EACVI Certification in Congenital Heart Disease Echocardiography (Echo CHD)

• Cardiovascular Imaging Recommended Reading
• EACVI webinars (live, online seminars)
• Educational and preparatory courses organised by, or in collaboration with, the EACVI
• EACVI core syllabus
• EACVI textbooks  and an ESC textbook of imaging 

Exam results

To be successful, a candidate must pass both sections of the written exam (reporting and theory). 

The passing scores for each section of the exam are 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 congenital heart disease echocardiography 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 prior to 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.  

Note:

Borderline candidates (candidates who succeeded in one section and failed the other by one point) are considered with the greatest attention by the EACVI/AEPC Echo CHD Certification Committee and the rule is very strict for these candidates. The candidate needs to have more than the average of all candidates in the section he/she passed. In that case, candidates are passed by the decision of the EACVI/AEPC Echo CHD Certification Committee. 

Appeal

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.

Policies for online proctoring examinations

For more information, please refer to the ESC online proctoring examination terms & conditions. 

Logbook

Once candidates have passed the exam, they can then apply for the logbook part of the programme to prove their practical experience in the Echo CHD 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.

Eligibility

The EACVI/AEPC Echo CHD logbook part of the programme is accessible to all successful candidates for the exam. 

Access to the logbook platform is granted to candidates only after having successfully passed the written exam.

Requirements

Candidates are required to provide evidence of their clinical experience.

The EACVI/Echo CHD logbook includes DOPS (Direct Observation Procedures Skills) which returns responsibility to the local expert supervisor to guarantee competence and assure quality.

Candidates must provide the following documents:

• A logbook of 250 cases assessed and signed by the candidate's supervisor.
• A DOPS summary sheet
• 10 DOPS and their accompanying report

Note regarding Logbooks:

• Transoesophageal echo or fetal echo cases cannot be included in the 250 cases list
• The logbook can include paediatric and/or adult congenital cases.
• Cardiac measurements and their normal ranges  and/or Z scores should  be included to indicate workings and interpretation of findings (2D, m-mode and Doppler).
• The logbook and submitted reports should reflect the normal caseload of a general paediatric and congenital echocardiography department and must include examples of the following cases:

1. Preoperative congenital heart disease
2. Postoperative congenital heart disease
3. Ventricular function assessment
4. Valvular heart disease
5. Septation defects (i.e. VSD, ASD, AVSD)
6. Right heart obstructions (i.e. tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia)
7. Left heart obstructions (i.e. coarctation, hypoplastic left heart…)
8. Complex Congenital Heart Disease, such as
1. Atrio-ventricular discordance (i.e. AV-VA discordance)
2. Ventriculo-Arterial discordance (i.e. transposition, double outlet ventricles)
3. Situs anomalies, isomerism, disorders of laterality
9. Suspected endocarditis
10. Cardiomyopathies
11. Coronary anomalies (Kawasaki disease, ALCAPA…)

No more than 30% of the studies should be normal studies.

Logbook regulations

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.

• The application must be submitted in English. Any document in the local language must be accompanied by an English translation. 
• The DOPS echo reports must not include patient name, initials, date of birth or medical record number to comply with GDPR regulations.  Nevertheless, you need to include patient age, gender, weight and clinical context.
• The application must be submitted no later than one year after having received the exam results. 
• Cases included in the logbook must have been collected from one year before to one year after the written exam and can cover the 24 months as a maximum.

Candidates are not asked to submit the full reports, although they may be requested by the EACVI/AEPC Echo CHD graders and EACVI/AEPC Echo CHD certification committee. Thus, candidates are asked to keep this information available. 

Note regarding DOPS:

• The DOPS reports must have been reported and performed solely by the candidate. 
• If the report has been handwritten it must be accompanied by a typed version.
• Cardiac measurements and their normal ranges  and/or Z scores should  be included to indicate workings and interpretation of findings (2D, m-mode and Doppler).
• Candidates must have a minimum of three assessors amongst the 10 DOPS reports.
• Each DOPS must be accompanied by the candidate's original written report of the case.
• If there are any scores from 1-3 (i.e. unsatisfactory) then a statement from the designated supervisor regarding the taken action and objective evidence of improvement in subsequent assessments is expected.

Supervisor

The supervisor must:

• Already be a practising paediatric/congenital echocardiographer
• Have a high level of expertise
• Hold national/European specialist recognition in paediatric/adult congenital cardiology OR be an EACVI certified echocardiographer who has held EACVI/AEPC Echo CHD Certification for more than one year

The supervisor role is to:

• Hold the responsibility to guarantee the practical competence of the candidate
• Check the honesty and validity of locally performed DOPS
• Complete the DOPS Summary of all the local assessor’s scores of the 10 DOPS
• Be aware of and report any deficiencies in a candidate’s competence suggested by their DOPS
• Note any DOPS scores < 3 and thus fail the candidate for that specific DOPS assessment.
• Act as a local DOPS assessor but cannot be the sole assessor (there must be at least 3 x DOPS assessors)

Local assessors

There must be a minimum of three and maximum of 10 assessors per candidate for the 10 DOPS assessments (just one assessor needs to sign each DOPS).

The local assessors must fall under either/both of these criteria:

• Any cardiologist practising paediatric/adult congenital cardiology
• A specialist sonographer who has held EACVI/AEPC Echo CHD certification for more than one year

Logbook results

As soon as the logbook is compliant with the requirements, the application is sent for grading to members of the EACVI/AEPC Echo CHD Certification Committee. Graders may require additional information from the candidate to provide their grading. 

Results are sent by email within three 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. 

Appealing the logbook

Candidates who fail to the logbook part may raise an appeal.

Please find more information here.

Extension requests

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 form to submit such requests and request further information.

Recertification

Candidates will be granted certification in Echo CHD 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. 

Requirements

For more detailed information, please refer to the recertification requirements webpage.

Recertification fee

• Non-members and EACVI Associates: €200 (excluding VAT)
• EACVI Silver Members: €75 (excluding VAT)

How to apply

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 on 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 promptly. No late submissions will be accepted and, if the deadline is not respected, the candidate will have to repeat the certification process (exam + logbook) in order to recertify.

If all requirements of recertification are met, a certificate will be issued which will be valid for a further 5-year period.

Extension requests

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 form to submit such requests and request further information.

Certification result and list of certified candidates

Candidates will be granted certification in Echo CHD 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. 

The EACVI is pleased to list all of their Echo CHD certified candidates.