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Favoured approach for authenticity adopted for successful first online AMTRA written assessments
Demand strong for next available assessment dates: With the first two blocks of AMTRA’s online written assessments for Registered Animal Medicines Advisor (RAMA/SQP) qualifications successfully undertaken in January and March, the regulatory body is looking ahead to the April assessments where even more candidates have booked their assessments.
The Animal Medicines Training
Regulatory Authority (AMTRA) announced in December 2020 that it had moved all
RAMA assessments in both written and verbal formats online for the remainder of
the 2020-21 academic year. It had already successfully introduced online viva
(oral) assessments from November.
The online timed open-book assessment (TOBA)
approach adopted by AMTRA and Harper Adams University is widely used within
Higher Education, and provides an authenticity in assessment that is more
closely aligned with the real world application of knowledge and expertise.
Dr Philip Robinson, Head of the
Department of Veterinary Health and Animal Sciences at Harper Adams University,
said: “The circumstances created by the Covid-19 pandemic has really
accelerated the rate of adoption of online teaching, learning and assessment
formats in Higher Education. The new TOBA format for the RAMA/SQP qualification
is in line with assessments being conducted across a range of subject areas in
universities. It provides a rigorous test of knowledge, and particularly the
application of knowledge, in a time-constrained electronic format which can be
undertaken within the workplace or at home.”
After gaining the Higher Education qualification and passing a
separate AMTRA viva, candidates are entitled to join the AMTRA Register and
thus prescribe and/or supply certain veterinary medicines under the Veterinary
Medicines Regulations.
AMTRA is unique in requiring Higher
Education level 5 qualifications for farm and equine together with a compulsory
viva.
The first online written assessments took
place between 18-22 January, conducted by educational partner Harper
Adams University, and the second block in March. The next assessment period
takes place between 12-16 April, with 330 bookings for that week.
As well as addressing Covid-19
restrictions, the online assessments help to meet the growing requirement for
qualified animal medicines advisors within registered premises, heightened
further during the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic.
The assessment follows the same
rigorous procedures, requiring the same academic effort and preparation
required by a conventional exam. Each suite of assessments is completely
rewritten and distinct from earlier assessments.
To allow candidates to prepare
thoroughly for assessments, AMTRA and Harper Adams have prepared a ‘Candidate
and Employer Guide to the Online AMTRA Assessments’, available online at www.amtra.org.uk.
Each module assessment (Base,
Companion Animal, Farm, Equine, Avian, Veterinary Nurse) is available on a
specific date, while vivas can be booked via the AMTRA website, either before
or after the written assessment.
AMTRA secretary general Stephen Dawson
explains that plans beyond July 2021 are still being developed, and both AMTRA
and Harper Adams will continue to carefully monitor and evaluate the online assessment
process during the current academic year.
Mr Dawson explains, “We remain in
listening mode, and will continue to survey those taking part in the assessments
to help guide us. If we can adapt to make things even better in the future, we
will do.”
Full details and access to the guide
can be found at the AMTRA website www.amtra.org.uk