Introduction and Administration of the Clinical Skill Test of the Medical Licensing Examination, Republic of Korea (2009)

Kun Sang Kim

doi:10.3352/jeehp.2010.7.4

Abstract

The first trial of the clinical skill test as part of the Korean Medical Licensing Examination was done from September 23 to December 1, 2009, in the clinical skill test center located in the National Health Personnel Licensing Examination Board (NHPLEB) building, Seoul. Korea is the first country to introduce the clinical skill test as part of the medical licensing examination in Asia. It is a report on the introduction and administration of the test. The NHPLEB launched researches on the validity of introducing the clinical skill test and on the best implementation methods in 2000. Since 2006, lists of subjects of test items for the clinical skill test has been developed. The test consisted of two types of evaluation, i.e., a clinical performance examination (CPX) with a standardized patient (SP) and objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). The proctor (medical faculty member) and SP rate the examinees' proficiency for the OSCE and CPX respectively. Out of 3,456 applicants, 3,289 examinees (95.2%) passed the test. Out of 167 examinees who failed the clinical skill test, 142 passed the written test. This means that the clinical skill test showed characteristics independent from the written test. This successful implementation of the clinical skill test is going to improve the medical graduates' performance of clinical skills.

Highlights

Introduction and Administration of the ClinicalSkill Test of the Medical Licensing Examination, Republic of Korea (2009) Kun Sang Kim*National Health Personnel Licensing Examination Board, Seoul, Korea AbstractThe first trial of the clinical skill test as part of the Korean Medical Licensing Examination was done from September 23 to December 1, 2009, in the clinical skill test center located in the National Health Personnel Licensing Examination Board (NHPLEB) building, Seoul
Anyone who has graduated from medical schools in Korea and has earned a bachelor’s degree in medicine and anyone who has graduated from any international medical school accredited by the Minister for Health and Welfare, obtained a medical license in that country, and passed a preliminary test before the Medical Licensing Examination is eligible to take the Medical Licensing Examination in Korea
The test consisted of two types of evaluation, i.e., a clinical performance examination (CPX) with a standardized patient (SP) and objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)

Summary

Introduction

Introduction and Administration of the ClinicalSkill Test of the Medical Licensing Examination, Republic of Korea (2009) Kun Sang Kim*National Health Personnel Licensing Examination Board, Seoul, Korea AbstractThe first trial of the clinical skill test as part of the Korean Medical Licensing Examination was done from September 23 to December 1, 2009, in the clinical skill test center located in the National Health Personnel Licensing Examination Board (NHPLEB) building, Seoul. Key Words : Medical Licensing Examination; Clinical Performance Examination; Standardized Patient; Objective Structured Clinical Examination The Medical Licensing Examination consists of a written test and a clinical skill test. To obtain a medical license, an applicant must pass both the written test and the clinical skill test.

Results

Conclusion