The EACVI CMR Certification programme is designed for physicians involved in cardiovascular magnetic resonance. Technicians interested in taking the certification programme, are invited to consult the EACVI CMR for Technicians webpage.
The programme is set out in two parts:
If no event appears, please come back at a later date.
The EACVI CMR written examination is open to qualified physicians, as well as technicians and allied healthcare professionals involved in cardiovascular magnetic resonance.
For physicians, although EACVI CMR certification may be obtained during medical training, independent reporting will, in most instances, require the completion of postgraduate specialist medical training.
The EACVI CMR Certification is not a compulsory or regulatory certificate of competence or excellence. For physicians, rights to report and sign clinical studies in individual countries remain defined by national laws and regulations. For technicians and allied healthcare professionals, scope of practice depends on national regulations and institutional policies.
The EACVI CMR examination is a multiple-choice written examination in English.
The examination consists of 100 questions, administered over three hours, with no break.
Questions are designed to assess the candidate's knowledge:
Questions are drawn from the entire spectrum of cardiovascular magnetic resonance reflecting the EACVI CMR syllabus.
The EACVI CMR examination is usually delivered once a year, using an online proctoring platform (CYIM/ProctorU®).
This provides candidates with the safety and convenience of an online platform while retaining the integrity and quality of an on-site supervised exam.
The online format of the EACVI CMR exam is:
Please find more information here.
The EACVI CMR exam is designed to test a wide range of cardiovascular magnetic resonance knowledge aligned with the EACVI CMR syllabus.
There is no single source from which all questions are developed, so candidates are encouraged to read widely.
You can also visit the EACVI educational area.
This section includes information about education-related matters such as:
The passing score of the exam is established using referenced methodologies, that are widely used in certification. The passing score links the score required to pass the exam to the minimum level of knowledge required for cardiovascular magnetic resonance practice.
Following the exam, psychometric analysis of the questions is conducted and items that do not meet psychometric standards are removed from the exam. In addition, any items that have been flagged during the exam administration are reviewed and if these items are deemed to be defective for any reason they are removed from the exam.
Results are subjected to multiple levels of verification before being reported to candidates.
Examination results are communicated to candidates in the eight weeks after the examination.
Candidates will receive an email containing their results letter on the date of the result release. Successful candidates for the exam will also receive a certificate of completion of the written exam.
Candidate’s results are also made available through the candidate’s My ESC account.
ESC/EACVI aims to deliver examinations of the highest quality and provide the best level of service for all candidates. To ensure that all candidates are assessed fairly, there is a procedure to allow candidates to appeal against their exam results.
Please find more information here.
For more information, please refer to the ESC online proctoring examination terms and conditions.
Once candidates have passed the exam, they can then apply for the logbook part of the programme to prove their practical experience in the CMR field. No late submissions will be accepted and, if the deadline is not respected, the candidate will have to repeat the exam to apply for certification.
The EACVI CMR logbook part of the programme is accessible to all successful candidates to the exam.
Access to the logbook platform is granted to candidates only after having successfully passed the written exam.
Candidates are required to provide evidence of their clinical experience. According to the level of certification the candidate would like to achieve, different routes of certification are detailed below.
Level 2 certification is the expected level at which routine practitioners can undertake CMR scanning and reporting independently. It is not, however, generally considered to be an adequate level of certification to set up a new service or lead a CMR unit.
It is envisaged that the majority of practitioners in CMR would be certified at Level 2.
Any applicant for Level 2 certification in CMR is expected to fulfil the following requirements:
** This should be either three months of continuous full-time training in CMR or the equivalent length of time if split into separate periods of training (within a maximum 24-month window). For applicants who are training less than full-time (defined as at least 35 hours/week in CMR or CMR-related activities), the training period will need to be extended on a pro rata basis. For example, if the applicant only spends three days per week doing CMR (i.e. three fifths full-time equivalent), three months of full-time equivalent will require a five-month period of training.
Level 3 certification is the expected level for senior practitioners in CMR who routinely supervise and teach CMR and lead a CMR service or CMR unit. It is recommended that this should be considered a requirement for those wishing to set up a new service or lead a CMR unit.
As mentioned above, it is anticipated that the majority of practitioners in CMR will be certified at Level 2, with experts in the field certified at Level 3. Level 3 certification should, therefore, represent mentors, educators and leaders in the field of cardiovascular magnetic resonance. Unless applying directly for Level 3 certification, all candidates must already hold Level 2 certification.
The two routes for application for Level 3 certification are as follows:
Any applicant for Level 3 certification in CMR via this route is expected to fulfill the following requirements:
*Please note that oral presentations will only be accepted if the candidate is the first author and presented the data themselves (moderated poster presentation is not accepted).
It should be noted that Level 3 certification via this route will only be considered with current Level 2 certification. No application will be considered if the applicant’s Level 2 certification has expired.
** As for Level 2 certification, this should be either nine months of continuous full-time training in CMR or the equivalent length of time if split into separate periods of training (within a maximum 24-month window). For applicants who are training less than full-time (defined as at least 35 hours/week in CMR or CMR-related activities), the training period will need to be extended on a pro rata basis. For example, if the applicant only spends three days per week doing CMR (i.e. 3/5 full-time equivalent), nine months of full-time equivalent will require a 15-month period of training.
Non-members and EACVI Associates: €200 (excluding VAT)
EACVI Silver Members: €75 (excluding VAT)
Candidates must hold current EACVI CMR Level 2 certification, having passed the EACVI CMR exam and having met all requirements for Level 2 certification.
Once the upgrade fee is paid, candidates must contact the ESC to obtain the link to the platform for uploading the necessary documents.
If all requirements are met, a certificate will be issued which will be valid for a further five-year period.
Direct application for Level 3 certification will also be considered. Any applicant for Level 3 certification in CMR via this route is expected to fulfill the following requirements:
*Please note that oral presentations will only be accepted if the candidate is the first author and presented the data themselves (moderated poster presentation is not accepted)
** This should be either 12 months of continuous full-time training in CMR or the equivalent length of time if split into separate periods of training (within a maximum 24-month window). For applicants who are training less than full-time (defined as at least 35 hours/week in CMR or CMR-related activities), the training period will need to be extended on a pro rata basis.
Evidence of CME is required for all applications for Level 2 and Level 3 certification.
Required CME credits should not be claimed from a single online source, congress or event.
Courses/conferences attended more than two years before the exam are not appropriate.
General cardiology or radiology conferences/general webinars are not accepted and only the CMR component of relevant meetings will count for certification.
The learning hours must be collected as follows:
For multimodality imaging courses, conferences or meetings with CMR content, the number of total CME/CPD Credits should be divided by number of modalities in question. For example, if the meeting is on cardiac CT, nuclear cardiology and CMR, the total CME/CPD Credits must be divided by three. If the meeting is on cardiac CT and CMR, the total number is divided by two.
Examples of specific meetings are given in Table 1 (below), this list is not exhaustive. It should be noted that CME Credits will vary between meetings and should be confirmed for each meeting attended.
Joining the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) offers numerous benefits for healthcare professionals specialising in cardiovascular imaging.
You can enjoy:
Not complying with the below regulations will result in the logbook being returned to the candidate for modification and as such, delay the grading process.
Candidates are not asked to submit the full reports, although they may be requested by the EACVI CMR graders and EACVI CMR certification committee. Thus, candidates are asked to keep this information available.
The EACVI CMR Exam Board reserves the right to perform random checks to cross-reference the above information with the Level 3 supervisors and training centres.
Both the Level 3 trainer (supervisor) and the candidate are fully responsible for providing the correct information. Misconduct may result in both the trainer and candidate losing their EACVI CMR Certification (see section Professional Standards of Conduct).
It should be noted that if any impropriety, falsification or fraudulent application is discovered, either at the time of the application or at a later stage, this may result in the revocation of both the applicant’s and the supervisor’s own Level 3 EACVI certification. This could be deemed to be serious professional misconduct and any further action would be decided by the EACVI CMR Exam Board in conjunction with the EACVI Board and the ESC. In extreme cases, this might also mandate reporting to the appropriate national society or national body for professional registration.
Any current practitioner in CMR who holds active Level 3 CMR certification (from either EACVI or SCMR) can act as a supervisor for a candidate’s application for Level 2 and Level 3 certification. The following mandatory stipulations, however, apply:
Applicants are strongly advised to check the requirements for a Level 3 certified supervisor before starting any period of training to ensure that their training will be recognised.
If a candidate’s own training centre cannot provide all of the required indications, the candidate should seek to receive on-site training in another centre. If this cannot be achieved, cases from other centres can be submitted, provided the candidate has reviewed and reported the scans independently. The number of cases must not exceed 75 (Level 2) or 150 (Level 3).
When there is no Level 3 certified individual at the candidate's institution, remote supervision can be considered. Please note that this is not a substitute for mentoring in the home institution, and applications will only be considered where on-site mentoring is not possible. Remote mentoring requires prior approval by the EACI CMR Exam Board. The remote mentor must be CMR Level 3 certified as defined above.
Candidates considering remote supervision should contact the ESC Certification Team with the following information:
The EACVI CMR Exam Board will consider each application for remote supervision and reply to the candidates within four weeks. The EACVI CMR Exam Board may ask for changes to the proposed remote supervision plan and may contact the remote supervisor directly.
As soon as the logbook is compliant with the requirements, the application is sent for grading to members of the EACVI CMR Certification Committee. Graders may require additional information from the candidate to provide their grading.
Results are sent by email within 3 months of submitting the e-Logbook. Please note that some delays in the grading can occur due to the high volume of applications received throughout the year.
Candidates who fail to the logbook part may raise an appeal.
Please find more information here.
There is a one-year window to complete the logbook part of the programme. In exceptional circumstances, candidates may request an extension to submit their application.
To ensure the process remains fair and robust, extensions will generally only be given in the following circumstances: parental leave, less than full-time work or illness of the candidate.
Extension requests must be accompanied by a signed letter from your supervisor briefly explaining the situation and stating the duration of the extension required. Requests cannot be considered without this letter. The request must be submitted before the deadline.
Please note that extension requests are not guaranteed and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the certification committee.
Use the “Contact Us” to submit such requests and further information.
Candidates will be granted certification in CMR once they have completed the two parts of the programme (exam and logbook). The certification is valid for five years after which the candidate must apply for recertification to keep the certification valid.
For more detailed information, please refer to the recertification requirements webpage.
Candidates must apply for recertification from six months before to six months after the current certification expiration date.
During this time, candidates who are eligible for the recertification will receive automatic reminders to apply for recertification. These reminders are sent to their My ESC email address.
All candidates will be reminded as the deadline approaches, but it is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that the recertification is submitted on time. No late submissions will be accepted and, if the deadline is not respected, the candidate will have to repeat the certification process (exam + logbook) to recertify.
If all requirements of recertification are met, a certificate will be issued which will be valid for a further five-year period.
There is a one-year window to apply for recertification (from six months before to six months after the current certification expiration date). In exceptional circumstances, candidates may request an extension to submit their application.
To ensure the process remains fair and robust, extensions will generally only be given in the following circumstances: parental leave, less than full-time work or illness of the candidate.
Extension requests must be accompanied by a signed letter from the candidate's supervisor briefly explaining the situation and stating the duration of the extension required. Requests cannot be considered without this letter. The request must be submitted before the deadline.
Please note that extension requests are not guaranteed and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the certification committee.
Use the “Contact Us” to submit such requests and further information.
Candidates will be granted certification in CMR once they have completed the two parts of the programme (exam and logbook). The certification is valid for five years after which the candidate must apply for recertification to keep the certification valid.
EACVI is pleased to list all their CMR certified candidates (Level 2 or Level 3).
Candidates will be required to upload the relevant attendance certificates detailing the number of CME points/ hours accrued. We no longer allow self-directed learning for CME submission.
The CMR certification committee reserves the right to check the details of the course and evidence of attendance. The decision of the EACVI certification committee is final regarding award of CME hours.
In exceptional circumstances, an application for certification which falls outside the above routes for Level 2 and Level 3 may be considered. If you consider yourself to be in this category, special circumstances can be discussed with the EACVI CMR Exam board by contacting the ESC certification team stating why your application should be considered.
| Title | CME Points Awarded | Notes |
| EACVI 2025 | 12.5 | Full recognition of all CME credits will be given. This meeting will not be divided by the number of imaging specialties involved. |
| EACVI 2023 | 18 | Full recognition of all CME credits will be given. This meeting will not be divided by the number of imaging specialties involved |
| EuroEcho-Imaging | Total divided by 3 (Echo/CMR/CT) | |
| EACVI Best of Imaging | Total divided by 3 (Echo/CMR/CT) | |
| EACVI CMR Teaching Courses | As per CME certificate | This includes both the Examination Preparation Course for Adult CMR and the Course for CMR in Congenital Heart Disease |
| EACVI Level 1 Course | 9 | All CMR modules must be completed |
| EACVI CMR Basic Tutorials | 6 | As per CME certificate |
| EACVI Multimodality imaging in CHD | 4 | All modules must be completed |
| EACVI/SCMR Joint Summit on Artificial Intelligence in CMR 2022 | 10 | As per CME certificate |
| SCMR Annual Scientific Sessions | 24 | For participation in any congress or conference, a maximum of 8 CME credits per day can be claimed. |
| SCMR Annual Scientific Sessions - On-demand educational content |
As per CME certificate |
|
| SCMR Introductory Online Course in CMR | 10 | |
| BSCMR Annual Meeting | 6 | |
| ESC Congress | 3 | General cardiology meeting, only 3 CME credits can be claimed for CMR |
| Medmastery Online Course - Cardiac MRI Essentials | 14 | |
| CMR Level 1 Course (JCA Seminars) | 10 | |
| Level 2 | Level 3 via Level 2 | Direct Level 3 | |
| Registered physician | Required | Required | Required |
| EACVI CMR exam pass | Required | Required | Required |
| Level 2 certification | N/A | Required | Not required |
| Full-time training | 3 months | Additional 9 months (12 months in total) | 12 months |
| Logbook cases number | 150 | Additional 150 (300 in total) | 300 |
| Max. normal cases | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| Max. from courses / teaching files | 20% | 20% | 20% |
| Max. from elsewhere | 75 | Additional 75 (150 in total) | 150 |
| Advanced life support | Required | Required | Required |
| CME hours | 25 | Additional 25 (50 in total) | 50 |
| Additional requirements | Noce | Peer recognition | Peer recognition |
| Supervisor's declaration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
