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Examination

The aim of the European Board of Thoracic Surgery (EBTS) examination is to label a harmonised European standard for knowledge and skills for general thoracic surgeons. EBTS certification should be recognised across the European Union, but it should also serve as a quality label in countries outside of the European Union. In the given legal context, EBTS certification cannot replace the national specialist diploma and cannot serve as a working permit.

Whereas the Board of Thoracic Surgery wishes to set standards at the highest possible level, it is not its intention to limit EBTS certification to a minority. On the contrary, the goal is to check whether recently appointed young colleagues fulfil the requirements of knowledge, skills, and competence considered appropriate for autonomous practice throughout Europe.

Candidates are expected to have a good knowledge of thoracic anatomy and physiology and of the different diseases to be addressed in clinical practice. They should prove skills in standard thoracic surgical procedures and show competence in patient selection, interpretation of pulmonary and cardiac function testing, and thoracic imaging. Competence should also cover perioperative care and the appropriate management of complications.

To make it easy for both examiners and candidates, the examination will be organised concurrently with a European conference.

Candidates must submit an application file containing the documents listed below.

All documents that are not in English should be doubled with an officially stamped and signed translation by a sworn-in translator. Files will be submitted to a peer review to decide whether the candidate meets the criteria to be eligible for the EBTS examination.

Files will not be considered for peer review if they are incomplete or if the application fee has not been paid in due time before the deadline.

All the following items should be included:

  • A completed UEMS/EBTS application form
  • Identity
    • Copy of passport
    • A recent photograph
  • Professional qualification
    • Copy of national medical diploma
    • Copy of the license to practice medicine
    • Copy of national specialist diploma or CCST ( certificate of completion of training)
  • Short curriculum vitae
  • Training curriculum
    • Detailed list of rotations with precise dates during the whole training, signed by the Director /coordinator of the Training program
    • Detailed list of positions held as junior staff member or full consultants, countersigned by heads of concerned departments
    • Precise and exhaustive logbook of operations performed during the training period, indicating separately which have been performed as operating surgeon or as assistant, certified by the Director/coordinator of Training Program
    • Detailed list of operations performed after completion of training as junior staff or full consultant, certified by the Director/coordinator of concerned departments
    • List of courses and meetings attended
  • Scientific credential
    • List of publications and presentations
    • For publications, please attach PDF file
    • For presentations, please provide a copy of the printed programme Certificate of Master’s degree in Science or PhD when existing, but optional
  • Candidates are free to attach recommendation letters of their mentors.



Application form


  • The application fee is 400€, of which 200€ is the administrative cost for evaluation of the file
  • The file will not undergo peer review unless full payment has been received; no payment will be accepted after expiration of the deadline
  • For candidates deemed ineligible after peer review, there will be a refund of 200€
  • For candidates unable to attend the examination, there will be the possibility of attending the following examination session and the fee will be held.
  • Candidate deciding not to take the examination may be refunded 200€ provided that they inform UEMS/EBTS Secretariat before the examination
  • There will be no refund for candidates who failed at the examination


The syllabus serves as a manual, guiding the candidates through the required knowledge examined during the UEMS Board of Thoracic Surgery examination.

The syllabus will help candidates prepare their medical knowledge and related clinical judgment and practice to the level expected when obtaining the National Diploma.

The syllabus aims to guarantee a common denominator of high standards throughout all countries.


The regulations of the examination can be found here