certificate advice wanted

Re: certificate advice wanted

Fiona French — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:11:11 GMT

I have just started the BSAVA Surgery certificate. It seems well organised and the support system seems great. The structure of the course suits me well, and hopefully will keep me working consistently through the course. Also, the same group of people will be attending each course and taking part in the discussion forums, so there should be plenty of support from each other. It's pretty good value as well, with the 10 days of teaching, and all the other things the enrolment fee includes.

Re: certificate advice wanted

Jillian Hall — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:36:31 GMT

I have recently completed a modular certificate. Mine was in general practice so the C modules were based in soft skills rather than clinical skills. I am an assistant vet so management skills are not a major part of my job, and I can't say I find these subjects immensely interesting. But despite that they have been very useful and can definitely see the merit in making this an integral part of the certificate structure. if I were starting again now I would definitely choose more clinical C modules- but the flexibility in content and approach to the soft skills work for A & B modules will mean it has some relevance to almost anyone.

Re: certificate advice wanted

Lorna McHardy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:17:44 GMT

I've recently started on the CertAVP. The essays in module A are on subjects I would previously have said interest me very little (except for the ethics stuff which is endlessly fascinating), and I've surprised myself by finding them much more worth engaging with than I would have believed. Mind you, I've only submitted two so far and haven't had the results... and I've been distracted lately. I may change my tune yet.

But so far, I've no complaints. I suppose it helps that the modular approach suits me very well, as I'm so used to it from something like 10 years of OU.

Re: certificate advice wanted

Clive Ansell — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:45:47 GMT

I thought about restarting a certificate in anaesthesia, I started working for it 12 years ago but gave up because not enough hours in a day. I am put off by the new modular ones though, as I am not interested in practice management or ethics etc, and not really getting to the meat of it until modules 1 and 2 are out of the way. A shame, but there it is.

Re: certificate advice wanted

derrick carpenter — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:39:32 GMT

thanks for replies. essays on practice management don't really excite me I'm afraid so the BSAVA one sounds good. pity I've missed the boat till next year

Re: certificate advice wanted

Mike Martin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:20:41 GMT

That sounds like a good summary to me.

I do not understand the new Certs well; but I think the RCVS Modules A & B are geared toward practice management issues, which you need to do before you get to embark on the clinical Module C. If management is useful to you, then go for the RCVS one. But if you want to skip that and get straight to clinical stuff - then it sounds like the BSAVA modules get straight there.

Good luck

Re: certificate advice wanted

Frances Barr — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:31:31 GMT

I realise that it's difficult for me to remain impartial here, as I'm responsible for the running of the BSAVA certificates. But what follows is truly intended to be as neutral as possible!

The BSAVA surgery certificate and the RCVS CertAVP are academically equivalent. Of course the RCVS CertAVP is more widely known at the moment - the BSAVA one is just beginning, and we won't have the first certificate holders till 2014. But I truly believe that you should worry more about the structure and content that suits you best, than how widely it is currently recognised.

Having gone through an exercise mapping content between the RCVS CertAVP and the BSAVA PGCert, and discussed this with the RCVS, it is clear that much of the content is common (as you would expect). It's probably fair to say that the BSAVA PGCerts have a bit more subject emphasis and the RCVS CertAVP have a bit more on general practice skills - so you need to decide what's important to you.

In terms of structure, the BSAVA PGCert is more structured, with courses and online learning built in. The RCVS CertAVP offers more flexibility in how and what you study. Some people like structure - some people don't. So decide what suits you best. The BSAVA PGCert has a comprehensive student support system. You may prefer to find / already have your own support.

Hope this helps - I'm happy to answer any more specific questions you have if you want to message me.

Frances

Re: certificate advice wanted

Mark Rowland — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:53:38 GMT

# Runs for cover #

Sorry this sort of thing has been discussed before, a quick search on VS should give you plenty of opinion

Goodluck with your cert