UEBTS Regulations

The training requirements of their country of training should have been completed and the candidate should be ready to start independent practice.

National accreditation should be available in predominantly thoracic.

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.

Only trained surgeons recognised as such by their responsible National Boards/organisation may apply for assessment and recognition by the European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Candidates from countries where 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 examination the UEBTS examinations cannot be used to bypass National qualifications.

Candidates should have spent at least 4 years of recognised training in thoracic surgery at the time of sitting the examination.

All candidates should understand the principles of the generality of all the major sub-specialties of Thoracic Surgery including general professional issues.

• A completed UEBTS online application form
• A copy of your passport
• A copy of national medical diploma
• A copy of licence to practice medicine
• Two completed Structured Reference Form’s (one must be from the Head of Department or Head of Training)
  (refer to template provided in application form)
• Proof of starting 5th year of training or progression beyond

Note: all documents which are not in English must be accompanied by an official signed and stamped translation.
On the basis of these submissions the European Board will decide if a candidate is eligible to be considered for the examination.

Candidates deemed eligible may undertake the Membership examination in the generality of the specialty of thoracic surgery, in English, for which a fee will be payable.

A 180 MCQ (4 hour) examination will be set by a panel of question writers appointed by the Unified European Board. The examination will be quality assured.

After the examination, appeals may be addressed to the Chairman of the Unified European Board of Thoracic Surgery at the address of the office of the Board. All appeals will be considered by the Board. The examiners’ decision is final

The Board will organise the Membership examination at least once a year

Candidates who are successful in the examination will receive a diploma recognizing them as a Member of the Unified European Board of Thoracic Surgery (MUEBTS).

Candidates must have successfully completed the Membership examination within the last 5 years.

Candidates should have been in independent specialist practice for 2 years at the time of examination. This must be evidenced by the candidates Head of Department.

The candidate must present at application:

• A completed UEBTS online application form
• Copy of passport
• A copy of national medical diploma
• A copy of licence to practice medicine
• A copy of ‘national specialist diploma’ or CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training) issued by the appropriate
official body of that Country. (Alternatively, evidence of eligibility for a National Specialist Diploma or CCT may be
considered at the Board’s discretion). Applicants from Switzerland must obtain a letter of support from the
Secretary of the Swiss Board of Cardiac and Thoracic Vascular Surgery.
• Two completed Structured Reference Form’s from senior surgeons (>5 years in independent practice) in the
Department who are EACTS or ESTS members
• A logbook summary of all procedures performed and assisted validated by the referees. This evidence will ONLY
be accepted on the template provided in the application form. Evidence of at least 100 major cases as primary
operator. Major operations are anatomical lung resections, mediastinal tumour resections or decortications only.
• Curriculum Vitae for review

Note: all documents which are not in English must be accompanied by an official signed and stamped translation.
On the basis of these submissions the European Board will decide if a candidate is eligible to be considered for the examination.

Candidates deemed eligible may undertake the Fellowship examination in the sub-specialty area/s of their choice for which they are accepted.

​This 4 part oral examination will consist of multiple structured scenario based clinical questions set and marked by the panel of examiners appointed by the Unified European Board. This examination and the examiners will be quality assured and will be undertaken in English, for which a fee will be payable

After the examination, appeals may be addressed to the Chairman of the Unified European Board of Thoracic Surgery at the address of the office of the Board. All appeals will be considered by the Board. The examiners decision is final.

The Board will organise the Fellowship examinations in thoracic surgery at least once a year

Candidates who are successful will be awarded the Fellowship of the Unified European Board of Thoracic Surgery (sub-specialty) i.e. FUEBTS (Thoracic).