Qualifications

The AMSPAR receptionist programme and Certificate in general practice reception.

The AMSPAR Receptionist programme is a short course designed for those already working in General Practice. In all there are six two-day programmes covering the following areas:

1. The role of the receptionist in a General Practice
2. Communication and patient care
3. Emergency first aid
4. Clinical governance, Quality care, Medical audit, repeat prescribing and the receptionist
5. Medical terminology
6. Self-development, reducing stress and theories of motivation.

If you are interested in this programme, you should contact AMSPAR head office for a list of centres. The AMSPAR receptionist programme is very popular with Health Authorities and often run as in-service training.

The AMSPAR Certificate in General practice is a nationally recognised qualification suitable for those who have undertaken an approved short course, such as the AMSPAR Receptionist programme 1-4. This qualification will be awarded to candidates who pass the one-hour multiple choice and other short answer question test.

The test is held in June and November. Please contact AMSPAR for a list of centres.

Once you have qualified, you are entitled to apply to become an associate member of AMSPAR, your professional body, and receive a wide range of benefits.

The AMSPAR Certificate in Medical Terminology

This well respected qualification is suitable for secretaries and others working in health care wishing to add a medical terminology qualification to their skills and knowledge. The qualification is awarded to candidates who achieve a pass in the one and three-quarter test. Because of the subject matter the pass mark for this examination is 75%. Exams are held in February and May.

This programme is designed either for home study or for formal tuition through a recognised centre.

Home Study

AMSPAR can provide a booklet, which contains a reading list and sample of some exam paper. It also contains the aims and objectives of the qualification.

You will need to study the recommended books at home. This is not a distance learning course.

You will need to contact a local centre to arrange to sit the exam at least six weeks before the exam you wish to sit. AMSPAR has a list of centres.

Centres are at liberty to charge an administration fee in addition to the exam entry fee.

The length of study depends on your current level of knowledge

Study at college

If you want to study at a college, please contact AMSPAR and ask for a list of centres, which run courses. Contact the centre of your choice about registration. Even with a college course, you should be prepared to do extra home study.

Content:

• Origins and structure of medical terms
• Prefixes, roots and suffixes
• Terminology of body structure and investigations
• Pathology and x-ray investigations and procedures
• Classification of drugs and prescription abbreviations
• Eponyms, acronyms and common abbreviations
• Titles, professional qualifications, professional bodies.

Once you have qualified you are entitled to apply to become an associate member of AMSPAR, your professional body, and receive a wide range of benefits.