Aimed at: This qualification level is aimed at physiologists working at Band 5 or above, including PTP graduates and STP direct entry students, who have clinical experience in a Respiratory Physiology department. We recommend a minimum of 2 years experience.

The qualification comprises of an Individual Record of Clinical Practice (IRCP) portfolio that is completed within the candidate’s workplace, and a practical examination. The IRCP and practical examinations assess the competency of the student at performing different lung function tests, which include spirometry, lung volumes, single breath gas transfer, bronchodilator reversibility, spot check oximetry and calibration and quality control. Please note that you would be required to have a Work Based Assessor available to assist you with the IRCP portfolio section of the qualification.Practitioner level candidates will also sit a clinical viva and calculations examination.

Timeframe: Candidates are given 6 months to complete the IRCP portfolio within, and 18 months in total to complete the qualification in full.

Requirements: ARTP recommend that candidates have already obtained a minimum of two years clinical experience in a Respiratory Physiology department at the time of submitting an application, at the discretion of their Work Based Assessor who will be supporting the candidate through the qualification process.

Cost: £425

Practitioner Exam Only

If the candidate completed a PTP degree at one of the below Universities and can provide evidence of that (such as a letter from their University), they are eligible to undertake the Exam Only option, no IRCP is required and they become immediately eligible to sit their MCQ / Calculations exams, followed by the Clinical Viva and Technical examination. The cost for this is £290

1. Manchester Metropolitan University
2. Wolverhampton University
3. Swansea University
4. University of the West of England
5. Sheffield Hallam University

Please ensure evidence is sent to development@artp.org.uk immediately after submitting the Application Form.

Aimed at: This qualification level is aimed at physiologists working at Bands 3-4. The qualification comprises of an Individual Record of Clinical Practice (IRCP) portfolio that is completed within the candidate’s workplace, and a practical examination. The IRCP and practical examinations assess the competency of the student at performing different lung function tests, which include spirometry, lung volumes, single breath gas transfer, bronchodilator reversibility, spot check oximetry and calibration and quality control. Please note that you would be required to have a Work Based Assessor available to assist you with the IRCP portfolio section of the qualification.

Timeframe: Candidates are given 6 months to complete the IRCP portfolio within, and 18 months in total to complete the qualification in full.

Requirements: ARTP recommend that candidates have already obtained a minimum of one years clinical experience in a Respiratory Physiology department at the time of submitting an application, at the discretion of their Work Based Assessor who will be supporting the candidate through the qualification process.

Cost: £375

Aimed at: Individuals who have successfully completed the Associate level qualification and wish to 'top up' to the Practitioner Qualification. Candidates will complete Section C of the IRCP portfolio, and the clinical viva and calculations examination as part of the 'top up' route.

Timeframe: Candidates are given 6 months to complete the IRCP portfolio within, and 18 months in total to complete the qualification in full.

Requirements: Candidates who wish to use the Clinical top-up route to gain the Practitioner level qualification must have successfully completed the Association level qualification before applying.

Cost: £245

ARTP run a Masterclass course to support these qualifications, the course aims to provide the candidates with all the underpinning knowledge for these examinations. For more information, please see the ARTP Courses page.

You can enrol using our application form here

Enrolments are carried out monthly, on the first Monday of each month. If this falls on a bank holiday, we’ll complete enrolments on the following working day instead. Enrolments will not be processed unless payment or a valid PO number is received by the last Friday of the preceding month.

Once your enrolment form has been accepted by the ARTP Examination Board you will informed and given access to the IRCP (Individual Record of Clinical Practice) and be provided with a deadline for completion (6 months from enrolment date). 

Please note - It is the requirement of the IRCP that all candidates have a specified Work Based Supervisor who will be responsible for undertaking competency assessments in the workplace. Completion of the IRCP is the responsibility of the candidate. Please ensure you seek approval before applying to begin the qualification

IRCP Portfolio

Once your enrolment form has been accepted by the ARTP Examination Board you will receive your IRCP (Individual Record of Clinical Practice) and be provided with a deadline for completion (6 months from enrolment date). Completed IRCPs must be received by ARTP by the submission date unless the candidate has completed a deferral form and a new submission date has been provided. Once ARTP have received your IRCP,  it will be marked by a designated portfolio marker which will be ratified by the ARTP Examination Board. You will then be invited to complete your other exams.

Practical Exams

Once your IRCP has been marked as a pass, you will then be invited to complete your other exams (MCQ / Calculations / Clinical VIVA / Technical exams). These must be completed within 18 months of enrolling onto the qualification. You will have 2 attempts at passing your exams however further attempts can be made for a fee of £50

Completion

Once candidates have successfully completed both their IRCP and practical examinations they will be awarded with an ARTP certificate of competence for the appropriate qualification. Successful candidates who are ARTP members will be eligible to receive their certificate at the annual awards ceremony at the next ARTP annual conference. Each year the highest achieving candidate will be recognised and awarded with an ARTP education award at ARTP Conference.

Take a look at the visual roadmap here

Yes you must have a Work Based Supervisor (WBS) to undertake the Professional Qualification, and they will be expected to:

• Undertake assessments of competence as outlined in the IRCP
• Provide candidates with suitable learning opportunities to enable them to become competent in the required investigations
• Ensure the candidate can fulfil the range of investigations outlined in the IRCP and where this is not possible, arrange a secondment to a suitable department
• Assess the candidates underpinning knowledge using the technical and clinical questions outlined in the IRCP
• Provide appropriate feedback to candidates to ensure continual development
  
  Please note, that this should be someone who is not presently undertaking the Professional Qualification.

Step 1 - Complete an IRCP

All qualifications will require candidates to complete an IRCP (Individual Record of Clinical Practice) portfolio in their workplace over a 6 month period.

In addition candidates undertaking these levels will complete the following exams:

Step 2 - Complete your Practicals

Practitioner completes MCQ / Calculations / Clinical VIVA / Technical exams

Associate completes MCQ / Technical exams

Clinical Top Up completes Calculations / Clinical VIVA exams

The Technical assessment requires you to perform the following procedures:

• Dynamic lung volumes (including forced and relaxed vital capacity measurements)
• Administration of a bronchodilator via a metered dose inhaler (MDI) using a placebo
• Static lung volumes 
• Gas transfer test
• Spot check Pulse Oximetry

After you have completed the measurements, you will be required to answer a number of technical questions related to the measurements that you have made. This whole section will take up to a maximum of 90 minutes.

The Clinical VIVA assessment lasts 45 minutes in which you will be expected to relate the pathophysiology of respiratory disease processes to respiratory measurements.

The MCQ assessment contains a variety of questions in which you need to demonstrate your understanding of lung function tests and equipment. The online paper is a timed 45 minute examination.

The Calculations assessment containing calculations questions in which you need to demonstrate your understanding and ability to perform them. The online paper is a timed 30 minute examination.

You must complete your IRCP before booking your MCQ/Calculations exam, and then your VIVA/Technical exams can be booked after passing the MCQ/Calculations, as follows: 

All exams must be completed and passed with 18 months of enrolment

Candidates who have completed the PTP or respiratory graduate diploma at the following universities can apply to go straight to the examination process and are not required to complete the IRCP.

The Universities are:

• Manchester Metropolitan University 
• Sheffield Hallum University (PTP and Grad dip)
• Swansea University
• University of West England (PTP and Grad dip)
• University of Wolverhampton (PTP and Grad dip)

Candidates with impairments or learning difficulties may apply for additional time on their technical exams by completing a Special Requirements Form and returning it to development@artp.org.uk 

Candidates have a deadline of 6 months to complete their IRCP and they must do this prior to undertaking their practical examinations.

Following the completion of the IRCP candidates will be able to book their Calculations/MCQ exams.

Once the Calculations/MCQ exams have been passed, candidates will then be able to book their Clinical VIVA/Technical exams

All exams must be completed and passed with 18 months of enrolment

If you need to defer your qualification enrolment date, or request an extension, please visit the Candidate Resources page to complete the extension request form.

If you do not do full time hours, your deadline can be amended to allow you sufficient time to complete the work needed for your portfolio. Your WTE will be taken into consideration to ensure that your deadline is set correctly.  

Candidates are entitled to 2 free extensions and may apply for an extension for either:
2 months
6 months - 6 month deferral extensions are granted only under exceptional circumstances, such as long-term illness, transfer of hospital, family bereavement. Supporting evidence, such as a sick note or a letter/email from a senior staff member, must be submitted with the application.

Further extensions are chargeable at £35 for an additional 6 months and require Board approval.

If you wish to withdraw from the qualification altogether, then please email development@artp.org.uk with a written request to do so. Please see the ARTP Cancellation Policy for information regarding refunds.

If you feel that you have been unfairly graded or assessed during any part of your assessment process you have the right to appeal against the decision. This decision however should not be taken lightly and you should be clear on your reasons before you proceed. You are advised to discuss your appeal with your Work Based Supervisor before you submit your appeal, but this is not a mandatory requirement. The following guidelines will ensure that the Appeals Board is able to review your appeal on its individual merits.

Candidate Instructions:
1. If you wish to appeal against a decision made on a section or sections of your assessment, you should apply in writing to the Appeals Board, ARTP Education, care of the ARTP Administrator as quickly as possible following confirmation of your results. This appeal must be received within two weeks following publication of your results.

2. You should state clearly:
 - What specific grievance you have
 - Details confirming your appeal
 - Any specific personnel concerned & any dates or times concerned
 - Any other relevant information which would support your appeal

3. A standard letter confirming receipt of your appeal will be sent within two weeks of receipt of your letter from the ARTP Administrator.

4. Your appeal will be considered by a panel of Appeals Committee Members which will include: one or two Executive or Education Committee members, who are not directly involved with the individual appeal case and one or two people who are not currently involved with ARTP committees, but have knowledge in either Respiratory Medicine/Physiology & /or Assessment processes. (At least one member from each representation group should be involved)

5. The examination paper work will be reviewed by a different assessor and re-evaluated following the standard assessment format. As this is an observed assessment the appeal’s assessor may contact the candidate and the assessor to discuss the case. A non-member of the Education or Executive Committees will verify the re-marked results.

6. A formal reply with the decision on your appeal will be sent within 8 weeks of receipt of your appeal letter.

7. A report will be forwarded to the candidate, and copied to the Work Based Supervisor, which will give full details of the Appeal Board’s decision and how it was reached

Please go to the Candidate Resources page