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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Medicine in Chemical Pathology 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
110303  Master of Medicine in Chemical Pathology 
ORIGINATOR
University of KwaZulu-Natal 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Curative Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The primary purpose of this qualification is to provide practical skills and knowledge necessary to equip learners for professional service in the context of the health needs of the population. It aims to provide learners with the foundation for continued personal and intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and for contributing to society at large through advanced patient care, innovation, scholarship and leadership in the field of Chemical Pathology.

Rationale:
The qualification produces learners who are socially accountable with specialised knowledge and applied competence in science and practice in specialist clinical disciplines to enable registration with the HPCSA (Health Professions Council of South Africa) as a specialist (Chemical Pathologist). It prepares learners to contribute to the development and dissemination of knowledge at an advanced level by fostering scholarship and intellectual independence equipping them with skills and knowledge relevant to the practice of research and professional communication. The qualification produces competent learners for admission to doctoral qualification preparing them for a life of self-directed continuing learning, reflective practice and professional development. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution accepts the principle underlying outcomes-based, source-based and life-long learning, in which considerations of articulation and mobility play a significant role, and subscribes to the view that Recognition of Prior Learning, whether acquired by formal education curricula at this or another institution or informally (by experience) is an indispensable element in deciding on admission to and awarding credits in an explicitly selected teaching-learning qualification of the institution.

An applicant who falls outside of the formal qualifications system, but who can demonstrate (through the production of substantial and satisfactory evidence) experiential or work-based learning or a non-formal qualification (or a combination), may be considered for admission and/or for the Recognition of Prior Learning for the achievement of the qualification in part or in full. An applicant who after such assessment, is deemed to have sufficient potential, but is in need of further academic development, must be directed to other suitable learning qualifications prior to admission or to parallel qualifications after admission.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is the:
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, National Qualifications Framework(NQF) Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level totalling 720 Credits.
    Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 720 Credits:
  • Research Methodology, 16 Credits.
  • Research Project, 164 Credits.
  • C Pathology Clinical & Professional Practice 1, 270 Credits.
  • C Pathology Clinical & Professional Practice 2, 270 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Clinical competence:
    1. Show clinical competence in diagnosis and management of disorders appropriate to the discipline.
    2. Demonstrate competence in procedures.
    3. Ensure maintenance of high ethical standards in practice and research.
    4. Benchmark clinical practice against international standards, using available evidence Scholarship.
    5. Demonstrate academic literacy in terms of critical thinking, the ability to access appropriate learning resources, formulate a research proposal, conduct the research and communicate the findings to the academic community.
    Generic attributes competence in:
    6. Communication skills.
    7. Creating and sustaining harmonious and effective service delivery teams.
    8. Leadership in health provision.
    9. Health advocacy.
    10. Mentoring junior colleagues in the area of specialty.
    11. Dealing with complex issues both systemically and creatively.
    12. Demonstrating self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems.
    13. Exercising sound judgement in the use of data and information.
    14. Acting autonomously planning and implementing professional. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be used in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Interact with text (oral and written) through critical listening/reading skills.
  • Produce texts which integrate information from different sources using appropriate academic and professional conventions.
  • Communicate the findings and treatment options effectively with the patient and referring doctor taken from a medical history at a level appropriate to the specialty.
  • Determine signs and symptoms of disease or injury and perform advanced physical examination appropriate to the level of Chemical Pathology.
  • Use cost-effective investigations which provide sufficient relevant information to aid diagnosis.
  • Gather information from various sources, reflect critically on knowledge and information and in consultation with the patient and other health care professions (where appropriate) plan and implement to completion a treatment option.
  • Initiate and complete a research project.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The development of generic competencies such as communication skills, collaboration, professionalism and ethics, scholarly activity, health advocacy, leadership and management are monitored in a process of continuous formative assessment, oral interviews and in the setting of the final examination. Formative assessments include performance as a service-provider in the clinical workplace; assessment of class preparation and participation; individual and group written assignments; individual and group oral presentations; work placed based assessments; and a professional portfolio. Summative assessment is in the form of part one and two of the institution's and/or Colleges of Medicine of South Africa(CMSA) examinations as well as the assessment methodology for the research module. The part one CMSA examinations in Chemical Pathology are set by the institution and part two examinations are conducted by CMSA. In order to satisfy the requirements for the Research Methodology module, the learner is required to have produced a satisfactory research protocol ready for submission to the institution's Biomedical Research Ethics Committee. At the conclusion of the research project, the achievement of learning outcomes will be assessed through a thesis in the traditional format that will be submitted for examination on completion of the research project or by publication in a peer-reviewed South African Post-Secondary Education (SAPSE) accredited journal. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification is comparable with similar qualifications offered in various higher education institutions internationally. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for both vertical and horizontal articulation options:
    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Pathology, Level 10.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Science in Chemical Pathology, Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced qualification.
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.