Examiners

Examiners, who must be Fellows of the Faculty of Public Health or other appropriately qualified persons, are appointed by the Board on the recommendation of the Education Committee.

Examiners are not paid, but they can claim reasonable travel expenses at Faculty rates for travel to meetings.

Becoming an Examiner

The Faculty of Public Health aims to maintain a cohort of examiners who reflect all aspects of Public Health practice and are from a variety of geographical locations covering the breadth of the UK. Both Diplomate and Membership examiners need to be enthusiastic in their role in helping develop the future specialist workforce. The Faculty welcomes expressions of interest for either examination from appropriately qualified and experienced personnel.

Nominations

Both Examination Boards keep the lists of trained examiners under review to ensure they have the right mixture and also in the event of retirement or resignation. Although expressions of interest are welcome at any point, there might be a need to find new examiners with specific experience or from specific geographical locations, for example.

The functions for diplomate and membership examiners vary due to the format of the examinations. Diplomat examiners assess a particular part of the curriculum whereas Membership examiners assess across the spectrum of applied Public Health practice.

Potential examiners can be nominated or self-nominate. Nominations should be accompanied by a curriculum vitae and agreement from the nominee that, if appointed, they are able to devote the necessary time and to give the task appropriate priority. All applicants should:

- Have held MFPH/FFPH or a relevant higher qualification for at least three years

- Be a consultant or equivalent senior specialist post

- Be able to evidence they are up to date in:

Their continuing professional development (CPD) requirements
Their equality and diversity training

Criteria for Appointment

Applicants for the post of Diplomate or Final Membership examiner should have:

held the MFPH or relevant higher qualification for at least three years
hold a consultant or senior specialist post or, in the case of DFPH Examiners, a relevant teaching post
be able to demonstrate that they are up to date in their continuing professional development (CPD) requirements
be able to demonstrate that they have undertaken equality and diversity training.

Other factors to be taken into account are:

experience in the practice of public health or a relevant discipline
research experience
publications, including papers in peer review journals, reports, books and articles
papers given at scientific meetings
examining and teaching experience in a relevant field
experience of training in public health
evidence of participation in other activities relevant to the promotion of the standards and practice of public health

Retired Members and Fellows

Retired members will not normally be recruited to become examiners. However, if a current examiner retires, they can continue to fulfil the role on the condition they continue to be up to date in all requirements for the role.

Terms of Appointment

Nominations will first be assessed by the relevant Chair of Examiners. Names of potential examiners will then be forwarded to the Education Committee for approval. On approval, examiners will be expected to complete the full relevant training before taking up office. No Examiner may serve on both the DFPH and MFPH panels simultaneously. Examiners will be entitled to claim travel and accommodation expenses in accordance with Faculty rules and procedures.

Removal or suspension of examiners

The following are grounds for the removal and/or suspension of Examiners:

Voluntary resignation from the Faculty;
Those who cease to be in good standing for non-payment of fees or subscriptions and therefore ‘forfeit all the rights and privileges of a member of the Faculty’ (Standing Order 118);
If the board is satisfied after due enquiry that any member has gained admission to the Faculty ‘by fraud, false statement or imposition, or has acted in any respect in a dishonourable or unprofessional manner‘ (Standing Order 15) or by fraudulent claims of higher qualifications;
Erasure or suspension from the appropriate specialist register, e.g. for health reasons or professional misconduct;
Unauthorised disclosure of confidential information which Examiners are required not to divulge. All those appointed are required to sign a Declaration of Faith agreeing not to do this;
Inability or refusal to perform the duties of an Examiner as required, e.g. continued unavailability to participate in MFPH Examinations, failure to comply with the standards required for the Membership Examiner;
Inappropriate behaviour or continued poor performance.

Role of the Chairs of examiners

The Chair is appointed by the Board on the recommendation of the Academic Registrar.

The normal term of office is three years (renewable for one further term).

The Deputy is an informal position with no fixed term of office. The primary task of the deputy is to assist the Chair and this role need not necessarily be seen as training for appointment as Chair in future.

Retirements of the Chair and Deputy should be staggered if possible to aid continuity. The agreed specific responsibilities of the Chair (and therefore the Deputy) are as follows:

to liaise with examiners to agree provisional marks
to chair examiners' meetings
to approve feedback and corrections/amendments as proposed by examiners
to oversee the administration process, assessment forms etc used
to provide advice and support to candidates, examiners etc
to chair training days for new examiners
to provide reports to the Education Committee on each sitting
to advise on the appointment, training, suspension and removal of examiners.

Role of the Academic Registrar

The Academic Registrar is normally kept informed of any particular problems with the examination and has responsibility for decision-making in the absence of the Chair (and Deputy). Normally, the Academic Registrar is kept away from the day-to-day administration of the examination so that additional advice or participation in appeals etc. may be provided where necessary.

For further information please see the Faculty's Standing Orders: EXAMINERS (Chapter 11)