Objective: To investigate clinical competence assessment model in the graduation examination for surgical professional postgraduate in clinical medicine. Methods: Data of clinical competence assessment of graduation examination for surgical postgraduates in clinical medicine from Capital Medical University(CMU) and residents from Beijing surgical residency training programs in 2013 were summarized and analyzed. Results: There were 118 surgical postgraduates in clinical medicine form CMU and 274 residents from Beijing surgical residency training programs

who attended final clinical competence assessment. There were significant differences between the postgraduate and resident clinical competence assessment system. The differences included their organization in charge of examination and the contents of assessment system. The assessment system of clinical competence for the surgical postgraduates did not involved communication skills

reading and analysis of laboratory tests and imaging investigation. The score of case analysis in the postgraduate group was higher than that in the resident group (84.6 1.1 vs 8.2 10.2

P=0.039)

however the score of surgical skill assessment in postgraduate group was significantly lower than that of the resident group(78.2 14.0 vs 90.5 6.3

P=0.000). In addition

the rate in the score being higher or equal to 70 of medical record writing

case analysis

surgical skill assessment between postgraduates and residents was significant difference

p< 0.05. Conclusion: Clinical competence assessment system for the surgical postgraduates should be adapt to their training goal

to increase communication skills

laboratory tests and imaging interpretation

as well as strengthen the cultivation of clinical thinking ability. In addition to the process assessment

the objective structured clinical skills examination (OSCE) could be as a reasonable postgraduate graduation examination mode.