ORAL PRACTICAL EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS

PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU ARRIVE FOR YOUR ORAL/PRACTICAL

GUIDELINES FOR CANDIDATES

These instructions are intended to assist you in preparing yourself for the oral/practical examination process.

Schedule

You will be informed of your scheduled time for the oral/practical examination by a phone call once the written examination results are tabulated. Plan to arrive for your scheduled time early so that you are not rushed. The Chief Examiner will advise you where to wait until your allotted time. We request that you do not remain in the hallways outside of the examination area. The Chief Examiner will come and get you when it is time for your examination.

Sequence of Events

When the time for your examination has arrived you will be called by the Chief Examiner.

You will then be escorted to a preparation room where you will be required to sign in and present photo identification. You will be seated at a table and given a condition or pathology that you will be examined on. You will have approximately fifteen minutes in which to prepare for the oral/practical examination. Paper will be provided and you may use this to list any information which you feel is relevant to your condition or pathology. You may refer to your notes at any time during the examination process. This paper will not be marked.

After your preparation time you will be escorted into the examination room.

Professional Demeanour, Presentation and Deportment

During the examination you will be marked on presentation, professional demeanour and deportment. This is an examination process to determine your eligibility to join the profession of massage therapy. Along with assessing your practical skills as a practitioner the examiners will be expecting you to display competence, professionalism and courtesy. It would be seen as unprofessional to show up in bicycle tights and a sweat shirt. Please attire yourself in clothing suitable to a clinic setting. Candidates are requested not to wear scents (ie. perfume or essential oils), due to allergies. Please do not wear clothing with school logos.

Examination Format

You will be undergoing an independent evaluation from each examiner and model.

Role of Examiners

All marks will be finalized by the Registration Committee. You are instructed not to ask the examiners how you have done and they are instructed not to comment on your performance. The examiners are not informed of the institution where you took your training or the marks you received on your written examinations.

Role of Models
The model present is there to represent a patient. He/she will be marking your palpation, case history, interview skills, assessment and treatment. You are requested to treat them as you would a patient; with respect and care. The model will be reporting if a candidate displays injurious behaviour or treatment. This will be deemed Risk of Harm and reported to the examiners and Chief examiner. Risk of Harm may be grounds for automatic failure.

Post-Examination Communication

You are advised not to discuss your performance after the oral/practical examination with either the models or the examiners. They will not know the results of your success or failure and are instructed not to divulge any information or details to candidates. If you have concerns in regards to the oral/practical examination or your examination results these are best addressed, formally, in writing, either to the Registrar of the College or the Registration Committee. Results of the examinations will be mailed out within two to three weeks of completion of the oral/practical examinations. Please do not call sooner as the results will not be available by telephone.