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Jurisprudence Exam Modernization Project
The Jurisprudence Exam (JE) Modernization Project is now almost complete. The final phase of the Exam Development Process will be conducted after the February 2022 examination.
Because of this work, results for all 2022 JE sittings will be released approximately two months after the exam date. A new exam blueprint and updates to the JE Information Guide will be made available soon.
Every five to seven years, the College conducts a full review of the JE, in accordance with international assessment standards. This review helps to maintain the JE’s effectiveness as an assessment tool for ensuring that prospective pharmacists and pharmacy technicians understand their responsibilities to patients and the public under the relevant legislation.
Based on federal and provincial legislation, including the Code of Ethics, the JE is designed to assess registrants’ knowledge of this legislation, as well as their ability to interpret and apply it, as a requirement for registration as a pharmacy professional in BC.
While the College initially planned the JE Modernization Project to begin in 2020, it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
EXAM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
The Exam Development Process is comprised of six stages, with the full cycle taking approximately 12 – 18 months in total.
It was important to the College to engage registrants in the modernization of the JE. As such, in March 2021, the College put a call out to all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in BC to participate in the exam development process. Participants were then selected based on their practice setting and years of experience and asked to provide input on the various stages of the process. Having a multitude of unique perspectives during the exam development process was vital to maintaining the exam’s relevance and effectiveness, as well as ensuring adequate representation of the College’s diverse registrant base.
The JE Modernization Project would not have been possible without the help of the pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who dedicated their time and expertise during each stage of the Exam Development Process.
Stage 1: Job Analysis
The most important and frequently encountered tasks and knowledge areas for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians at entry to practice are identified and rated.
Stage 2: Blueprinting
Knowledge and task statements developed during the Job Analysis are reviewed to identify content to be included in the new exam blueprint and the relative percentage of items on the exam for each domain.
Stage 3: Item Writing
Exam questions are written and reviewed to align with the new blueprint, based on best practices.
Stage 4: Item Review
Exam questions written during the previous stage are further reviewed and revised to verify references, blueprint classifications, and confirm there is only one correct answer.
Stage 5: Form Review
The exam form content is reviewed for any areas of overlap based on the blueprint, and any necessary revisions are made.
Stage 6: Standard Setting aka Cut Score
The performance standard or ‘minimum qualification’ of the exam required for entry-to-practice is determined. This performance standard is used as a guide to recommend the minimum passing score, or ‘cut score’ for the exam.
Progress to Date
To date, the College has completed stages one through five of the Exam Development Process and is now preparing the new JE forms which will be used for the first time during the February 2022 sitting. The exam will consist of 150 questions, of which 125 will be scored. The remaining 25 questions will be unscored. Unscored questions are placed on the exam to determine their statistical performance before becoming scored questions. Candidates will not be able to differentiate between scored and unscored questions.
Standard setting will be conducted after the February 2022 examination to determine the cut score. Therefore, the release of results for all 2022 JE sittings will be delayed until approximately two months after the exam date.
The College collaborated with Prometric, a global testing service provider, for the JE Modernization Project.