Purposes and Objectives

Article 1. Purpose and objectives of EBTS

The UEMS European Board of Thoracic Surgery offers a 2-part examination certifying that the successful applicant has reached a satisfactory level of knowledge and judgement for safe clinical practice in Europe.

This certification is not designed to bypass national examinations where they exist.

The European Board examination is a prestigious quality label, but cannot be considered as an equivalent to a national specialist diploma, and cannot be utilized as a working permit, or to obtain a working permit, in European Union.

UEMS EBTS certification recognizes knowledge, skills and competence responding to European standards. For doctors certified by a European Union member state, EBTS should favour mobility within European Union countries. For doctors graduated outside of European Union, EBTS serves as a recognition of competence matching with European quality requirements.

Article 2. Structure of EBTS examination

The UEMS European Board of Thoracic Surgery organizes at least once per year a 2-part examination, where the prerequisites are represented by the mandatory modules of the European Syllabus for Thoracic Surgery.

- Part 1 is a Multiple Choice Question based written examination that should be taken soon after graduation for the National Specialist Diploma or Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Thoracic Surgery. It is designed to test whether knowledge, judgement and application of principles matches with the standard expected to start practice as independent specialist. The successful candidate will be admitted to Membership of the European Board of Thoracic Surgery (MEBTS).

- Part 2 is an oral examination that is open to MEBTS after a minimum of 2 years of independent practice. It tests whether the extend of knowledge, clinical judgement and application of principles matches with the level expected from an autonomous and independently practicing thoracic surgeon. The successful candidate will be admitted to Fellowship of the European Board of Thoracic Surgery (FEBTS).

Article 3. Limitations of EBTS

This UEMS EBTS certification can only recognize Thoracic Surgery. It can be held by those that include other areas of surgery within their overall practice (for example general, cardiac, and/or vascular surgery). This should harmonize with European rules for those specialties.

EBTS cannot recognize competence outside of Thoracic 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 (e.g numbers and type of operations) during their training.

In countries where Thoracic Surgery is not independent from Cardiac Surgery, UEMS EBTS will only evaluate knowledge, skills and competence in Thoracic Surgery.

Part 1 examination (MEBTS)

Article 4. Eligibility for European candidates

For candidates trained in European member states (and Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and countries with UEMS observer status), certification requirements in the country of training must be met. Applicants should have obtained the certificate of completion of specialist training (CCST) by the national body responsible for issuing such certificate in EU member states (and Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and countries with UEMS observer status). Applicants should have obtained a working permit in thoracic surgery in their country of training or practice.

The training period is defined as a continuum of training including the ge­nerality of surgery and thoracic surgery, leading to its endpoint, which is qualification for the CCST.

The duration of training period should be no less than 5 years.

The successful applicant will be certified as member of the European Board of Thoracic Surgery: MEBTS

Article 5. Eligibility for non-European candidates

Candidates, having trained outside of European member states (and Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and countries with observer status), should meet requirements for certification and practice in thoracic surgery in their country of training, and should be ready to start independent practice.

Applicants should have obtained the certificate of completion of specialist training (CCST) in thoracic surgery by the national body responsible for issuing such certificate. Applicants should have obtained a working permit in thoracic surgery in their country of training or practice.

The successful applicant will be certified as international member of the European Board of Thoracic Surgery: MEBTS (Int)

Article 6. Training requirements

Overall minimum length of training is five years, where a minimum of 3 years of training should be spent in thoracic surgical units.

At least 1 year of training is required in the generality of surgery.

Besides, exposure to cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, intensive care, pulmonology, interventional bronchology or radiology should be encouraged.

The applicant should have performed and provide proof of at least 100 thoracic operations as the operating surgeon, including both open and video-assisted procedures. In addition, she/he should have a significant experience with diagnostic procedures such as mediastinoscopy, bronchoscopy and/or esophagoscopy.

Candidates should demonstrate knowledge and skills in related areas such as thoracic surgical and radiological anatomy, pathology, respiratory physiology and function testing, thoracic endoscopy, thoracic imaging and other diagnostic procedures.

Candidates should demonstrate competence in patient selection, pre-, intra- and post-operative care, and management of complications.

Article 7. Application to MEBTS

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 made by a sworn-in translator. Files will be submitted to a peer review to decide whether the candidate fulfils criteria to be eligible for EBTS membership examination.

Application is subjected to a fee. Candidates are encouraged to carefully watch for eligibility criteria. If the application is rejected after peer review, the application fee will only partly be refunded, after a 50% deduction for cost of administrative handling.

The following documents should be submitted:

• A completed UEMS/EBTS application form.
• Identity
  • Copy of passport.
  • A recent photograph.
• Professional qualification
  • Copy of national medical diploma.
  • Copy of licence to practice medicine.
  • Copy of national specialist diploma or CCST (certificate of completion of training) that allows practicing thoracic surgery, (least the country recognize EBTS examination as the exit examination).
• Short curriculum vitae
• Training curriculum
  • Detailed list of rotations with precise start– and end-dates and location during the whole training, and the resume year by year, signed by the Director/coordinator of the Training program.
  • Precise and exhaustive logbook of operations performed during the training period, indicating separately which have been performed as first surgeon or as assistant, validated by the referees.
  • List of courses and meetings attended.
• Scientific credential (optional)
  • List of publications and presentations.
  • Certificate of Master’s degree in Science or PhD when existing, but optional.
• 2 recommendation letters of their mentors.
• Proof of payment of the registration fee by wire transfer.

Article 8. Candidates accepted for the membership examination

Eligibility to take the examination will be pronounced after a peer review process of application files. Candidates who are not admitted to the exam will be reimbursed 50% of the registration fee; the remaining 50% are hold as compensation for administrative costs. There is no additional fee to pay for those accepted to sit for the examination; however, there is no reimbursement for those who fail the examination.

The examination is run with 2 x 45 MCQs set up by a panel of experts. Questions will be blueprinted across the mandatory modules of the European Syllabus.

The official language is English.

Pass mark is a mean of 6/10. Results will be announced within 1 month after the examination.

Article 9. Diploma and appeals

Candidates having passed the examination successfully will receive a diploma recognizing them as a Member of the European Board of Thoracic Surgery, and will be allowed to sign as MEBTS.

Appeals may be addressed to the chairman of EBTS after the examination. The Board, whose decision is final, will consider all appeals.

Part 2 examination (FEBTS)

Article 10: requirements

Candidates must have successfully passed the EBTS membership examination within the last 7 years (MEBTS or MEBTS (Int)); the EBCTS membership certificate is accepted as equivalent. They should have been in independent practice for at least 2 years, as certified by their head of department.

Article 11: application

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 made by a sworn-in translator. Files will be submitted to a peer review to decide whether the candidate fulfils criteria to be eligible for EBTS membership examination.

Application is subjected to a fee. Candidates are encouraged to carefully watch for eligibility criteria. If the application is rejected after peer review, the application fee will only partly be refunded, after a 50% deduction for cost of administrative handling.

Candidates must submit an on-line file including

- A completed on-line application form.

- Identity

• Copy of passport.
• Recent photograph.

- Updated CV and professional info.

• Copy of EBTS or EBCTS membership diploma.
• Surgical logbook validated by the head of department.
• A short summary of independent specialist practice including surgical outcomes and academic work.

- Proof of payment by wire transfer.

Article 12: Accepted candidates

Candidates accepted after peer review of their files are invited to participate at the fellowship examination. This is a 4-part oral examination with multiple scenario-based clinical questions marked by examiners working in teams. For each of the 4 teams, each examiner discusses 2 scenarios with 3 questions each; both examiners of each team mark independently.

The official language is English.

Pass mark is a mean of 6/10. Results will be announced within 1 month after the examination.

Article 13. Diploma and appeals

Candidates having passed the examination successfully will receive a diploma recognizing them as a Fellow of the European Board of Thoracic Surgery, and will be allowed to sign as FEBTS or FEBTS (Int).

Appeals may be addressed to the chairman of EBTS after the examination. The Board, whose decision is final, will consider all appeals.