Invasive Cardiac Electrophysiology Accreditation

Accreditation examination organised by the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA)

Forthcoming Examination | Requirements | Documents to submit | Examination process | How to prepare

Forthcoming Examination

Examination date: 26 June 2011 - Madrid, Spain.

Online registration will be available on March 2011 (Deadline to register: 20 June 2011).

More details and candidate number will be sent with registration confirmations by mid-May 2011.

*** Please note that so as to respect exam room capacity, registrations are taken under the basis of first come first served. On-site registration is available, however we encourage pre-registration so as to guarantee a place.

Application Fee:

Regular fee

€200

EHRA Members fee

€170

Re-sit fee

€100

In the event that a participant wishes to cancel their registration to the Accreditation exam, written confirmation to the EHRA Accreditation office is required, up to 2 weeks prior the event. A refund of fees will be made. After this deadline, the candidate will be charged with a penalty of 50% of the accreditation cost and refunded the difference.

In case of unforeseen circumstances (such as death in the family, on-call at the hospital, accident of the candidate...), a proof document will be required and the candidate will be refunded with the entire registration fee.

Requirements

The Accreditation exams are run in two steps:

Theoretical part: written exam. Candidates will have to pass this first section successfully before going to the second section.
The exam is in English. A glossary is provided.
Practical part: log book section. Candidates must submit a list of at least 200 procedures. At least 100 out of them should be ablation procedures performed by the candidate as first operator. Expericence should be gathered during 3 consecutive years. Candidates can start compiling their logbook before sitting the Theoretical part. The logbook must be sent through an electronic platform: the E-Logbook. Candidates have 3 years after the exam to provide it.

To sit an accreditation exam, all applicants have to be a Cardiology Specialist (issued by a National Authority of Health or the European Union or, in the future, by the UEMS).

Documents to submit and complete the Accreditation process after having successfully passed the theorical exam:

Letter of Endorsement from the National Society
Letter of support from a Supervisor
Cardiologist Title
List of Procedures (Log Book)
- Catheter Ablation procedure
- Diagnostic Electrophysiology procedure

Examination

The Accreditation is run in two steps:

The theoretical examination , compiled by the Accreditation Committee, essentially consists of a 130 multiple-choice question test.

Questions are based on the analysis of practical clinical cases and decision making (60-80%), with the remaining dedicated to theoretical questions.
10 questions out of the 130 are back up questions and are used only for appeal procedures. The final mark is thus based on 120 questions and is calculated on 75% of the 5 best scores and must be superior to 60% of the questions. In case the number of candidates is below thirty (30), the passing score will be calculated on 75% of the best three (3) scores, and must be superior to 60% of the questions.
Answers are to be reported on a mark sheet.

The examination is designed to be completed in two consecutive parts of 3 hours with a 90 minutes lunch break:

9:00 - 12:00: 1st part
12:00 - 13:30: Lunch break (lunch is provided by EHRA)
13:30 - 16:30: 2nd part*

Participants are required to sign in at least 30 minutes before the start, IDs will be checked.
Participants will have to sign out the registration list upon handing out their copy (for both parts).

*EHRA reserves right to modify the above the schedule if required.

Results are sent within 2 months after the exam, by email.

There is no appeal procedure available after the exam. Candidates will be asked to answer a feedback questionnaire.

Log book section

Once candidates have passed the theoretical examination, candidates must prove practical experience in the field: experience in at least 200 procedures. At least 100 out of them should be ablation procedures. Experience should be gathered during 3 consecutive years.

Candidates must submit their logbook on the E-Logbook platform.

Exam candidates from session before June 2010 exam can choose between the E-Logbook and the paper logbook to be sent to the European Heart House - EHRA Accreditation Office (2035 route des Colles - les Templiers - BP 179 - 06903 Sophia Antipolis)

Upon passing the theoretical examination, candidates will receive the details to access the E-Logbook platform.

A grader, from the EHRA Accreditation Committee, will grade the log books. On average, review process takes 2 months. Upon passing the whole Accreditation process, candidates will receive a diploma.

As a security, candidates should keep a copy of their log book.

Final results are sent by email.

Accreditation is valid for a period of time of 10 years.

You are allowed to take the written exam before completing the rest of the requirements for accreditation and you will get an official certification if you succeed it.
However, to obtain the Accreditation diploma, you must provide the above documents after at most a period of 3 years.

How to prepare the exam

EHRA offers the possibility to follow Preparatory Courses. Attending the courses will enable participants to get further knowledge to sit the accreditation exam, however they are not a guarantee to pass it.

Topic distribution of the written exam questions*