PENRA Courses brings together FRCR exam practice, a searchable teaching Atlas and structured case-based learning in one web-based platform. This page is a quick overview of what you can do; each feature links to the detailed help.
New here? Start with Getting access.
Practise the RCR exam formats across Physics, Anatomy, Rapids, Shorts, Longs and SBAs. Sit a timed exam with answers submitted for marking, or use a self-marked packet and review the answers as you go.
Get accessA searchable library of imaging cases. Browse by findings, conditions and anatomical structures, open multi-series cases and link related studies to show change over time.
Atlas helpTurn cases into structured learning in Review, Report, Question or Viva format. Track progress, save your work, add a self-review and get feedback after each case or at the end.
Case collection helpView images with windowing, scrolling and annotation tools. Annotate findings, build display sets for teaching and attach reports, PDFs, videos and links to a case.
DICOM guideShare attempts with your supervisor, review trainees' work and leave feedback. Messages and before/after surveys keep learners and organisers in touch.
Surveys & feedbackEverything runs in the browser, so you can work from any connected device. Peninsula trainees use an NHS account; external candidates can sign in with a CID and passcode.
Getting accessPENRA Courses is developed as part of the South West Imaging Training Academy. All radiology trainees on the programme have access and use the platform to sit mock exams as part for FRCR courses and summative assessments, including the ED Red Spot.
Cloud PACS and image-sharing tools, such as PACSbin, are built primarily around storing, viewing and sharing DICOM studies. PENRA Courses also includes a browser-based DICOM viewer, but the platform is organised around radiology education: exam practice, structured case-based learning and feedback. The comparison below is deliberately broad because individual products vary, and many work well alongside a teaching platform.
| Area | PENRA Courses | Typical cloud PACS / viewer (e.g. PACSbin) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | FRCR exam preparation, Atlas teaching cases and structured case-based learning. | Storing, viewing and sharing DICOM images, often for clinical, referral or collaborative workflows. |
| Exam simulation | Timed Physics, Anatomy, Rapids, Shorts, Longs and SBA exams with submitted answers and marking. | Not usually the focus; any exam use is generally assembled manually from shared cases. |
| Finding and organising cases | The Atlas searches by finding, condition and anatomical structure, with linked studies for change over time. | Usually organised by patient, study, folder or share link rather than by teaching taxonomy. |
| Structured learning | Collections in Review, Report, Question and Viva formats, with progress tracking and self-review. | Image review and sharing are central; structured assessment formats vary by product. |
| DICOM viewing & teaching | Browser viewer with windowing, scrolling, annotation and reusable display sets for teaching. | The viewer is usually the core product; annotation, teaching and display-set support varies. |
| Supervision & feedback | Share attempts with a supervisor, review trainees' work, leave feedback and run surveys. | Generally outside the product; feedback happens in separate meetings, documents or messaging tools. |
| Access | Runs in the browser; Peninsula trainees/trainers use an NHS account and external candidates use a CID and passcode. | Varies by product, commonly account or upload based with per-study sharing. |
The overlap is real: both can display multi-series DICOM studies and support image-based discussion. The difference is emphasis. A cloud PACS is primarily an imaging workflow tool, while PENRA Courses wraps a viewer in an exam and teaching workflow — cases, questions, feedback and progress in one place.
Ready to try something? The help pages cover each area in more detail.