General Information
The European Board of Cardiovascular Radiology (EBCR) Diploma is a common European qualification in cardiovascular radiology, which helps to standardise training and expertise in Cardiovascular Radiology across Europe.
The EBCR Diploma confirms specific competence of radiologists to perform, interpret and report cardiovascular CT and MR independently. The EBCR Diploma will assist cardiovascular radiologists in the promotion of their skills and experience in cardiovascular radiology when dealing with other clinical colleagues and with the public.
The European Board of Cardiovascular Radiology (EBCR) Diploma is endorsed by the European Society of Radiology (ESR). The EBCR Diploma equals a final level III subspecialty examination.
Upcoming Examination Date
Written Examination: Monday, February 17, 2025 | Online
Oral Examination: Friday, February 28, 2025 | Vienna/AT (ECR 2025)
Application Deadline: Monday, January 20, 2025, 23:59 CET
Please note that a minimum number of 5 candidates is required for the examination to take place and that for the oral examination a valid ECR 2025 registration for the examination date is necessary.
Requirements
For your application kindly send the below listed documents to the ESCR Office for approval by the ESCR Diploma Committee. Applicants for the European Board of Cardiovascular Radiology (EBCR) Diploma have to fulfill all criteria at the time of the examination. Candidates judged to have satisfied the entry criteria will be eligible to take the examination and informed accordingly by the ESCR Office.
Applicants for the European Diploma in Cardiovascular Radiology are obliged to provide the documents as follows:
(if applicable, an English translation must be also provided in addition to the original documentation)
1. Application form
The completed form must be submitted to the ESCR Office. In order to download the application form, please click HERE.
2. Training in radiology, subspecialty training and proof of practice
Full subspecialisation should only take place after the designated time for radiology residency, which should preferably last no less than five years. For candidates with less than five years of training only:
Proof of experience (ask the ESCR Office for the respective template) as a supervised staff radiologist is required.
Two years of subspecialty training in cardiovascular radiology is required, with at least one year subspeciality training after radiology certification. Application to the diploma can be sent to the office even before finishing the two years of the subspecialty training if it is guaranteed that the two years are finished at time of the examination.
Diplomas may only be awarded to fully trained, licensed, and practicing radiologists. Specialists from other fields and radiologists no longer in practice are specifically excluded from being granted the ESCR diploma. For the purposes of this requirement, a proof of practice has to be provided.
3. RIS documentation/Logbook, or MR/CT Registry Certificate
All candidates must present a RIS documentation, logbook or MR/CT Registry Certificate with a total record of their cardiovascular radiology experience. The RIS documentation, logbook or MR/CT Registry Certificate are to be countersigned by the candidate’s programme director.
The provision of documents can be done in 3 ways:
– RIS statistic printout of cardiovascular MR and CT cases
– Logbook self-declaration including nature of examination
– MR/CT Registry Certificate with a total number of MR and CT cases submitted
The minimum qualifications required for entry to the examination are the following:
The candidate should have experience in:
– At least 150 live-cases or 300 data-base-cases cardiac CT studies. At least 100 of the CT live-cases
should be contrast enhanced scans.
– At least 100 live-cases or 300 data-base-cases cardiac MR studies.
– At least 100 non-coronary vascular CT cases.
– At least 50 vascular MR cases.
Up to 50 live-cases and 150 data-base cases of other cardiovascular imaging modalities can be
submitted towards the experience required.
4. Letter of support
A letter of support from the head of department/programme director is required.
5. CME credits in cardiovascular imaging
At least 50 CME credits in cardiovascular radiology, recognized by ESCR, are required (e.g., ESCR Annual Scientific Meeting, ECR – European Congress of Radiology).
6. Curriculum Vitae
A curriculum vitae (CV) has to be provided. The document should especially include the records of training posts in cardiovascular radiology, scientific and educational activities.
7. Membership
Applicants have to be active full or corresponding radiologist members in good standing of ESCR and ESR, in the year(s) of application and examination.
8. Events
Candidates have to attend a minimum of three (3) ESCR Annual Scientific Meetings in five (5) years. The meeting during which the examination is taken may also be considered as one of the required Annual Scientific Meeting participations.
Moreover, attendance in maximum one (1) meeting can be replaced by five (5) ESCR Educational Webinars (live attendance).
Knowledge base
Please refer to the European Training Curriculum for Subspecialisation in Radiology (Level III) in order to check the knowledge requirements.
Examination Structure
Written examination
- 30 multiple choice questions
- Single best answer format – (i.e. only 1 out of the possible answers is correct)
- No negative marking for incorrect answers
- The exam lasts 45 minutes
- Candidates will be tested in all aspects relevant to cardiovascular radiology such as anatomy, physiology, clinical practice, pathology, cardiovascular CT and MR
Oral examination
- 2 cases
- The exam lasts around 20 minutes
- The examiners will test the candidate’s knowledge of all aspects of the cases under discussion – indication, clinical background, diagnosis, technical parameters, limitations, etc.
Passmark
The total score of minimum 60% from the written part and 2 cases solved during the oral examination are required in order to pass the examination.
Language
The examination language is English. As many candidates are non-native English speakers, assistance with English terminology may be provided by the examiners.
Maintenance
The diploma is granted for a period of 5 years.
For the EBCR Diploma renewal, kindly send the below-listed documents to the ESCR Office (office@escr.org) for approval by the ESCR Education & EBCR Committee (if applicable, an English translation must be also provided in addition to the original documentation):
- Application form
- Proof of active membership in good standing of ESCR and ESR in the year of application and renewal (full or corresponding radiologist member)
- Proof of at least 100 CME credits in the last 5 years (at least 20 CME credits per year) in cardiovascular radiology, recognized by ESCR (e.g. ESCR Annual Scientific Meeting, ECR – European Congress of Radiology or equivalent).
Recommended:
- Attendance of ESCR Annual Scientific Meetings
- Attendance of ESCR Educational Webinars
A renewal fee of € 50.00 will be due.
Re-examination
In case a candidate did not pass the European Diploma in Cardiovascular Radiology he/she has the possibility to retake the examination. A reduced fee of 200,00€ will be granted for a re-examination.
Fee Structure
Application fee for the diploma is set as following:
Full Member: 400,00€
Corresponding Member: 600,00€
Retaking examination: 200,00€
Diploma renewal: 50,00€
Terminology
Successful candidates will be awarded the EBCR Diploma and may add EBCR (European Board of Cardiovascular Radiology) to their name.