Unified State Qualification Exam (USQE) has been adopted as evaluation format for Master’s, Bachelor’s, and vocational pre-higher education students majoring in “22 Healthcare” branch of knowledge under Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution № 334 “On adoption of the Unified State Qualification Exam Procedure for the Master’s, Bachelor’s, and vocational pre-higher education students majoring in “22 Healthcare” branch of knowledge specializations” (amended), dated March 28, 2018 (Resolution № 334).

The procedure, terms, and timeframe for development and administration of USQE and criteria for the result assessment have been determined within “The procedure, terms, and timeframe for development and administration of the Unified State Qualification Exam and criteria for the result assessment”, adopted under Ministry of Health of Ukraine Decree № 419 (amended), dated February 19, 2019, and registered with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine under № 279/33250 on March 20, 2019 (Procedure № 419).

Depending on the academic program level and specialty, USQE may consist of one or two separate test-based stages, as provided in the Addenda to Resolution № 334.

USQE test-based components are:

• “Krok” Integrated Test-Based Exam (Krok Exam) for Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Vocational Junior Bachelor’s program students;
• Vocational English Language Proficiency Test (Vocational ELPT) for Master’s program students.

USQE test-based components can be taken only by students, who were properly registered for participation in the exam, if their current health condition allows them to undergo testing.

Students, who were registered for USQE test-based components, must:

• familiarize themselves with Procedure № 419;
• timely arrive at the exam site with their identity documents;
• be polite to other students and persons tasked with the USQE administration;
• comply with the exam-related instructions and requests of the persons tasked with the USQE administration.

The exam is administered in pen-and-paper format, using the standardized testing technologies. Each one of the USQE test-based components must be taken by the examinee personally, at the exam site designated for administering USQE test-based components, and after undergoing the identity check.

Students, who could not attend their exams or exam retakes for any of the USQE test-based components and have a reasonable excuse for their absence (properly confirmed with the documents), are granted one Additional Exam Session, the date for which is decided by the Testing Board.

Reasonable excuses that may prevent a student from participating in the exam include:

• an illness at the time of the exam, confirmed by the health certificate of temporary disability or an excerpt from the Inpatient / Outpatient Medical Record (forms № 095/о and № 027/о);
• a death in the family, including the in-laws;
• a force majeure event.

If such students fail to submit the documents providing a reasonable excuse for their absence at the exam or if they submit them after the expiration of the three-day period after the exam, they are considered to have been absent at the exam without a reasonable excuse and obtain “0” score as a result.

While the martial law is in effect, students that major in “22 Healthcare” branch of knowledge and are staying abroad can take their test-based USQE components in computer-based format at designated test sites near their current location.

If a school is located at the territory that is considered temporary occupied or a site of active or past hostilities under Ministry of Reintegration Decree № 309 (amended), dated December 22, 2022, its students have the right to take their test-based USQE components in schools located in other regions of Ukraine.

While the martial law is in effect and for the duration of one year after its termination or cancellation, part-time higher and vocational pre-higher education students, who serve in the military, undergo their evaluation in the format decided by their school, without taking USQE.

If an examinee disagrees with the test score obtained at Krok Exam or at Vocational English Language Proficiency Test, he or she has the right to request the Score Recheck Procedure. For more detailed information, see the Score Recheck Procedure.