Abstract
Who’s it for?
The Diploma of Occupational Medicine (DOccMed) is a recognised qualification for any doctor keen to demonstrate their competency in occupational medicine at the level of a generalist (Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM), 2021a). It is worth noting that unlike other clinical diplomas, the DOccMed is usually required as an entry-level qualification to most occupational health physician (OHP) roles and can open up new career opportunities (Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), 2021).
When did you do it?
I did the DOccMed course and exams halfway through my second year as a GP specialist trainee (GPST2), while preparing for the Applied Knowledge Test. It took me 6 months to attend the required courses, compile a portfolio and complete both parts of the exam.
Why did you do it?
The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on occupational health (OH) as everyone needed risk assessments before continuing to work on the front lines (Royal College of Physicians (RCP), 2021). Having gone through the OH process myself and made acquaintance with several helpful OHPs, I found their work fascinating, as it involves not just the entire spectrum of clinical medicine, but also incorporates a mix of law, public policy and management, not to mention the myriad of career opportunities in this area. I finally decided that expanding my skillset into this area might pay future dividends.
How much effort was it?
It was hard work and involved some planning to complete. There are three steps to the DOccMed. First, there is a compulsory 10-day course, without which one would not be eligible to sit for the exams. Following the course, there are two exams which can be taken in any order: A written multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ) exam and a portfolio oral exam (FOM, 2021a).
Is there an exam?
As of 2021, there are two exams administered by the FOM (FOM, 2021a). Since the COVID-19 pandemic, both exams have been held remotely. The DOccMed MCQ exam is approximately 90 minutes and consists of about 80 MCQs (including 5–10 test questions). The actual time allocated and number of questions varies (FOM, 2021b). The MCQ is held twice a year, in Spring (May) and Autumn (November), and costs £530 (FOM, 2021c). The pass mark is around 75%. A list of sample questions can be found on the FOM’s website (FOM, 2021a). The DOccMed portfolio exam is an oral exam based on the candidate’s submitted portfolio of OH experience, which must include a clinical assessment and a work site visit written up within a tight word count. It consists of a 20-minute oral exam by two examiners with access to the candidate’s submitted portfolio (FOM, 2021b). As for the MCQ, the portfolio examination is held twice a year, in Spring (May) and Autumn (November), and also costs £530 (FOM, 2021c). After passing both exams, there is a certification fee of £286 to be paid to FOM for the award of the DOccMed (FOM, 2021c).
Is there a course?
To be eligible to sit for either of the DOccMed exams, one must attend a mandatory 10-day accredited course run by one of the FOM approved course centres throughout England (FOM, 2021a, 2021b). The course is very comprehensive, covering a huge range of topics from toxicology to OH law (FOM, 2021b, 2021c). Costs are significant. I attended the Royal Society for Public Health’s (RSPH) DOccMed course, which was run remotely and cost £3250 (RSPH, 2021). Some OH companies will sponsor the course fees for doctors willing to enter into a service commitment. I also attended the optional, but helpful, DOccMed exam preparation courses run by the Occupational Health Academy, which includes a mock MCQ and oral exam (The Occupational Health Academy, 2021). The preparation courses cost me £700 in total, but they covered my blind spots adequately and gave me the confidence to pass both exams at my first sitting.
Top tip
Be organised and opportunistic about the portfolio requirements, especially if you do not currently work in an OH setting. It will save you a lot of time. It is worth considering only if you will use it in your career, as the costs are significant.
Contact for further information
The Faculty of Occupational Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians, 2 Lovibond Lane, London SE10 9FY. www.fom.ac.uk. 020 7242 8698.
Was it worth it?
Yes. The DOccMed has given me a whole new perspective when asking the question ‘what do you do for work?’ As a GP trainee, I have developed a deeper appreciation of the employer responsibilities held by the practice partners and management.
ORCID iD
Dr Ernest Wong https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6606-1522