ELIGIBILITY (A-Regulation)
Article 1
For candidates trained in European countries, requirements in the country of training must be met.
Article 2
Candidates who received their training outside of Europe can apply for accreditation by submitting their training record for consideration and first be OFFICIALLY recognised by one of the European countries and then apply for European accreditation.
Article 3
Accreditation should be available as predominantly cardiac or predominantly thoracic.
Article 4
This accreditation can be held by those who include other areas of surgery, for example general vascular surgery, within their overall practice. This should harmonise with European rules for those specialties.
Article 5
From the time of qualification as an M.D. to establishing independent practice a minimum training of six years is required. Only fully trained specialists being recognised as such by their responsible National organisation in the Member States of the EU, may apply for assessment and recognition by the European Board.
Candidates from EU countries where Cardiac and/or Thoracic Surgery is not an independent specialty will be evaluated on an individual basis provided that they fulfil all other requirements (eg. Numbers and type of operations) during their training. In countries where there is a Government approved National examinations the UEMS EBSQ Thoracic/Cardiac examinations cannot and should not be used to bypass National qualifications.
Article 6
At least two years training is required in the generality of surgery including experience in the management of acute surgical emergencies, trauma, and some general operative experience.
Article 7
A minimum of four years training is required in cardiac and/or thoracic surgery at the time of application.
Article 8
For recognition in cardiac surgery the applicant must provide evidence of having performed, as the primary operating surgeon during the training period, over 150 cardiac operations with an appropriate mix of open and closed cardiovascular procedures.
Article 9
For recognition in thoracic surgery the applicant must provide evidence of having performed, as the primary operating surgeon during the training period, 100 thoracic operations with an appropriate mix of open and thoracoscopic procedures. In addition a representative number of diagnostic procedures such as mediastinoscopy and endoscopy must have been performed.
Article 10
In both categories candidates should be able to indicate experience and adequate knowledge of related specialties.
For those seeking accreditation in thoracic surgery, an adequate knowledge of endoscopy, pulmonary function tests thoracic imaging and other diagnostic methods must be demonstrated.
For those seeking accreditation in cardiac surgery an adequate knowledge of ECG, echo Doppler, cardiac catheterisation, cardiovascular imaging, exercise testing and other diagnostic methods is required.
Article 11
Whichever is the chosen predominant area of work, candidates should adequately understand the principles of both major specialties and have a thorough knowledge of related basic sciences.
In all areas of work, candidates should display competence in case selection, and management in the pre-, intra- and postoperative phases of patient care.
First hand experience in postoperative intensive care, including artificial ventilation, resuscitation, central venous catheterisation, pulmonary artery catheterisation, emergency pacing, assist devices and other techniques is essential.
A basic knowledge of the principles of organ transplantation is expected.
Article 12
Candidates must show an ability to contribute original work relevant to the specialty and a minimum of three presentations, either publications in peer reviewed journals or presentation to scientific societies, published as an abstract.
PART II: PROCESS OF RECOGNITION (A-Regulation)
Article 13
The candidate must present at application:
- A completed UEMS/EBTCS application form
- A copy of passport
- A recent photograph
- A copy of national medical diploma. Where the national medical diploma is obtained outside of the EU member states (or Switzerland and Norway), the diploma must be ratified by the appropriate official body in the country where the specialist training takes place (usually but not always the Ministry of Education).
- A copy of licence to practice medicine
- A copy of ‘national specialist diploma’ or CCST (Completeion of Specialist Training) and/or official Specialty recognition registration number issued by the appropriate official body of that Country. Where the national specialist diploma is obtained outside of the EU member states (or Switzerland and Norway), the diploma must be ratified by the appropriate official body in a EU Member Country (usually but not always the Ministry of Education).
- A short curriculum vitae
- An overview of TRAINING positions (in both general and specialist surgery) detailing the commencement, finish, location and trainer for each training period in the following format:
1. Start date / end date / location / Director / Activities
2. Start date / end date / location / Director / Activities
………
- A logbook of ALL thoracic and/or cardiovascular procedures performed, operation by operation, relating to each specified training/rotation period. This list should be subdivided by procedures performed as a first surgeon or as an assistant surgeon.
The overview of the TRAINING POSITIONS and the accompanying logbook must be confirmed and countersigned by all trainers (and co-ordinator/director of the training programme if applicable)
The time spent in the generality of surgery may include time spent in specific training periods in Pulmonolgy, Cardiology, Cat lab, ICU, interventional radiology related to the specialty etc.
- A list of publications and presentations
- List of meetings and courses attended
Note: all documents which are not in English must be accompanied by an official signed and stamped translation.
If a country decides officially that the UEMS Board Certification in Cardiovascular and/or Thoracic Surgery is part of the official final exit certification of this country, all relevant official documents are to be provided by the candidate.
On the basis of these submissions the Board will decide if a candidate is eligible to be considered for Accreditation
Article 14
Candidates deemed eligible will undertake a formal examination in general thoracic and/or cardiac surgery, in English, for which a fee will be payable, to be announced by the Board
Article 15
The examination will be set and marked by a panel of examiners appointed by the Board. The panel will consist of at least six surgeons. At least one member of the panel will speak the candidate's native language, if the candidate specifically asks for it.
Article 16
Candidates will be provided with a list of books and journals from which to prepare for the examination, and a pass can be obtained within these sources, but the examiners may go outside this material.
Article 17
The appeal mechanism will be that immediately after the announcement of the marks, any candidate may appeal to the chair if he or she feels that the result is unfair. If a better mark on one part would alter the result, the candidate may be re-examined in that part of the examination by a different pair of examiners. If the marks are uniformly poor the chair would point that out and may deem re-examination as pointless.
After the examination appeals can be addressed to the Appeal Committee instituted by the Board, at the address of the office of the Board.
Article 18
The Board will organise the examination in different locations and at least once a year, according to demand.
Article 19
Surgeons accredited by the Board will receive a diploma recognizing them as UEMS Fellow of the Board of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons (FETCS) in either Thoracic or Cardiovascular surgery.