SQP qualifications uninvigilated

RE: SQP qualifications uninvigilated

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 08:23:39 GMT

[quote userid="60272" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-veterinary-practice/32151/sqp-qualifications-uninvigilated/176880#176880"]'invigilated' by the personnel manager (who apparently gave them all the answers as no one was supposed to fail it)[/quote]

Laughed out loud, when I said I think exams should be invigilated, that wasn't quite what I had in mind

RE: SQP qualifications uninvigilated

Cyonica — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 21:32:10 GMT

This is true. I have an unrelated diploma that was held through a previous workplace which I did nothing toward, just did my job as normal and at some point received a certificate. Years later I found out from an old colleague that everyone else had sat an exam for it, 'invigilated' by the personnel manager (who apparently gave them all the answers as no one was supposed to fail it). I do think it de-values the qualification for it to be uninvigilated.

RE: SQP qualifications uninvigilated

Caroline Johnson — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 17:25:23 GMT

I feel sure you haven't cheated the online AMTRA/HAU SQP exam (as a RVN, why would you need to?). However I have a question, as I notice you say "I think this reduces the desire to cheat" - is "reducing the desire" good enough?

Many large retailers are putting students through these non-invigilated exams and they are under tremendous pressure to get people qualified so they can sell VPS medicines. A non-invigilated exam is easy enough for others to cheat, even if you didn't.

Exams are supposed to be valid, authentic and fair to all students and the high value ones are invigilated.

RE: SQP qualifications uninvigilated

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 17:22:51 GMT

[quote userid="2169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-veterinary-practice/32151/sqp-qualifications-uninvigilated/176870#176870"]I sat the exam in January, and will still be proud of my qualification if I get it, despite you intimating to everyone that it is now worthless - thanks.[/quote]

sananbaz Hi, and sorry. I really wasn't intimating that your qualification is worthless. And actually, I wasn't trying to be inflammatory. Someone raised the issue with me, and I genuinely just wanted to sound everyone out and see what they think.

[quote userid="11312" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-veterinary-practice/32151/sqp-qualifications-uninvigilated/176867#176867"]As a former SQP, I have always felt that is is degrading to have to sit the exams to become one when I already am a RVN !!![/quote]

molladog I gather that is a widespread feeling. Do you cover all of the subjects for the SQP in the RVN qualification, making it total duplication, or not?

[quote userid="2169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-veterinary-practice/32151/sqp-qualifications-uninvigilated/176870#176870"]There was little choice but to go online,[/quote]

sananbaz Sure, not arguing that.

[quote userid="2169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-veterinary-practice/32151/sqp-qualifications-uninvigilated/176870#176870"]and the variety of platforms that could be invigilated would increase costs[/quote]

You would think still cheaper than invigilation in person, though I don't really know.

[quote userid="2169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-veterinary-practice/32151/sqp-qualifications-uninvigilated/176870#176870"]it has actually changed to an open book exam where you can research the answers whilst doing the exam (much the same as you would in a real life prescribing situation)[/quote]

Yes, I heard that, and ...

[quote userid="2169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-veterinary-practice/32151/sqp-qualifications-uninvigilated/176870#176870"] I think this reduces the desire to cheat[/quote]

Yes, I hadn't thought of that, you are probably right. Why cheat if you can look it up anyway?

[quote userid="2169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-veterinary-practice/32151/sqp-qualifications-uninvigilated/176870#176870"]as does the online viva where you are live onscreen with the examiner, identification submitted prior to the the exam, and checked at the time too.[/quote]

Sure, but I wasn't talking about the viva exam. That's a separate issue and is by definition invigilated.

[quote userid="2169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-veterinary-practice/32151/sqp-qualifications-uninvigilated/176870#176870"]The written papers are also plagiarism checked by Turnitin, which means no one could sell the answers to more that one person without being detected, and the questions change at each sitting.[/quote]

I was wondering, do the new online papers require long-form answers or multi choice, or both?

But either way, there could only be a presumably limited number of questions to be asked, and they could be shared. And as far as I know, Turnitin is not infallible.

[quote userid="2169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-veterinary-practice/32151/sqp-qualifications-uninvigilated/176870#176870"]Also, once registered, you have a professional responsibility to meet cpd requirements and follow a code of practice - any doubt about your skill would lead to investigation and removal from the register.[/quote]

I just don't think it is that clear cut. People don't generally cheat the system to the level where they know absolutely nothing but qualify with a double first! It's more a grey area and they may not be terribly good, and get a bit of help to get past the finishing line. Not something to trigger an investigation.

[quote userid="2169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-veterinary-practice/32151/sqp-qualifications-uninvigilated/176870#176870"]and will still be proud of my qualification[/quote]

As you absolutely should be!

As I say, lack of invigilation doesn't devalue your achievement. It devalues the achievement of anyone who cheats. It devalues the actual qualification itself (as opposed to your achievement in getting it).

I still think you would expect an A level standard qualification to be invigilated so as to be sure that the person taking the paper is the person they say they are!

RE: SQP qualifications uninvigilated

sananbaz — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 16:34:01 GMT

Arlo, I think you are being a little inflammatory! There was little choice but to go online, and the variety of platforms that could be invigilated would increase costs. Yes, it would be better to be invigilated, but it has actually changed to an open book exam where you can research the answers whilst doing the exam (much the same as you would in a real life prescribing situation). I think this reduces the desire to cheat; as does the online viva where you are live onscreen with the examiner, identification submitted prior to the the exam, and checked at the time too. The viva covers a random selection of the syllabus and is recorded for internal and external assurance. This would likely show holes in the knowledge, which would be picked up. In addition, this is a Level 4 qualification which is similar to the first year of a HND/Foundation degree - which are both achieved, in the main, by production of essays and projects which are not invigilated. The written papers are also plagiarism checked by Turnitin, which means no one could sell the answers to more that one person without being detected, and the questions change at each sitting. Also, once registered, you have a professional responsibility to meet cpd requirements and follow a code of practice - any doubt about your skill would lead to investigation and removal from the register.

I sat the exam in January, and will still be proud of my qualification if I get it, despite you intimating to everyone that it is now worthless - thanks.

RE: SQP qualifications uninvigilated

molladog — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 14:04:58 GMT

As a former SQP, I have always felt that is is degrading to have to sit the exams to become one when I already am a RVN !!!