FORM 308

PROFESSIONAL BOARD FOR RADIOGRAPHY AND CLINICAL TECHNOLOGY

GUIDELINES FOR EXAMINATIONS OF FOREIGN QUALIFIED TECHNOLOGISTS IN CLINICAL TECHNOLOGY (CATEGORY: NEUROPHYSIOLOGY)

A. INTRODUCTION

All individuals who practice any of the health care professions incorporated in the scope of the HPCSA are obliged by the Health Professions Act, 1974, to register with the HPCSA, such that failure to do so constitutes a criminal offense.

In terms of the policy of the Professional Board for Radiography and Clinical Technology all foreign qualified candidates are required to challenge the entry examination in order to determine their registrability with HPCSA. Registration with HPCSA does not imply that employment is guaranteed. The onus for finding employment rests with the candidate.

B. ADMISSION CRITERIA

  1. Only candidates who are registrable, if applicable, in the country where they have obtained their qualification will be allowed to sit for the examination.
  2. Basic schooling of at least twelve (12) years must precede the training.
  3. The duration of the training should have been at least three (3) years. Should the duration of the training be less than three (3) years, the candidate should be referred to a training institution to apply to upgrade their training.
  4. The training should be of an academic acceptable standard and the candidate should have had adequate clinical training in line with the South African requirement.

C. APPLICATION AND EXAMINATION PROCESS

Candidate contacts the HPCSA

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TheAdministration of the Professional Board for Radiography and Clinical Technology sends Form 177 to the candidate.

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All duly completed forms and relevant information are returned to theAdministration of the Board at least two (2) months before set date of examination.

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The application then serves before the Education Committee of the Board who verifies the applicant’s eligibility to sit for the examination.

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The Examiner and Moderator are appointed by the Education Committee of the Board.

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The Administration notifies the candidate of his/her eligibility to undertake the examination and is sent the most recent information about the examination i.e. dates of examinations, examination fees, clinical venue etc.

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The Theoretical and Clinical Examinations are conducted as per the guidelines.

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The Examiner and Moderator compile final results and recommendations for ratification by the Board.

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The Administration communicates the final results to candidates at least four (4) weeks after the last examination had taken place.

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Successful candidates register with HPCSA.

D. PURPOSE OF EXAMINATION

The purpose of the examination is to establish that all foreign qualified Technologists applying to work in South Africa as a Clinical Technologist in Neurophysiology are able to:

- Apply knowledge and skills to perform and adapt techniques applicable to the clinical condition of the patient.

- Care for the patient responsibly and efficiently to ensure that the welfare and safety of the patient is maintained.

- Apply appropriate health and safety regulations, ethical principles and codes of practice in performance of techniques.

- Demonstrate competency in the execution of techniques.

-Display knowledge and understanding of equipment used.

- Operate equipment effectively and competently.

- Express an understanding of the principles and techniques of procedures performed.

- Display knowledge of Quality Assurance and Quality Control with regards to quality of procedures performed and equipment function.

Exhibit a level of insight and ability to apply skills and techniques within the context of Clinical Technology service delivery.

- Display an awareness and understanding of the South African health care system.

E. ADMISSION TO THE EXAMINATION

  1. Approval to sit for the examination must be granted by the Education Committee of the Board.
  2. A duly completed Form 177 B with relevant documentation must be submitted two (2) months prior to the set date of the examination.
  3. A non-refundable examination fee has to be paid to HPCSA four (4) weeks prior to the set date of the examination.

F. VENUE OF EXAMINATION

  1. The examination will be conducted at a venue approved by the Professional Board for Radiography and Clinical Technology.
  2. Candidates are responsible for their own traveling and accommodation costs.

G. FORMAT OF EXAMINATION

The examination is held twice a year in April and September of each year.

Part 1: Theoretical Examination

This examination consists of a three (3) hour paper that is set at the third year level.

This examination covers the integration of the following:

anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, clinical practice, biomedical apparatus,pharmacology, safety and quality assurance applicable to Neurophysiology.

Part 2: Clinical Examination

1.The venue for the clinical examination is approved by the Education Committee of the Board.

2.During this examination, candidates are required to perform one (1) or two (2) full sets of clinical procedures on patients.

  1. The assessment criteria for the clinical examination will include the following:

Equipment preparation

Patient preparation

Patient care and communication

Technique employed

Safety and quality assurance including trouble-shooting

Use of equipment and accessories

Protocol followed

Knowledge of anatomy, pathology, pharmacology etc.

H. CALCULATION OF FINAL MARK

A pass mark of 60% for clinical examination and 40% must be obtained for the theory examination must be obtained as a final mark.

I. FULLFILLMENT FOR REGISTRATION

A pass mark of 60% must be obtained in the clinical assessment and a pass mark of 40% must be obtained in the theoretical assessment in order to register with HPCSA.

A candidate will only be allowed to sit twice for the examination.

J. BRIEF OVERVIEW OF 3rd YEAR SYLLABI

Anatomy and physiology

l. Skull and Vertebral Column

2. Brain

3. Spinal Cord

4. Peripheral Nerves

5. Skeletal Muscles

Pathophysiology

1. Epilepsy

2. Abnormalities of Sensation

3. Abnormalities of Consciousness

4. Abnormalities of Cortical Function

5. General Neurological Diseases

Biomedical Apparatus

1. Electrcencephalography Systems

2. Polysomnography Instrumentation

3. Evoked Potential Systems

4. Electromyography/Neurography Instrumentation

5. Electrical Safety

Clinical Practice

1. Electroencephalography

2. Polysomnography

3. Evoked Potentials

4. Electromyography/Neurography

Clinical Competencies

1. Perform electroencephalography

2. Analyse EEG result and generate report for verification

3. Perform evoked potentials (visual; auditor and somatosensory / brain auditory)

4. Assist with electromyography

K. SUGGESTED READING LIST

Title / Author/s / Publisher
-Biomedical Instrumentation and Measurements.
- Current practice of clinical EEG; 2nd edition
- Spehlmanns EEG Primer; 2nd edition
- Merritts Textbook of Neurology; 8th edition
- Primer of EEG / Cromwell,L., Weibell. F.J., and Pfeiffer, E.A.
David D daly and Timothy A Pedley
Bruce J Fisch
Lewis P Rowlan MD
James Rowan MD and Eugene Tolunsky MD / Englewood Cliffs, N J.: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1980
Lippincott-Raven; 1997
Elsivier; 1991
Lea & Febiger; 1989
Butterworth & Heinnemann; 2003

L. REMARKING OF SCRIPTS

Only candidates who had obtained a mark of between 35% and 39% in the theoretical examination may apply for their scripts to be remarked.

The Committee Coordinator may be contacted for information about the fee involved and procedure to follow.

A remarking fee of 50% of the examination feewill be charged for a re-mark.

Should a candidate fail any part of the examination, no re-assessment will be allowed. The candidate will be expected to reregister will full costs and sit for the nextexaminations.

M. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For further enquiry contact:

TheCommittee Coordinator

HPCSA

Professional Board for Radiography and Clinical Technology

P.O. Box 205

PRETORIA

0001

Tel: 012 3389403

Fax: 012 328 4863