Tests of Competence (TOC) and Revalidation Assessment Board Vice Chair

The General Medical Council works with doctors, patients, and other stakeholders to support good, safe patient care across the UK. We set the standards doctors and those who train them need to meet and help them achieve them. If there are concerns these standards may not be met or that public confidence in doctors may be at risk, we can investigate, and take action if needed.

If serious concerns are raised with us about a doctor’s performance, we may decide to assess them using a Test of Competence. This is tailored to a doctor’s scope of practice and includes a knowledge test and an assessment of their clinical skills. We also assess doctors that do not have a Responsible Officer or Suitable Person using the revalidation assessment. This is a speciality-specific knowledge test and helps us decide whether to revalidate them. 

The Board’s Vice Chair provides expert advice to the GMC on the development and operation of these assessments. This includes supporting the writing, editing, piloting, standard setting and selection of questions and stations. It also involves supporting the ongoing statistical analysis of our assessments, pursuing opportunities to enhance the quality of our assessments, and deputising for the Board Chair when needed.   

You’ll need to commit to at least six days each calendar year to attend board meetings and complete other activities. The role is based at our office in Manchester, but work may also need to be completed virtually/remotely or from our London office on occasion. You will be eligible to claim appropriate travel, hotel and subsistence.

You must have demonstrable experience and standing in the fields of assessment, including a strong understanding of assessment methodologies, best practice and metrics. You will also have an academic/medical education background and/or a history of publication in the field of assessment design and delivery.

Please note: Unfortunately, we are unable to consider applications from those who do not have assessment experience beyond examining, piloting content, or content writing.

As part of our commitment to diversity, we seek members from a wide range of backgrounds and actively encourage applications from BME doctors, female doctors and doctors with a disability.

Please refer to the Information for Applicants document and the Guidance Notes for more details. You will need to address how your experience matches the job specific questions included in the Information for Applicants document as part of the online application form.

Please note candidates successful after shortlisting will be invited to attend a virtual interview in the week commencing 10 February 2025. Further information regarding this will be shared with shortlisted candidates in due course.