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Licensure and Certification

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International Handbook of Research in Medical Education

Part of the book series: Springer International Handbooks of Education ((SIHE,volume 7))

Summary

This chapter addresses the issues of licensure and assessment from two perspectives. The concepts and processes of licensure are traced from their beginnings to the present time. The other perspective deals with the approach to assessment for licensure and certification.

The first portion of the chapter begins with a historical survey of the origins, including debates and socio-political changes from which current notions of licensure and certification emerged. This background identifies the reasons why society and the courts have directed that the processes be conducted as they are today. Principles and policies do not occur in a social vacuum. Hence the key principles and societal values, as well as their social conduct, are identified, thereby demonstrating the iterative development of licensure and certification over time.

The second portion of the chapter reviews key concepts and notions that underlie the assessment processes used in licensure and certification. They too are iterative in their development. Attention has been focused on key articles and writings that delineate that which is acceptable by current standards.

Each one of those methods thereby informs the reader about the critical concepts, principles and possible shortcomings of current assessment methods, hopefully directing users to the most suitable approaches to the evaluation of physicians for licensure and certification.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Council of Canada, Canada

    W. Dale Dauphinee

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  1. W. Dale Dauphinee
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. McMaster University, Canada

    Geoff R. Norman

  2. University of Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Cees P. M. van der Vleuten  & Diana H. J. M. Dolmans  & 

  3. University of Sheffield, UK

    David I. Newble

  4. Dalhousie University, Canada

    Karen V. Mann

  5. University of Toronto, Canada

    Arthur Rothman

  6. CurryCorp, Canada

    Lynn Curry

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Dauphinee, W.D. (2002). Licensure and Certification. In: Norman, G.R., et al. International Handbook of Research in Medical Education. Springer International Handbooks of Education, vol 7. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0462-6_31

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0462-6_31

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