Selection and appointment of FRCA examiners regulations

5.1 Standard tenure

All FRCA examiners are engaged on the Standard examiner contract. This tenure requires a minimum commitment of 6 years and a maximum of 10 years.

Examiners are expected to examine for a minimum number of days per year as well as a minimum number of non-examining days. These may include but are not limited to:

• Core group work
• Item development: writing, review, proofreading
• Marking of the CRQ examination (Final examiners only)
• Audit and Appraisal

5.2 Retire and return

If an examiner would like to continue beyond 10 years, there is the option to move to “Retire and Return”. 

On this contract, examiners will:

• be subject to an end of term audit and appraisal where a request is submitted at the start of the calendar year in year 10 to convert to “retire and return”
• contribute to the exam by examining for the minimum number of days per year stated in this contract
• contribute to non-examining work as stated in this contract. This may entail:
  • Item development: writing, review, proofreading
  • Marking of the CRQ examination (Final examiners only)
  • Audit and Appraisal
  • Quality assurance

• not be permitted to apply for leadership roles with the Primary Delivery Team (PDT) and the Final Delivery Team (FDT)
• have their contract reviewed on an annual basis.

5.3 Examining on a less than full-time basis (LTFT)

All examiners may apply for LTFT at any point in the 10-year tenure should circumstances require it.

• Applications for LTFT must be made before the end of June in each academic year by email to the relevant chair of the examiner pool and the Head of Examinations. 
• Examiners must submit a reason to move to LTFT
• To ensure appropriate retention of skills, a minimum number of examining days applies to LTFT contacts and these days should be spread across more than one exam diet.

• The relevant Chair of the exam will judge each application on its own merit but the over-riding consideration will be the staffing requirements of the relevant examination.
• The terms of the reduced commitment will be reviewed annually.
• A change to LTFT does not alter the standard tenure of 6 years and 10 years.

5.4 Summary of examiner contracts

Note, the number of days Indicated is a minimum expectation.

*Examining days are Monday to Friday only. Saturdays are voluntary and do not count towards the total 10 days or fewer if LTFT/Retire and Return.

**Terms for LTFT can be negotiated by contacting the Chair of the relevant examiner pool and Head of Examinations.