination will result in no refund of the fees.

• Candidates who withdraw from the examination, or do not appear at the examination, will have been considered to have used one year of eligibility, unless granted a deferral pursuant to the deferral of examination eligibility policy.
• Candidates who wish to withdraw or defer are asked to contact us at candidates@royalcollege.ca.

What if I can’t travel to a Canadian hotel exam site to take my exam in 2024?

• Notification of withdrawal must be received by the Royal College at least twenty (20) business days before the first component of the examination. Upon receipt, 50% of the examination fees will be refunded.

• Notification of withdrawal less than twenty (20) business days before the examination will result in no refund of the fees.

• Candidates who withdraw from the examination, or do not appear at the examination, will have been considered to have used one year of eligibility, unless granted a deferral pursuant to the deferral of examination eligibility policy.

• Candidates who are required to be under quarantine or isolation in the days preceding the exam can request to be converted to remote delivery, up to 24 hours before the start the exam. You will be required to provide documentation to the Royal College at candidates@royalcollege.ca.
• Accommodations may be possible and will be managed on a case-by-case basis.
• Please be advised that certification by the Royal College requires successful completion of all components of the exam (written and applied/oral) as outlined in discipline exam format documents.

Refunds, withdrawals and deferrals

• Candidates who withdraw from the examination, or do not appear at the examination, will have been considered to have used one year of eligibility, unless granted a deferral pursuant to the deferral of examination eligibility policy. 

• Notification of withdrawal must be received by the Royal College at least twenty (20) business days before the first component of the examination. Upon receipt, 50% of the examination fees will be refunded.

• Notification of withdrawal less than twenty (20) business days before the examination will result in no refund of the fees.

• For those who choose to defer, please contact your provincial regulatory authority for information on how this impacts licensing.
• Candidates who wish to withdraw or defer are asked to contact us at candidates@royalcollege.ca

What if I fail or withdraw from the exam?

• Royal College examinations are developed as a comprehensive examination with both written and applied/oral components. Written results do not carry forward to subsequent years. Both components of the exam must be taken at the next sitting unless your discipline requires that you must take your written exam before applied/oral.
• Specifically, if you were successful at the written exam in 2023, but unsuccessful or unable to take the applied/oral exam for a COVID-19 related reason, you will need to take both the written and the applied/oral exam in 2024.
  • Exceptions to this rule are exams in the following disciplines that have transitioned to requiring a successful written exam result prior to entrance to the oral/applied component:
    • Anatomical Pathology (CBD cohort only)
    • Anesthesiology
    • Cardiology Pediatrics
    • Emergency Medicine
    • Gastroenterology
    • General Pathology (CBD cohort only)
    • General Surgery
    • Internal Medicine
    • Obstetrics & Gynecology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Orthopedic Surgery
    • Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
    • Pediatrics
    • Psychiatry
    • Radiation Oncology (CBD cohort only)
    • Respirology Adult
    • Rheumatology Adult
    • Urology
  • This means that if you pass the written component in only these disciplines but fail or are unexpectedly unable to take the applied/oral component in 2023, you only need to take the applied/oral in 2024.

What to expect on exam day: FAQs

Is wearing masks mandatory at hotel exam sites?

Candidates and onsite invigilators are required to follow their provincial regulations.

Masks will be provided to any candidates upon request. Masking is encouraged in all common areas of the hotel exam site . Masks can be taken off once the exam has commenced and candidates and staff are seated. Candidates are encouraged to wear a mask during interactions with staff. For example, if a candidate is asking the invigilator a question, they are encouraged to wear a mask.

Onsite invigilators are strongly encouraged to wear masks. This includes at registration, when distributing exam supplies and when handling candidates' belongings. Invigilators can remove their mask when sitting at their posts but are encouraged to wear a mask when speaking to candidates.

Will each candidate’s desk space be sanitized between the morning and afternoon sessions? What other sanitation protocols will be followed?

All 18 Canadian hotel exam sites have implemented a cleanliness protocol. This involves:

• providing dedicated staff who will clean surfaces with increased frequency
• installing hand-sanitizing stations at hotel entrances, front desks, elevator banks, meeting spaces and other common areas,
• having signage in public spaces to remind people to maintain physical distancing,
• using linen-less tables for easy disinfection, and
• sanitizing surfaces including tables, chairs, and all high-touch items between sessions, if the same room is being used for the afternoon.

What is the sanitation protocol for computers?

Computers will be sanitized by dedicated staff, who are wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, after each exam session.

Will calculators be provided?

The online exam platform has a calculator. Back-up calculators will also be available in the event of a technical issue.

Will food and drink be allowed at the hotel exam site?

Yes, food and drinks will be allowed.

If I have been granted an exam accommodation, can I write my exam from my home/office?

All candidates who have been granted an accommodation must come to one of 18 Canadian hotel exam sites to write their exam, unless exceptional circumstances apply.

Will the laptops provided at hotel exam sites have an external mouse or laptop touchpad? What is the monitor size?

When writing at hotel exam sites, each candidate will be provided with a Royal College laptop with a touchpad and an external mouse to complete their exams. The monitor is a minimum of 14 inches (36 cm) wide. Please note that candidates are not permitted to bring any items to use in the exam. Everything that is required will be provided at the hotel exam site, including scrap paper, ear plugs, pencils and backup calculators.

Will washroom breaks be allowed?

Yes, washroom breaks are allowed for online written exams. Please advise an invigilator at the hotel exam sites that you need to step away to use the washroom. We recognize you are professionals; you will not be followed by an invigilator into the washroom.

Please note that taking a washroom break is on your own time; you will not be granted additional time for your exam.

During the applied exams, you may take a washroom break up to 15 minutes before the start of the exam, during sequestration, if applicable, or after the exam ends.

	How do I dress for the examinations? There is no official dress code, but business casual attire for the written exam and business for the applied exam is the norm.
	Should I wear my lab coat? There is no need for a lab coat. If you choose to wear one, it must not identify you or your institution (e.g. university hospital crest, etc.).
	What do I need to bring to my examination? You must bring a government-issued photo ID with signature (e.g. passport, driver’s license or provincial health card).
	What do I need for my written examination? Everything that is required will be provided at the hotel exam site, including scrap paper, ear plugs pencils and backup calculators .
	Is there somewhere for me to store my personal belongings? Yes, there will be a designated area for you to store personal belongings.
	Can I breastfeed while participating in a Royal College exam? The Royal College recognizes how challenging it can be to balance new parenthood with the examination schedule. While you cannot bring your baby to the examination, we will attempt to find a private space at the hotel test site where you can pump milk before/after the three-hour written examination, and/or before/after the Oral/OSCE examination. Please contact examaccommodation@royalcollege.ca to inquire/request use of this space.
	If I pump breast milk before/after the exam, is there somewhere onsite where I can store the milk? Yes. Pumped breast milk can be stored in a chilled cooler or the mini fridge in the individual hotel room (if available).
	What is your policy on access to menstrual products during a Royal College exam? You may bring menstrual products to the exam. Alternatively, a hall monitor can temporarily store these products for you and provide them to you, when needed.
	What am I not allowed to bring to my examination? All electronic and recording devices, including cell phones and digital/smart watches, will be collected during registration and are not permitted in the exam rooms. If you wish to wear a watch for your own timekeeping purposes, please wear an analogue watch. Personal belongings are not allowed in your exam hotel room but they can be left in a designated area. Electronic devices will be supervised at all times and will be returned to you at the end of the examination or sequestering period.
	If I am travelling from out of town, when should I plan to arrive? Do not book a flight for the day of your exam. We do recommend allowing yourself grace time, in case you experience issues.

You must bring a piece of government-issued photo identification with signature to your exam. Examples of acceptable identification include a passport, driver’s licence or provincial health card. Documents must be in either English or French.

An admission card will be presented to you at the exam site during your registration. A representative of the Royal College will ask you to sign it in his/her presence.

Alleged conflict of interest between a candidate and an examiner

If you perceive a conflict of interest with an examiner, you must report it immediately to Royal College personnel during the exam session.

Every effort will be made by the chair and the members of the exam committee to ensure that there is no conflict of interest between a candidate and an examiner. No one examiner has the ability to pass or fail a candidate. Only the Royal College exam committees are empowered by the Royal College Assessment Committee and by the Council of the Royal College to make final decisions on the exams of all candidates, following procedures approved by the Royal College Assessment Committee and the Council (Section VI, 6.14. Policies and Procedures for Certification and Fellowship booklet).

Royal College personnel will review the allegation with the chair of the exam committee, following the procedures approved by the Royal College Assessment Committee. Such allegations not reported before or during the exam session will not constitute grounds for review of the exam at a later time.

The Royal College considers misconduct on any examination to be a serious offence which could lead to expulsion from the examination and affect future eligibility. For more information, please consult the Rules and Procedures Applicable to the Delivery of Royal College Examinations.

During registration at the written exam site, each candidate signs a statement respecting the confidentiality of the exam. Candidates are warned that if this confidentiality is breached, exam results may be voided and the Canadian licensing authorities shall be fully informed.

The exam questions are protected by copyright and are the intellectual property of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Any reproduction or other disclosure of these exam questions in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. The Royal College will take all available disciplinary measures and legal actions against any candidate or others who violate this confidentiality provision.

The vast majority of candidates undertaking Royal College Examinations experience a smooth examination day. However, due to factors beyond our control, some candidates face unexpected technical issues during their exam. 

If you experience technical issues (i.e., power outage, Wi-Fi disruption, computer failure) during an exam, please refer to the following guidance:  

Notify

• Notify your examiner and invigilator immediately to request assistance - technical support will be provided if necessary.

• If the technical issue is significant, the issue will be documented in an incident report.

Remediation

• You will not be disadvantaged if you experience a technical issue.

•  The examiner has the discretion to extend the station into the marking time to make up for any lost time.

• If the examiner does not have sufficient time to complete the station, you will be provided with a remediation station at the end of the examination.

• If a remediation station is not requested, please note that the examiner has obtained an adequate amount of information from you and considers the station objectives complete.