Certificate of Professional Competence - components

 There are three components which must be achieved to be awarded the CPC which are as follows:

1. 25 Multiple choice questions on the subject area of the specialism. These are marked as +1 for a correct answer and 0 for an unanswered question. The pass mark is 15.
2. 25 Multiple choice questions on the subject of general forensic issues, particularly relevant legal questions, procedural matters and evidence interpretation. These are marked as +1 for a correct answer and 0 for an unanswered question. The pass mark is 15.
3. A proficiency test lasting three hours. The assessment of the proficiency test will be made against criteria that are described on a form produced in advance by the Society which has been considered and deemed to be satisfactory by the Quality Committee of the Faculty of Sciences of Staffordshire University.

For each candidate, the outcome of the assessment process will be either that he or she has passed the module or that they have failed it. There no other grades of attainment that are used when expressing the outcome of this process. Candidates must pass each of the above (ie [1], [2] and [3]) in order to pass the module overall.

As a Special Admissions Requirement, all candidates will have passed successfully through a pre-assessment process operated by the Society.

The Society will give feedback to the candidates, whether or not successful, resulting from this process, indicating strengths and weaknesses of the application. The Society will make available sample MCQs and sample proficiency test papers on its website to enable candidates to assess their capability in relation to the expectations that the Society has for successful completion of this module.