The OSCE format provides a standardized means to assess: physical examination and history taking skills; communication skills with patients and family members, breadth and depth of knowledge; ability to summarize and document findings; ability to make a differential diagnosis, or plan treatment; and clinical judgment based upon patient notes.
Jr. OSCE (R1 - R3)
Sr. OSCE - Edmonton (R3s - R5s)
Sr. OSCE - Calgary (R3s - R5s)
This is a self-assessment tool that evaluates your overall knowledge of neurology & neuroscience and identifies areas for potential growth. This exam is coordinated by the American Academy of Neurology and is held annualy in late February.
For more information: American Academy of Neurology
Upcoming RITE Exams
2026: TBD
There has been a desire voiced by the residents to have a practice SAQ (short answer question) style exam once per year, in order to help prepare for the eventual Royal College exam.
All the neurology residents in their R2-R5 years inclusive will be required to attend unless vacation/conference leave has already been planned.
Please do not stress about this, it is meant to help in your preparation and those at the beginning stages of residency will not be expected to know all (or even many) of the answers. Also, the potential topics are so broad (i.e. all of neurology) that it is hardly possible to cram for this type of test.
The purpose of the STACER is to evaluate the neurology resident’s ability to acquire a medical history from a patient or caregiver, perform a physical examination, interpret the acquired information and develop a management plan. The evaluator will also provide feedback to the resident. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada require residents to have two successful “Standardized Assessment Clinical Encounter Reports (STACERs)” in their last two years of residency (ie. R4, R5 years) prior to certification. In addition, we have over the years organized STACERs for residents in their second and third years of residency so that people can become used to the format of the STACER, but also as an early assessment tool for residency.
The purpose of the SATeR is to evaluate the neurology resident's ability to teach other residents, and/or medical students. The evaluator will also provide feedback to the resident.
The SATeR is to be performed in 2 settings (1 SATeR per setting): "bedside teaching" where the resident teaches neurology examination skills with a patient present, during clinical care rounds in an inpatient setting to a group of trainees, and "classroom teaching" where the resident teaches a group of trainees without a patient present on a topic to be decided by the neurology resident teacher. This may be done during Intake Rounds, Coffee Rounds, Academic Half-Day etc. During the first part of the SATeR, the evaluating neurologist will observe the resident as the resident performs the teaching session. Organizing the SATeR should not be onerous for the evaluating neurologist and it should be possible to incorporate it into usual clinical care with minor modifications. The resident may pick the patient for the bedside teaching portion of the SATeR, and ask permission from the patient to participate in the SATeR.