Regulations-Eligibility
Article 1. Candidates should have completed the training requirements of their country of training.
Article 2. Only trained specialists being recognized as such by their responsible national organization may apply for assessment and recognition by the European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
Article 3. Candidates from countries where cardiac, cardiothoracic or cardiovascular surgery is not an independent specialty will be evaluated on an individual basis provided that they fulfill all other requirements (eg. numbers and type of operations) during their training.
Article 4. In countries where there are government-approved national examinations, the European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery examinations are not an alternative to these national qualifications. The acquisition of the Board Fellowship alone does not automatically provide a guarantee to the admission into specialty registries in the member E.U countries. However, the recognition of the Fellowship by the national authorities is encouraged by the UEMS.
Article 5. The Fellowship Exams will be open for candidates trained in one of the 28 European Union countries, non-EU UEMS member countries (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland), associated UEMS countries (Armenia, Israel and Turkey), countries with UEMS observer status (Georgia, Lebanon and Morocco), United States of America, and Canada. Candidates trained in other countries can be eligible provided that the European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery is satisfied with their experience and qualifications. The decision is at the discretion of the Board.
Article 6. Candidates must have completed a minimum of five years training in cardiac, cardiothoracic or cardiovascular surgery at the time of application in accordance with the Annex V of the Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament (Directive 2005-36-EC).
Article 7- The applicant should have performed, as the primary operating surgeon, over 100 cardiac, cardiothoracic or cardiovascular operations.
Article 8. Whichever is the predominant area of work or profile, candidates should adequately understand the principles of the generality of all major sub-specialties. i.e. Surgical diseases of the chest
Article 9. In their predominant areas of work, candidates should display competence in case selection and management in the pre-, intra- and postoperative periods of patient care.
Article 10. The candidate must present at application:
- A completed Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery application form (EBCTS_Application)
- A copy of passport
- A recent photograph
- A copy of national medical diploma
- A copy of ‘national specialist diploma’ or CCST (Completion of Specialist Training) and/or official specialty recognition registration number issued by the appropriate official body of that country.
- Two completed Structured Reference Form’s (two different referees)
- A short curriculum vitae (max 5 pages)
- A detailed logbook of procedures performed and assisted during the last two years (LOGBOOK)
Note: all documents which are not in English must be accompanied by an official translation.
On the basis of these submissions, the Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery will decide if a candidate is eligible to be considered for Accreditation.
Article 11. Candidates deemed eligible will undertake a formal examination in the generality of the specialty of cardiothoracic surgery with three different profiles (cardiac, cardiothoracic or cardiovascular), in English, for which a fee will be payable.
Article 12. The examination will be set and marked by a panel of examiners appointed by UEMS Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery. The quality of the examination and examiners will be continuously monitored.
Article 13. Appeals can be addressed to the European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery, at the address of the office of the Board.
Article 14. The Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery will organize the examination in Brussels al least once a year.
Article 15. Candidates who are successful in the examination will receive a diploma recognizing them as a Fellow of the European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery. The diploma will include the logo of the UEMS, the candidate’s name, date of the examination, and the signature of the President of the UEMS Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery. A list with the names of the Fellows will be published on the UEMS website.