MRSE Certificate of Competence - New Guidance 2025
Changes to MRSE Guidance
In March 2025 the guidance for portfolio submissions has been updated. Candidates will be able to submit under this new guidance from 1st April 2025. We recognise that some candidates will have started to prepare their portfolios under the previous guidance (2020 - 2025) and therefore from 1st April to 30th June 2025 candidates will be able to choose whether to submit under the previous guidance or this new guidance. However, from 1st July 2025 all candidates will need to submit via the new guidance.
Summary of changes in the new IPEM MRSE Applicant Guidance
The updated guidance for portfolio submissions has been designed to clarify definitions and simplify the structure of sub-categories based on feedback and the review of initial submissions. This document highlights the key changes to aid transitioning from the old to the new guidance.
General updates
Clearer definition of MR Safety as applied to this scheme:
- Explicitly outlines the aspects covered by this certification.
- Identifies exclusions to avoid unnecessary evidence.
Evidence of adherence to UK guidelines:
- Evidence must assess or demonstrate compliance with MHRA guidelines in at least two sub-categories.
Brief commentary for context:
- Applicants are encouraged to include a concise explanation of the context and their personal contribution for each piece of evidence.
Depth and complexity of evidence. Evidence must show:
- A clear and substantive personal contribution.
- Competency at a substantive depth and complexity.
Structural updates to sub-categories
Definitions in the category table have been reworded to improve clarity, and to highlight key points and specify non-acceptable evidence where applicable. Some sub-categories have been removed or restructured for clarity:
- Sub-category 5.3 (QA) and performance testing in category 7 have been removed as not part of the adopted definition.
- Removed the separation between advice for individual subjects and groups of subjects (removed sub-categories 3.2 and 4.4).
- Revised focus in category 1, emphasizing the need for evidence related to organisational level duties and overarching framework (restructured sub-category 1.1 and 1.2).
- Highlighted the need for evidence that demonstrates reflective learning in sub-category 8.1.
A compare table detailing the changes in each category and sub-category is provided in the links below.
Adapting the portfolio to the new guidance
- Ensure your portfolio aligns with the clarified definitions of MR safety. Remove any evidence that falls under exclusions or non-relevant aspects.
- Verify that your submissions include traceable reference to MHRA guidelines in at least two sub-categories.
- For each piece of evidence, it is recommended you include a brief commentary to provide additional context which may help to demonstrate competency.
- Evaluate whether each piece of evidence shows:
- Substantive personal involvement. Authorship should be clear in the evidence itself.
- Sufficient depth and complexity in addressing the sub-category’s requirements. - Adjust for sub-category changes:
- Remove evidence related to eliminated sub-categories and combine evidence where applicable.
- Ensure evidence in category 1 reflects organizational-level contributions.
- Add reflective evidence in category 8.1 where applicable. - Review the reworded category table to ensure all evidence aligns with the clarified definitions.
