How to pass the DipIMC OSPE
Part B of the DipIMC is an objective structured practical examination (OSPE): 14 stations of hands-on pre-hospital care with an examiner and, usually, an actor. The facts below are from the College's own documents; the advice is mine. Where anything here differs from the College's current regulations, the College is right.
1. Know exactly how the circuit runs
- 14 stations: 12 of 8 minutes and 2 of 16 minutes, and there may be rest stations (Regulations 1.2).
- One minute's reading before each station, which then runs for its remaining 7 or 15 minutes (Review, p. 8).
- The two 16-minute stations always examine basic and advanced life support, and trauma care. They are the two you can be surest of, so prepare them hardest: cardiac arrest to the Resuscitation Council UK 2025 guidelines, and trauma.
- All DIMC stations are indoors.
Use the reading minute. Decide the first three things you will do before the door opens.
2. Know the kit before you touch it
- The Sandpiper bag. Every station uses the same standardised equipment pack, and its contents are published (Sandpiper bag guidance). You don't need to know where things are in the bag, but you are expected to use the equipment without guidance (Review, p. 13).
- Monitoring. You apply and interpret it; the examiner runs the device's controls, and no brand's interface is tested.
- Two named exceptions. Candidates are expected to know how to deploy and operate the LUCAS chest compression system, and to be familiar with scoop stretchers. If you don't use them at work, find someone who does.
3. Practise with the aide memoire and checklists
Stations use a standardised drug dose aide memoire and standardised checklists, published by the College (Review, p. 14). Practise with the same ones, so that on the day you use them rather than read them for the first time.
4. Understand how you are marked
- Each station has a predetermined checklist; an 8-minute station has around 15 items (Review, p. 16).
- A pass mark contribution is set for each station, and the contributions are added up into one overall pass mark.
- No station is weighted more than another, so a poor station can be made up for by a strong one.
Two things follow. An examiner can only tick what they see or hear, so say what you are doing and why as you do it. And treat each station as a fresh start: a bad one does not fail you on its own, but carrying it into the next one might.
5. Rehearse the decisions against the clock
The hands-on skills need hands-on practice with colleagues. Underneath them is decision-making under time pressure, and that you can rehearse anywhere. DipIMC.Ninja's stations run against a real 8- or 16-minute clock that keeps running while you read the feedback; each step offers several actions scored best, acceptable or poor, and poor choices can lead to a deteriorating patient.
Try an 8-minute stationBrowse all stations
6. On the day
- Bring photo ID: a passport or driving licence.
- Part B is patient-facing, so treat the actors as patients. Overalls are allowed, but cover any markings that show your profession, employer or sponsors (Regulations section 6).
More on the format: Part B, the OSPE explained. Dates: DipIMC January 2027. Watch the College's own videos and podcasts.