WBAs are formative, with the registrar’s learning and professional development being guided by timely and effective feedback by different college approved assessors, including their supervisor. A variety of WBA tools will be implemented, including:

  • Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercises (mini-CEX),
  • Case-based Discussion (CbD), and
  • Direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS).

Who can perform WBA assessments

WBA may be conducted by those approved by the College. These are:

  • RNZCUC Fellows who have completed the WBA orientation module in TalentLMS and successfully completed the quiz, and loaded the completion certificate to UCCIS.
  • FACEM who have successfully completed ACEM training in conducting WBA.

WBA requirements

Registrars who commenced the training programme before 2025 will not be required to complete WBAs.

From 2025 registrars joining the RNZCUC training programme will be required to complete a minimum number of WBAs at each stage of training. There will also be requirements for the topics and complexity of the cases. Registrars can and are encouraged to complete more than the minimum number, as opportunities for additional learning and feedback. It may also be necessary to complete additional cases to fulfil the topic and complexity requirements. Additional Mini-CEXs completed in one stage (over and above the minimum requirement) will not be credited towards the requirements in a subsequent stage.

  • In Basic training (year 1) a minimum of 4 Mini-CEX and 2 DOPS must be completed. The required topics for stage one are common presentations in urgent care for which a junior registrar should be competent.
    • CEX
      • Paediatric fever
      • Abdominal pain
      • Chest pain
      • Orthopaedic case
    • DOPS
      • Digital nerve block
      • Suturing
  • In Advanced training stage (years 2 and 3) and the Provisional Fellowship year (year 4) CbD are added to the requirements. The minimum number, topics and complexity are yet to be determined for stage 2 and 3.
Funding and Logistics

Importantly, the College acknowledges that WBAs are resource intensive, a vital consideration in the current resource constrained healthcare environment. It recognises the financial burden, including supervisor training, as well as the time demands that will be placed on supervisors as assessors of these WBAs. In addition, there will be increased College administrative burden. Funding has been secured from Workforce Planning and Funding to reimburse supervisors or training sites for the time spent conducting WBAs at approved training facilities for those registrars who are eligible to have their training programme costs covered by WPF .

The logistics of completing WBAs will vary between training sites. It will be important to define expectations between the registrar and supervisor in planning when WBAs can be carried out. At training sites where a supervisor has dedicated non-clinical time, this may be an opportunity to schedule WBAs. It is estimated that WBAs will take between 30-40 min to complete, which includes time for feedback.

Conducting the WBA

The recording of the supervisor orientation webinar is available for viewing.

See: