Electroconvulsive therapy training: can it be a model of an entrustable professional activity in a competency program?

Objectives: This paper gives an overview of the teaching and assessment process in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) provided in the Hunter Region to see if it can be used as a successful example of competency assessment and training. We describe the process and practice of training and credentialing in ECT in the Hunter Region, and compare these with the requirements of an Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA) in particular and competency based training and assessment in general. Conclusion: The intensely supervised 'hands on' training and assessment in this program, and the entrusting of successful graduates to perform ECT and related activities with sufficient independence, demonstrate an 'Entrustable Professional Activity' as proposed for introduction in the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Competency Based Fellowship Program.