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 cardiac / cardiothoracic / cardiovascular / congenital cardiac

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 cardiac / cardiothoracic 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 EBCTS examinations cannot be used to bypass National qualifications.

Candidates should have spent at least 4 years of recognised training in either adult cardiac surgery or congenital cardiac surgery or a combination of these at the time of sitting the examination.

All candidates should understand the principles of the generality of all the major sub-specialties of Adult Cardiac and Congenital surgery including general professional issues.

• A completed EBCTS online application form
• A recent photograph
• 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 (one must be from the Head of Department or Head of Training)
  (refer to template provided in application form)
• A logbook summary of procedures performed and assisted – last 4 years.
  (This summary must be validated by the referees. This evidence will ONLY be accepted on the template provided in the application form)

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 cardiothoracic 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 European Board. The examination will be quality assured.

After the examination, appeals may be addressed to the Chairman of the European Board of Cardiothoracic 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 (starting in 2017).

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

Candidates must have successfully completed the Membership examination within the last 7 years.
N.B. Any candidate who has successfully taken the EBCTS examination from 2013-2016 is exempt from taking the Membership examination

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 EBCTS online application form
• A recent photograph
• Two completed Structured Reference Form’s (one must be from the Head of Department)
  (refer to template provided in application form)
• A short summary of independent specialist practice including surgeon outcomes and publications
  for the previous 2 years (max 2 pages)
• A logbook summary of procedures performed and taught and should cover a minimum of 2 years of independent practice.
  (This summary must be validated by the referees. This evidence will ONLY be accepted on the template provided in the application form)

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 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 European Board of Cardiothoracic 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 the 2 sub-specialties at least once a year (starting 2018).

Candidates who are successful will be awarded the Fellowship of the European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery (sub-specialty) i.e. FEBCTS (Cardiac), FEBCTS (Congenital).