Book excerpt: This book highlights the basic concepts underpinning the OSCE, its development and implementation in practice. Practical guidelines and tips are provided based on the authors' extensive experience gained over 40 years. Case studies are included to illustrate the OSCE's use in a wide range of settings and professions to assess the expected learning outcomes. The text is supplemented with personal accounts and anecdotes. Used globally in all phases of education in the different healthcare professions, the OSCE was first described by the lead author, Harden, in 1975 and it is now the gold standard for performance assessment. "This book is an invaluable addition. It pulls together in one place pretty well everything that is known about the OSCE; what works and what doesn't. It is a welcome addition to the bookshelf of any educational leader." Geoff Norman's Foreword This book provides a full understanding of the basic concepts underpinning the OSCE and shows how to implement an OSCE effectively and efficiently in a variety of contexts. It includes case studies demonstrating the use of the OSCE in practice in a range of different fields. Practical guidelines and tips are provided based on the authors' extensive experience.