Competence by Design

Competence by Design (CBD): the Royal College’s multi-year transformational change initiative aimed at implementing a CBME approach to education and assessment to residency training and specialty practice. The goal is to enhance patient care by improving learning and assessment from residency to retirement, ensuring physicians have the skills and behaviours required to meet evolving patient needs.

Rationale:

• • Opportunistic nature of current system

  • Infrequent / non-specific feedback

  • Delayed feedback

  • “Failure to Fail”

Outcomes:

• • KNOW residents have skills needed for practice

  • Facilitate lifelong learning through resident-driven process

Benefits:

• • More frequent assessment and meaningful feedback 

  • Well-defined learning paths and clarity around the competencies needed to progress 

  • A learning path that focuses on personal development

  • Easier transitions between stages

  • Empowerment of residents in training

  • The chance to prepare for independent practice by honing skills and working more independently during the final stage of residency