Affiliated to:
Accreditation
EXAMINATION FOR HRUK CERTIFICATE OF ACCREDITATION
For potential 2012 exam candidates, it is imperative that you read all and fully understand the following details as part of your preparation, before finally visiting the online registration link towards the end of this page.
The 2012 examination takes place on Friday 23rd March 2012 and will commence promptly at 14.00. The duration of the examination is 3 hours unless otherwise advised prior to the exam to those specific candidates who are resitting or sitting the specialist section only (EP or Devices) as agreed with HRUK. (N.B applies to candidates who passed both sections of the exam (Core and specialist section - EP or Devices) at first attempt in the last 2 years and now wish to apply to sit the other specialist section only. Please contact hruk@bcs.com for eligibility). Attendance signing in will open from 12.30pm onwards. Please ensure that you arrive in good time, as the exam starts promptly at 14.00. Exam candidates are allowed to leave the examination room at any time up to 16:30 hours (30 minutes before the end of the examination) after which time they will be required to remain until the end of the examination.
In 2012, candidates have a choice of 3 venues where to sit the exam. Details are as follows:
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Candidates are recommended to make their own independent travel enquiries as well in advance of the exam date, and as always allow ample time to commute to their chosen venue.
What does the HRUK Certificate of Accreditation consist of?
The HRUK Certificate of Accreditation comprises two components: the exam and logbook.
• The Examination
The examination has continued to be revised since 2006. In 2009, the number of questions increased to 100, although remained in a similar format with 60 core questions and 40 speciality questions over 3 hours. The format remains the same in 2012. The popularity of the certificate is increasing and the standard is also improving. The duration of the examination is 3 hours unless otherwise advised prior to the exam to those specific candidates who are resitting or sitting the specialist section only (EP or Devices) as agreed with HRUK. (N.B applies to candidates who passed both sections of the exam (Core and specialist section - EP or Devices) at first attempt in the last 2 years and now wish to apply to sit the other specialist section only. Please contact hruk@bcs.com for eligibility.
In 2011, the HRUK examination paper was marked electronically for the first time. This has enabled HRUK to examine the answers to the questions in more detail so that we can work on improving the quality of the questions. Because of this change, it is essential that candidates are aware in advance of how they are required to mark their answers on the exam answersheets. Please click here to download the 2012 guidance. Please read this very carefully! The venue invigilators will re-emphasise the guidelines before the exam commences and candidates will receive a copy of this guidance with their final registration confirmation letters.
• The Logbook
There is also a logbook to be completed. There are 6 logbooks in total. You complete ONE logbook only. The logbook can be started from the date of registration for the examination and must then be completed within two years of registering for the examination. We will be revising the logbooks in the near future with a view to making them more comprehensive, taking into account the longer completion time. However, unless there are exceptional circumstances, no extension to this period will be considered. Although the logbooks are being revised, the format is likely to be similar and you are advised to start collecting implant and follow up cases from the time you register.
YOU CAN NOT START BEFORE YOU HAVE REGISTERED FOR THE EXAM OR COLLATE DATA RETROSPECTIVELY.
The logbook component is very important and requires a significant amount of time and effort to complete. A candidate who does not specialise in cardiac rhythm management may find it increasingly difficult to complete the logbook within the specified deadline. The Accreditation Committee would expect candidates to have two years experience in cardiac rhythm management prior to sitting the examination or completing the logbook.
In some cases, a candidate may be required for security purposes to apply for an honorary contract to enable them to visit other hospitals to undertake procedures and collate data for their logbook and this additional time must be factored in when completing a logbook.
Logbooks for downloading by 2012 Candidates Only
Logbook for Physiologist (Devices)
Logbook for Physiologist (Electrophysiology)
Logbook for SpR (Devices)
Logbook for SpR (Electrophysiology)
Logbook for Nurse (Devices) Logbook for Nurse(Electrophysiology)
You complete ONE logbook only. If you have any technical problems trying to view/download the logbook(s), please contact Azeem Ahmad:
Tel: +44 (0)20 7380 1918. Email: hruk@bcs.com .
For 2011 candidates who sat the exam on 25 March 2011, this is just a reminder that your logbook can be started from the date that you registered for the examination and must be completed by 31 December 2011 unless otherwise advised. This still applies and any extension beyond December 2011 will need to be applied for prospectively.
Logbooks for downloading by 2011 and earlier candidates:
If you are a candidate from 2011 or earlier, and still need to access a copy of your appropriate logbook, please contact Azeem Ahmad:
Direct Tel: +44 (0)20 7380 1918 or General Tel: +44 (0)20 7383 3887, Email: hruk@bcs.com.
N.B. Patient identifiable information in logbooks
ALL CANDIDATES: Please note that all patient identifiable information must be clearly anonymised in the logbooks apart from a hospital number. Inclusion of any patient identifiable information is a clear breach of patient confidentiality and a serious governance issue. Markers have been instructed to return logbooks and fail candidates if they continue to have patient identifiable information in their logbooks.
Logbook extensions
As a rule, requests for logbook extensions must always be submitted in writing (and not by telephone) to hruk@bcs.com giving full reasons why an extension is being sought, and requests will then be considered on a case by case basis by the Accreditation Committee. Please note that extension requests require clear mitigating circumstances (eg. ill-health, pregnancy) and not simply failure to achieve cases.
2012 Exam Syllabus and reading list
The 2012 syllabus remains unchanged since 2009. Please click here to download the syllabus. A recommended reading list is also available for downloading by clicking here.
Sample exam questions
For any potential candidate considering taking the exam in the future, you may find it useful to view the below representative questions for the devices and EP sections which are more up to date and representative of the standard required than previous examination papers.
HRUK logbooks FAQs
A list of frequently asked questions mainly about the HRUK logbooks compiled from candidates actual enquiries and HRUK’s responses will also be made available on the website in due course. Watch this space!
Exam registration fee
The 2012 exam registration fee is £180.00 for non-HRUK members, £150.00 for current and paying HRUK members or £80.00 for candidates who passed both sections of the exam (Core and specialist section - EP or Devices) at first attempt in the last 2 years and now wish to apply to sit the other specialist section only. Please contact hruk@bcs.com for eligibility). If you are interested in joining HRUK, please click here .
There is no fee for resitting candidates (N.B applicable to 'partial fail' candidates only and NOT applicable to candidates who failed overall in 2011 or earlier who are required to pay the full fee to sit the exam again) OR deferred candidates.
Please note that if you decide to cancel your registration booking, an administrative fee of £25.00 will be applied.
We hope you will disseminate this information and encourage your colleagues (physiologists, arrhythmia nurses and registrars) to consider this qualification. For anyone considering sitting the exam in 2013, HRUK will as usual run pre-exam courses during Heart Rhythm Congress 2012, so do sign up when the opportunity arises!
REGISTER NOW
Deadline for registration is
17:00 hrs, Friday 24th February 2012.
For any general questions about the exam or logbooks, please contact Azeem Ahmad by email hruk@bcs.com ; telephone +44 (0)20 7380 1918 or +44 (0)20 7383 3887.
For any general enquiries on registration payment/receipts/HRUK membership, please contact Sara Newbold, by email: admin@hruk.org.uk or telephone +44 (0)1789 451 831.
Nick Linker, Chair of the Accreditation Committee.
Completed logbooks should be sent to:
Azeem Ahmad
Affiliates Coordinator
HRUK
9 Fitzroy Square
London
W1T 5HW
Direct Tel: +44 (0)20 7380 1918
General: +44 (0)20 7383 3887
Email: hruk@bcs.com
When sending logbooks, you are recommended to use recorded/registered post/special delivery for extra security purposes.