Cardiac Pacing and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators Certification

In order to encourage a high standard of knowledge and clinical expertise and to enable physicians to provide their patients with the best and most advanced standard of treatment, we envisage a successful EHRA Certification process to serve as a sign of excellence for physicians.

Together with the EHRA logbook of interventional procedures/operations performed under the supervision of senior colleagues, they provide the basis for EHRA Certification in cardiac devices.

To achieve and maintain the level of quality of the process we continuously focus our efforts on improving the number, content, layout, and statistical power of the questions.

Physicians wishing to sit for the EHRA Certification exam are encouraged have knowledge and clinical experience prior to the exam.

A short questionnaire asking for candidates' details about their clinical background will be part of the exam registration process.

EHRA CP exa

Please read exam Terms and Conditions.

Fees

• First time fee:  €500
• Re-sit fee:  €300

Please note that:

• these fees apply to members and non-members
• there is no on-site registration.

Cancellation policy

In the event that you wish to cancel your registration to the EHRA Certification exam, you must contact us. The EHRA cancellation policy is as detailed below:

• Up to 6 weeks before the exam: 100% refund
• From 6 to 4 weeks: 50% refund
• Within 4 weeks: no refund
• No show: no refund

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

If EHRA is to cancel the exam, the full registration fee will be refunded. However, EHRA is not liable for any cost incurred by the cancellation of accommodation and travel arrangements.

Requirements

Interested in taking EHRA Certification exam ? You will be asked, during the registration process, to provide:

• Copy of your medical diploma (MD) issued by a National Health Authority (sent as pdf document labelled to their name - ie: MD_Name-Surname)

To become an EHRA Certified Cardiac Device Specialist (ECDS) you must complete 2 levels: 

• Level 1: Pass the exam (in English) consisting of multiple choice questions, held during one of EHRA's annual congress.
• Level 2: Pass the exam and document practical experience: Once the exam is passed a logbook must be submitted 3 years* after sitting the exam.

*Since 2014, requirements changed for candidates. Please refer to the below:

1 - The exam

The examination is designed to be completed in 2 consecutive parts of 3 hours each, with a 60-minute lunch break.
You are required to check-in at least 30 minute before the exam's start and to present:

• The information letter (sent during registration process)
• Identity card/Passport to confirm your identity

After the exam you'll have to hand in all your exam material and sign out.

The questionnaire is compiled by the EHRA Certification Committee and consists of 130 multiple-choice questions (MCQs).

60 to 80% of the questions are based on the analysis of practical clinical cases and decision making, the remaining questions are dedicated to theory. 10 questions out of the 130 are back up questions and are used only for internal processes.

There is no appeal procedure after the exam.

Those who fail the exam cannot re-sit before a period of time  6 months.

Exam results are sent by email two months after the exam is sat.

Upon successful completion of the exam, you will receive an ECDS Level 1 Certificate valid for 10 years. 

As skills can only be maintained by continued education and practical involvement, certification is granted for a period of 10 years. Afterwards, you are encouraged to renew your certification by re-sitting the exam.

2 - The logbook

Once you have successfully passed the written exam (ECDS Level 1), you can then apply for Level 2 by proving your practical experience in the field.

You have to submit:

• Letter of endorsement from your National Cardiac Society
• Letter of support from a supervisor
• List of procedures - The logbook
  • CP 25 ICDs implantations procedures
  • CP 30 CRTs implantations procedures
  • CP 45 implantations procedures
  • CP 50 CRTs follow-up procedures
  • CP 50 devices follow-up procedures
  • CP 100 ICDs follow-up procedures

Experience should be gathered within a period of 24 consecutive months - these 24 months can be taken anytime from 2years before the exam up to 2 years after the year of the exam.

You must submit your logbook through the e-logbook platform. Access is granted only after having successfully passed the written exam. 

As a security, you must keep a copy of your logbook.

A grader from the EHRA Certification Committee will grade the logbook. The review process should take around 2 months. Final results are sent by email. 

Upon successful completion of the logbook process, you'll receive an ECDS Level 2 Certificate valid for 10 years.

How to prepare for the examination

EHRA offers the possibility to follow educational courses. Attending these courses may also help you get further knowledge and insightful tips to spass the certification exam.

Topic distribution of the examination questions

Suggested reading list

Core Curriculum

Download a copy of the Core Curriculum

EHRA Certified Cardiac Device Specialists (ECDS)

EHRA certification is valid for 10 years.

Find below the list of professionals who are certified by EHRA in Cardiac Pacing and ICDs. Discover who they are and where they come from.  

List of EHRA certified cardiac device specialists (ECDS)

Frequently asked questions

Download the EHRA CP Certification FAQs.