Competency assessment of dermatology trainees in the UK.

Postgraduate higher specialist training of dermatology in the UK has become more structured over the past 8 years. Increased awareness of the need to police our profession has impelled the introduction of objective competency based assessment. Competency assessment will take three forms: mini clinical evaluation exercise, directly observed procedural skills and 360-degree assessment. These components of assessment will direct much needed rigour into the training system and may be the first step on the road to a formal exit examination in dermatology.