In-training assessment in postgraduate training for general practice

Assessment within general practice training curricula is necessary to both guide learning and to make certification decisions about competence to practise without supervision in the community, but there is a risk that the two roles could become confused. This paper proposes a conceptual framework that explains the relationship between formative assessment, in-training assessment and end-point assessment, as adopted by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Training Programme. The literature is reviewed to suggest assessment formats that could provide a means of making decisions about progress through training without harming the important role of providing feedback to guide learners.