Postgrad qualification in ophthalmology?

Re: Postgrad qualification in ophthalmology?

elizabethellison — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:32:12 GMT

Thanks for the info. I would be paying for it all myself as I'm self-employed. I would asos be concerned about how much time I would have to commit to study etc - some weeks espec if the kids are unwell and off school or it's the school holidays I have no spare time at all!

How do you intend to make the money back? Do you charge more for consults or is it by generating more work and being able to tackle more before referral?

Re: Postgrad qualification in ophthalmology?

Vikki Halliday LLB — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 01:17:13 GMT

You also have the option to do the cert over 3 years, sure you should be able to do the case reports and study over that period , it also means you can spread the cost of the modules. Just back from latest modules tonight, and am really enjoying it , although apprehensive about getting the cases myself as just opened a new practice, so not seeing a huge amount of older animals with disease yet.

Re: Postgrad qualification in ophthalmology?

Gareth C. — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:14:46 GMT

you would get enough case studies working part time, case studies are as much as you put into them. Also, as with the old RCVS certs, you can use pre-existing cases so start taking photos etc now! and when you start looking for cases its amazing what turns up. contact ESPVS for more info. would you pay the lot or does your employer contribute? I think my course will probably have paid for itself in 2 years (not accounting for the close to £8k I've spent on kit but thats anoter story). To do "normal" CPD for a year costs minimum £1000pa anyway and the course is over two calendar years. We've just enrolled an employee on a two year medicine course for about £7k at Imporve and allocated that for her over four calendar years CPD to spread the cost per year.

Re: Postgrad qualification in ophthalmology?

elizabethellison — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:24:41 GMT

Hi All

Thanks for all your replies. I do find it frustrating that the certificate system has been ceased without an equivalent replacement. To those doing the Improve certs I would be really grateful for your experiences so far - I work part-time balanced with raising 3 young school age children. I have heard that it would be nigh on impossible to collect the required number of case studies working part-time? Plus do you have an idea of how many hours per week required for studying/writing up case studies/extra reading etc etc? I'm finding it hard to justify spending nearly £8000 'just' to get some letters after my name...but I do alot of reading anyway and am dedicated to keeping up with cpd and also feel i'd like that formally recognised.

Also, tho those studying for a specfic discipline, do you find that you have no time to keep up with cpd in other areas?

Thanks!

Re: Postgrad qualification in ophthalmology?

Gareth C. — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:41:38 GMT

[quote user="liz ellison"]even within the modules for cert AVP[/quote]

what you haven't spotted as well is that although the certAVP modules are written up for ophthalmology no one exists to appraise them so you cant do them anyway. great isnt it

Re: Postgrad qualification in ophthalmology?

Gareth C. — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:39:53 GMT

[quote user="chris jones"]I am very glad that I did this course it is well taught and has a strong practical base.[/quote]

I echo what Chris said (Hi Chris) and especially if you have been doing some ophthalmology in practice already its great to fill in the gaps. We had two days surgical training as well as all the lectures, and the lecturers were very good. You also get to know a few people and set up an email group which is useful. The course is the same content (updated obviously) as they used to provide for a taught syllabus for the origional CertOphthal.

It IS the only ophthalmology post grad cert in the UK apart from the very few (single figures possibly none) European diploma residency programs available in a very few referral centres.

Hope that helps

gareth

Re: Postgrad qualification in ophthalmology?

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 23:21:55 GMT

I had the same problem, I did the improve GP cert in ophthalmology which now is the only route to a further qualification. it is a good course with a good practical base. The only problem is that is isnt as widely recognised as the cert avp which i have to say i am not convinced by anyway.

I am very glad that I did this course it is well taught and has a strong practical base.

The bsava are planning to do OU qualifications also which I will be looking into when they start, but to date the improve gp cert is the only qualification recognised to date.

if you want to pm me about the gp cert and what it entails then please feel free.

chris

Re: Postgrad qualification in ophthalmology?

Vikki Halliday LLB — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 23:04:36 GMT

Liz,

There is no Cert AVP, but Improve International CPD are running a GP Cert Ophthalmology, which is examined under the auspices of the ESPVS.

Unfortunately you have missed the start of this year, (as I drive to Swindon tomorrow for modules 3&4, which is nothing remarkable except I llive in Stirling....), however you should be able to start with some of the modules this year and possibly complete the remainder next year.

So far I have found it excellent, and reasonably priced for the 12 modules.

Full details can be found http://www.improvecpd.com/Default.aspx

Re: Postgrad qualification in ophthalmology?

Mark Hedberg — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 20:13:16 GMT

The BSAVA's only just starting that partnership with Open University; not sure if that's going to be happening soon as they've only just appointed an Academic Director as of Nov 2010.

Re: Postgrad qualification in ophthalmology?

Christopher Saul — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 18:18:20 GMT

No idea I'm afraid, though I know BSAVA are planning to expand their range of certificates if they get enough interest in them ( initially they will just be in medicine and surgery I think). Best plan is prob contact them......