Clinical Performance Examination (CPX)

The Clinical Performance Examination (CPX) is a practical test of basic clinical & professional skills. The examination was originally developed by a committee of faculty from the four medical schools as part of the North Carolina Medical Schools Consortium (NCMSC). The CPX exam consists of 14 cases that represent common problems students should be prepared to identify and manage. In comparison with the Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) used in the Introduction to Clinical Medicine (ICM) course and Family Medicine Clerkship, this examination assesses a wider range of skills with each patient. Students encounter standardized patients in clinic, in-patient and emergency room settings. In almost all cases, students will approach these patients as the responsible, first contact physician. 

Five types of skills are assessed in the CPX: relationship, communication, history taking, physical examination, and planning/assessment. Performance is recorded by the standardized patients and scored against criteria established by clinical faculty. A passing grade on the CPX is a requirement and must be achieved prior to graduation from the UNC School of Medicine. 

The dates for the 2008 CPX will be

July 26, 28, 29, 30, 31
August 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

All rising 4th year students will receive information on registration by email and in their fourth year packets. Registration will be open online beginning at 12:01 am May 31 and will close at 11:59 pm June 24. Students who do not register online by the cutoff date will be automatically registered. Students on delayed clerkships will be automatically assigned for the October 18 exam date and will receive confirmation by email and in their fourth year packets. Students assigned to the October test date should NOT register online. Students who do not pass the examination will be required to participate in a remediation with clinical faculty and will be given the opportunity to retake the exam on November 14 and 15. There will be no additional opportunities to retake the exam, no exceptions.

For more information about this exam, please visit the orientation pages.