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Home  »   PDA Trainee Pharmacist   »   Registering for reasonable adjustments for the July 2021 assessment and adjustment appeals

Registering for reasonable adjustments for the July 2021 assessment and adjustment appeals

The GPhC confirmed that the July 2021 assessment examinations will once again be delivered online through Pearson VUE, mainly at test centres in Great Britain.

Thu 27th May 2021 The PDA

Dates of July 2021 Assessments

  • Tuesday 27 July 2021
  • Wednesday 28 July 2021
  • Thursday 29 July 2021 (this is also a remote sitting)

Applications for the assessment sitting are to be received by the GPhC no later than 31 May 2021

PDA prov-reg and pre-reg reps help to improve the 2021 sittings

During 2020, PDA prov-reg and pre-reg representatives helped to develop the information provided by the regulator in relation to the online assessment examinations process regulator has provided comprehensive information for candidates that can be found here including the application process, reasonable adjustments, Fit to Sit and preparing for the assessment.

PDA reps also have raised the importance of candidates maintaining hydration during the exam as a health and safety concern, and the GPhC updated their FAQs in response and they have subsequently raised the issues of multiple whiteboards being available to all candidates on the day, that the environment should be calm professional and quiet during the sittings along with the need to follow social distancing and Covid-19 compliant guidance at all times in Pearson Vue centres

Reasonable Adjustments

For the July 2021 deadline for applications for a reasonable adjustment is Friday 7 May 2021.

Collette Bradford, PDA Director of Organising & Engagement, said: “It is a concern if an individual’s home situation, a need for a reasonable adjustment because of a physical or mental health condition or disability and/or the consequences of the pandemic has a detrimental impact on their exam preparation or sitting experience. We encourage members to apply for a reasonable adjustment if they need one. The PDA wants to see a fair and equal process where only the ability to practise as a pharmacist differentiates between each candidate’s results.”

Don’t miss the deadline for registering for reasonable adjustments for the July 2021 assessment exam.

PDA advice is that members should ask for a reasonable adjustment if they feel it would be beneficial to making their examination experience equal to those who do not need an adjustment.

Please remember that adjustments may be for mental health as well as physical health requirements and during this pandemic could be related to you or the people you live with. For example: if you are living in a multigenerational household, with a family member who is especially vulnerable to the virus, you may prefer to request an adjustment to sit the examination remotely/at home to avoid the risk of covid exposure during travel or attendance at an exam centre. Alternatively, you may be feeling concerned about your own health and wellbeing.

Please note there is just one date available for the remote sitting which is 29 July 2021.

You will know from your own health and from your experience of sitting previous exams what adjustment(s) will help you avoid any disadvantage. If you feel that an adjustment would be helpful to you, then we encourage you to request one now and provide as much information about your circumstances as possible and medical evidence where necessary.

The regulator guidance for the July 2021 sitting says: “It would be appropriate to grant ‘reasonable adjustments’ to candidates who would be at a disadvantage in sitting the assessment because of health issues, disabilities, specific learning needs, or other specific needs. Each request is assessed to make sure that the adjustment is appropriate and proportionate to the candidate’s needs.”

Here are the key facts you need to know about the timeline and requirements for making a request for reasonable adjustments:

  • Previous requests for reasonable adjustments from previous sittings will not be transferred. You must submit a new request for each sitting (July & November 2021)
  • The deadline for submission of a request for reasonable adjustments for the July exam is Friday 7 May 2021
  • You must send your application and documents as a single PDF to: adjustments@pharmacyregulation.org
  • If you do not receive an email receipt acknowledgment within 5 days of submitting your form, you must contact the GPHC at: adjustments@pharmacyregulation.org
  • You will receive an email to let you know the outcome of your request by 18 June 2021 .

The GPhC has produced in-depth guidance on submission, including what supporting evidence you will need, and the types of evidence accepted. There is also information on the types of adjustments that can be requested, how to complete the application process and the appeals process.

This guidance can be found here.

Appealing the decision of your Reasonable Adjustment

There are several grounds for appeal:

  • If there was a procedural error that affected the outcome of the decision
  • There is credible evidence that could not have been obtained or known to the candidate at the time of the application, e.g. awaiting a clinician’s report or results of tests.

The following are not grounds for an appeal to be upheld:

  • There is new evidence that you could have obtained, or were aware of, at the time the application was made
  • There is a new reason for a request for a reasonable adjustment that you were not aware of at the time the application was made.

If you have a new reason to make a request for a reasonable adjustment, you must decide whether, without the adjustment, you are fit to sit.

Further information on appealing your reasonable adjustment decision can be found in the GPhC Guidance here.

Appeals for reasonable adjustments for the July 2021 assessment must be submitted by 25 June 2021.

If you need any help or support from the PDA once you have read the guidance or advice and guidance in relation to your appeal for a reasonable adjustment then please contact us.

Related links

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