The portfolio examination is mandatory for candidates undertaking all certificate levels. The ARTP are using an electronic portfolio platform called PebblePad to allow candidates to collect evidence and upload directly on to their online portfolio. PebblePad outlines the portfolio content with appropriate instructions given where required.

The spirometry portfolio consists of a number of sections that must be completed which will depend on the level of certification that the candidate is registered for. The required sections within the portfolio must be successfully completed to the defined minimum standard in order to complete the certification process. When completing the portfolio, the candidate will be asked to answer questions and/or provide evidence of their competency.

Each portfolio consists of the following sections which must be completed:

Portfolio Patient Tests (only needed for Full or Performing portfolio)

You are required to perform and upload 10 good quality anonymised spirometry test reports.

These must be obtained from patients who you have tested and must not contain duplicate tests (e.g. same patient, different days).

The patient test must include the results from forced vital capacity (FVC) and slow vital capacity (SVC)(adults only) manoeuvres. 

FVC should not exceed SVC >150mls.

You must include the results of all acceptable traces performed (minimum of 3) for each of the following FEV1, FVC, SVC (adults only), FEV1/FVC% and PEF. 

You must also include the volume/time and/or flow volume loop trace of all technically acceptable efforts. All results (SVC (adults only), FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC% and PEF) must be digitally shown and not handwritten on the results sheet. 

All your results must demonstrate acceptability and reproducibility criteria according to ARTP guidelines and must have been performed within the 12 months prior to enrolling on the certification, or during the period you have been enrolled on the certification.

If your spirometer does not print out all efforts performed, you should either take a photograph of them as they appear on your spirometer or print them individually and combine them into a word or PDF document to upload.

Most spirometers will allow print outs of multiple loops, please speak to your manufacturer if you have any issues.

File Types

Your traces must be in either a PDF, JPG or WORD format. Please do not submit files in any other format.

Anonymise

Important Information: Please ensure all your results are anonymised so that the patient’s name, ID, NHS number, date of birth and address are not visible so that the patient cannot be traced in anyway. This includes the patient ID that sometimes appears at the top or bottom of the trace.

Submitting identifiable data is a breach of patient confidentiality and GDPR regulations and as a consequence, marking will cease immediately and the portfolio will be failed.

Please note - some spirometers display the patient ID at the top or bottom of the trace - this also must be removed.

Plagiarism

If we discover traces that have been tampered with or renamed to make it appear like a different trace, this will be an instant fail.

If we discover traces that have been used by another candidate, this will result in an instant fail for you both and may result in both of you being removed from the certification programme and any passes revoked.

Types of Patient Tests
Adult Certificate Tests - All patients must be Adults aged 16 or over.

Joint Certificate (Adult & Paediatric) Tests - 5 tests should be Adults & 5 Paediatric. Of the 5 paediatric, 5 patients must be younger than 16 years old and at least 1 patient must be younger than 10 years old. 

Paediatric & Top Up Certificate Tests - All patients must be younger than 16 years old, with at least 3 patients younger than 10 years old.

The MCQ examination is mandatory for candidates undertaking the Performing & Reporting (Full), Reporting only or Top Up certificate. Candidates are provided with 20 spirometry tests reports that may or may not be included with associated clinical information. Candidates are expected to report on each result and to select appropriate answers in line with the provided instructions for each question.

The MCQ examination will be accessed via an online platform and a link to this will be sent to you by email prior to your arranged date. Candidates must complete the assessment under examination conditions defined as within a set time limit (60 minutes), without access to reference materials and under the supervision of nominated invigilator. Should the pass mark not be achieved, you will be given a further two attempts to pass to be booked for a future date. 

Click here for more MCQ information

The OSCE examination is mandatory for candidates undertaking the Performing & Reporting (Full) or Performing only certificate (not required for Reporting & Top Up). It consists of two sections, a practical assessment and a technical viva.

The Practical Assessment will consist of an assessment of calibration or verification of the spirometer and assessment of the performance of quality assured diagnostic spirometry.
The Technical Viva will include a number of pre-defined questions that either relate to the spirometry the candidate has performed or are general questions about technical aspects of spirometry.

Due to implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, ARTP have taken the decision to use a virtual assessment process rather than face-to-face. The assessment is completed using a cloud-based video conferencing platform such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams or other available software.

Click here for more OSCE information

Please see the below example assessment video for further information.