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College of Family Physicians of Canada (Examination of Added Competence in Emergency Medicine): Study Tips [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?category=study-tips) College of Family Physicians of Canada (Examination of Added Competence in Emergency Medicine): Study Tips ============================================================================================================ A practical plan for the changing written SAMP format and four virtual oral stations [ MDster Editorial Team ](https://mdster.com/about) · Nov 08, 2026 · 6 min read · 71 [ Reviewed by Dr. Ali Ragab, MBBCH, MSc, MCAI ](https://mdster.com/medical-reviewers/dr-ali-ragab) [Editorial Policy](https://mdster.com/editorial-policy) \| [Corrections Policy](https://mdster.com/corrections) [ Emergency Medicine ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=emergency-medicine) [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=study-tips) [ CCFP(EM) ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=ccfpem) [ SAMPs ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=samps) [ Structured Orals ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=structured-orals) ![College of Family Physicians of Canada (Examination of Added Competence in Emergency Medicine): Study Tips](https://mdster.com/storage/blog/images/college-of-family-physicians-of-canada-examination-of-added-competence-in-emergency-medi-1.png) Share this article Share this post On this page 1. [ Know the examination you are preparing for ](#know-the-examination-you-are-preparing-for) 2. [ Build your study map from CFPC priority topics ](#build-your-study-map-from-cfpc-priority-topics) 3. [ Turn each topic into decisions ](#turn-each-topic-into-decisions) 4. [ Practise SAMP answers and selections differently ](#practise-samp-answers-and-selections-differently) 5. [ For write-in questions ](#for-write-in-questions) 6. [ For MCQs and short menus ](#for-mcqs-and-short-menus) 7. [ Rehearse oral cases aloud, under the real clock ](#rehearse-oral-cases-aloud-under-the-real-clock) 8. [ Study Schedule Template ](#study-schedule-template) 9. [ Common pitfalls and key takeaways ](#common-pitfalls-and-key-takeaways) 10. [ Frequently Asked Questions ](#blog-faqs) 11. [ References ](#references-heading) On this page 1. [ Know the examination you are preparing for ](#know-the-examination-you-are-preparing-for) 2. [ Build your study map from CFPC priority topics ](#build-your-study-map-from-cfpc-priority-topics) 3. [ Turn each topic into decisions ](#turn-each-topic-into-decisions) 4. [ Practise SAMP answers and selections differently ](#practise-samp-answers-and-selections-differently) 5. [ For write-in questions ](#for-write-in-questions) 6. [ For MCQs and short menus ](#for-mcqs-and-short-menus) 7. [ Rehearse oral cases aloud, under the real clock ](#rehearse-oral-cases-aloud-under-the-real-clock) 8. [ Study Schedule Template ](#study-schedule-template) 9. [ Common pitfalls and key takeaways ](#common-pitfalls-and-key-takeaways) 10. [ Frequently Asked Questions ](#blog-faqs) 11. [ References ](#references-heading) You can manage an unstable patient confidently and still lose exam marks by giving five answers when a SAMP asks for three—or by silently working through an oral case. For this examination, practise making sound emergency decisions **in the format the examiner can score**. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Know the examination you are preparing for ------------------------------------------ The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) Examination of Added Competence in Emergency Medicine has a computer-based written SAMP component and a structured oral component. You must pass **both** to earn the CCFP(EM) designation; a strong written performance does not replace oral practice. [\[2\]](#cite-2 "Reference [2]") As of November 2026, prepare for a mixed written format: CFPC says up to 25% of 2026 cases use multiple-choice or short-menu questions, with all cases planned to use those formats in 2027. The written assessment provides four hours for questions, plus an optional 15-minute break. The oral assessment has four virtual, 12-minute stations with different examiners and topics. Check the current CFPC candidate guide before your sitting rather than assuming the transition is complete. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Build your study map from CFPC priority topics ---------------------------------------------- Start with the CFPC priority-topic list, not a textbook’s table of contents. It includes airway management, shock, chest pain, trauma, pediatric fever, toxicology, ultrasound-related content, and less obvious areas such as multiple patients, suicide risk, and critical appraisal. Use the list as a coverage checklist; do not treat the examples below as an official weighting of exam questions. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") ### Turn each topic into decisions For every topic, write one page answering: What must I recognize immediately? What is my first action? Which finding changes management? What disposition is safest? For a shortness-of-breath case, rehearse the transition from initial stabilization to a focused differential, appropriate investigations, reassessment, and disposition—not just a list of diagnoses. - Start your first pass with time-critical presentations: airway compromise, shock, arrhythmia, trauma, and altered consciousness. - Next, cover common presentations across ages, including chest pain, abdominal pain, headache, and pediatric fever. - Reserve sessions for topics you might otherwise skip: obstetric emergencies, mental health, multiple-patient triage, and ultrasound. After each practice case, record the **decision you missed**, not merely the disease name. That makes your next review useful during a shift-length study window. Practise SAMP answers and selections differently ------------------------------------------------ Use the CFPC sample SAMPs to learn how questions are phrased, then check clinical content against current Canadian guidance. Previous released cases may not reflect current practice. Add practice questions or a non-commercial study group for volume, but compare their answer conventions with CFPC instructions rather than assuming they match. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") ### For write-in questions Read the requested number of responses before typing. Put one answer in each field, lead with your best answers, use SI units for values, and include drug doses or routes when the question directs you to—for example, when it says “Be Specific.” CFPC states that responses beyond the requested number receive no credit; extra alternatives are not a safety net. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") ### For MCQs and short menus Predict your management choice before inspecting the options. Then check timing, patient stability, and whether the prompt asks you to select one answer or several; the CFPC’s new-format samples demonstrate both selection styles. Review a wrong selection by explaining why each plausible alternative is less appropriate **at that point in the case**. [\[3\]](#cite-3 "Reference [3]") > **Pro Tip:** Run the same clinical scenario twice: first as a tightly limited write-in response, then as an option-selection question. The clinical reasoning transfers; the response mechanics do not. For a full written rehearsal, use the four-hour question window and plan the optional break before you begin. Watch the CFPC software tutorial in advance and use the separate exam-day orientation; rushing that tutorial does not add question time. [\[4\]](#cite-4 "Reference [4]") Rehearse oral cases aloud, under the real clock ----------------------------------------------- Find one colleague willing to act as an examiner twice a week. Practise with two minutes to read a scenario and 12 minutes to manage it aloud, matching CFPC’s station sequence. Ask your colleague to provide information only when you request it and to introduce a change in patient status that requires reassessment. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Use a repeatable spoken sequence: immediate threats and stabilization; focused history and examination; investigations and treatment; reassessment; consultation and disposition. Say what you are doing and why, then respond to examiner prompts rather than forcing a memorized speech. CFPC says the examiner scores as you proceed; notes on the platform are not scored, and pen and paper are not permitted. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Record each mock station’s missed actions under three labels: recognition, management, or communication. Repeat the station after 48 hours, aiming to state the omitted decision without prompting. Include at least one multiple-patient case so you practise explicitly saying whom you assess first and what you delegate. Study Schedule Template ----------------------- WhenWritten workOral workWeeks 1–2Map CFPC topics; do two short case sets each weekComplete two baseline timed stationsWeeks 3–4Review time-critical topics; alternate write-in and selection questionsDo two stations weekly; repeat missed actionsWeeks 5–6Cover remaining topics; complete one timed written block weeklyDo four stations across two sessions weeklyWeeks 7–8Complete a four-hour rehearsal; review your error logRun a four-station virtual mock and retest weak topics If shifts disrupt a week, move the missed topic to your next study block rather than doubling every session. Protect both written and oral practice: they have separate passing requirements. [\[2\]](#cite-2 "Reference [2]") Common pitfalls and key takeaways --------------------------------- - Download the current CFPC candidate guide, topic list, sample SAMPs, and oral orientation materials. - Replace long SAMP explanations with the **number of specific answers requested**. - Stop treating MCQ practice as sufficient preparation for write-in questions or spoken stations. - Practise verbalizing reassessment and disposition, not just an initial differential. - Book two oral partners’ sessions and one timed written block this week. The exam rewards decisions you can communicate under its constraints. Start with one CFPC topic today, answer one case in both written styles, and explain your management aloud tomorrow. Frequently Asked Questions ---------------------------- ### Should I stop practising write-in SAMPs for a 2027 sitting? Prioritize the format CFPC confirms for your sitting. CFPC plans all 2027 cases to use MCQs and short-menu questions, but its current candidate instructions should determine your final practice mix. ### How many oral stations should I simulate in a full mock? Simulate four virtual stations of 12 minutes each, with a separate two-minute scenario-reading period before each station. ### What happens if I list more SAMP answers than requested? CFPC says responses beyond the requested number receive no credit. Put your strongest answers first and follow the stated response limit. ### Can strong SAMP results compensate for a weak oral result? No. CFPC requires a passing result on both the written SAMP and structured oral components for the CCFP(EM) designation. References (4) ------------------ 1. 1. [ CFPC. Preparing for the Examination of Added Competence in Emergency Medicine. ](https://www.cfpc.ca/en/education-professional-development/examinations-and-certification/examination-of-added-competence-in-emergency-medic/preparing-for-the-examination-of-added-competence) [↩](#cite-ref-1-1 "Back to text") 2. 2. [ CFPC. FAQs for the Examination of Added Competence in Emergency Medicine. ](https://www.cfpc.ca/en/education-professional-development/examinations-and-certification/examination-of-added-competence-in-emergency-medic/faqs) [↩](#cite-ref-2-1 "Back to text") 3. 3. [ CFPC. Emergency Medicine sample multiple-choice and short-menu SAMP cases. ](https://www.cfpc.ca/CFPC/media/Resources/Examinations/EM-Sample-Samps-English.pdf) [↩](#cite-ref-3-1 "Back to text") 4. 4. [ CFPC. Candidate Guide to the Examination of Added Competence in Emergency Medicine, 2026. ](https://www.cfpc.ca/CFPC/media/Resources/Examinations/EM-Exam-Candidate-Guide-EN.pdf) [↩](#cite-ref-4-1 "Back to text") Next Get faster at Emergency Medicine decision‑making -------------------------------------------------- - Rapid, exam‑style questions across core ED topics - High‑yield differentials and next‑step management - Target weak areas with smart review [ Start practicing ](https://mdster.com/user/dashboard) [ Emergency Medicine ](https://mdster.com/speciality/emergency-medicine) [ View pricing ](https://mdster.com/pricing) [ Explore features ](https://mdster.com/features) No credit card required. Full access to all features\*. No commitment. Cancel anytime. \*AI SOE Examiner is limited to 10 cases monthly for Advanced & Bundle subscribers. 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