A Certification System for Clinical Embryologists

• Arne Sunde
• On behalf of the ESHRE Certification Working group
Question

• Are you working as

• 1) clinician
• 2) embryologist
• 3) both
• 4) none of the above
Background

• The Executive Committee (EC) in ESHRE asked end

of the embryologists in the EC to:

• Investigate whether it would be feasible to develop a system for

the certification of clinical embryologist.

• Why did the Executive Committee take this initiative ?

Background
Rationale:

• ESHRE has always believed that the IVF laboratory is vital for the success
of the ART-unit
• The byelaws of ESHRE specified that the Executive committee shall be
comprised of clinicians and non-clinicians
• The chairmanship shall alternate between clinicians and non-clinicians

• Clinical embryologists do not have a system for formal recognition in most

countries.

• It is not a recognised profession/education

Background
Rationale:

• The EU Tissue Directive does further enhance the need for a recognition
system for clinical embryologists.

• A detailed list of requirements to ART-lab including:

• Everyone working in an ART lab must be “qualified”

• Head of lab must be have documented experience and qualification
• Everybody working in an ART-lab must be offered continuous
education .

• It is likely that the EU or member states will want to set up recognition

systems

• Why not be proactive? - ESHRE could be a major player here.

Question

• Do you have a recognised subspeciality in

reproductive medicine in Taiwan?

• 1) Yes

• 2) No

• 3) I don’t know
Clinicians have a system: EBCOG – ESHRE

EUROPEAN BOARD AND COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY (EBCOG)

AND
EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF HUMAN REPRODUCTION AND EMBRYOLOGY (ESHRE)
Question

• Do you think it is of importance to have a

certification system for embryologists?

• 1) Yes

• 2) No

• 3) I don’t know
A quick reminder

• Certification:
• Documented education and experience
• “Certificate”

• Accreditation
• Documented education, experience AND performance
• “How good are you?”
Accreditation - Certification

• Sub-speciality in Reproductive • Certificate for Clinical

Medicine embryologists

• ESHRE has a mandate from the • ESHRE has no mandate from the
EU EU

• ESHRE is not automatically

• EBCOG/ESHRE is recognised as recognised as “The Authority”
The Authority

• No pre-existing system. Recognition

• Builds on an existing system within of clinical embryologists exist in
the field of clinical medicine some countries

• We can go for an Accreditation • We have to go for a Certification

system now
system
Question

• In your opinion, a certification system for clinical

embryologists should be aimed at:

• 1) Senior clinical embryologists (MSc/PhD) only

• 2) Junior clinical embryologist (BSc) only
• 3) A system for both categories
• 4) A certification system isn’t necessary
• 5) I don’t know
 The system
• Aiming at two levels:

• Clinical embryologist
• Experienced embryologist at BSc level

• Senior clinical embryologist

• Experienced embryologist at PhD/MSc level
• --”every laboratory director should be a senior clinical embryologist, but
not all senior clinical embryologists will become laboratory directors”…

• Based on:
• Curriculum (theoretical knowledge)
• Log-book (practical experience)
The System – Fast track of the “Oldies”
• Fast– track of Senior-Senior Clinical Embryologists (SSCE) until
October 31st 2007.

• Senior-Senior Clinical Embryologists:

• working in Europe
• at least 10 years clinical experience in human ART
• currently the head of an ART laboratory.
• also holds an MSc/PhD or equivalent in Biological or Natural Sciences.

• We had 420 applications, 340 were accepted

The Regular System for Senior Clinical Embryologists
• Senior Clinical Embryologist who does not qualify for the fast-track.
• Requirements:

• Holding a PhD/MSc in Natural Sciences

• At least 6 years experience working in an ART-lab
• Prove relevant practical experience (Log-book)

• Passing an examination
• Multiple choice
• 2/3 correct answers

• A registration and examination fee for non-members

The Regular System for Senior Clinical Embryologists
• Senior Clinical Embryologist who does not qualify for the fast-track.
• Applications

• February 2008

• 170 applied, 154 were accepted

• Examination was held July 6th in Barcelona

• In English and Spanish
• 145 took the examination,
• 118 of these passed

• The Log book was sent in and controlled (random)

• Certificate was issued after everything is completed

• Currently 458 certified senior clinical embryologists

The Regular System for Senior Clinical Embryologists

• In 2009 (and onwards)

• New application deadline in end of 2008
• Examination on Sunday at the start of the ESHRE meeting in
Amsterdam
• Exam only in English (?)

• Then the same system in the years after

• Still in development
• Examinations in other locations than the ESHRE-meeting, i.e. in
participating/collaborating countries

• Examination in different languages

The System for Clinical Embryologists
• To be recognised as Clinical Embryologist
• Requirements:
• Holding a BSc in Natural Sciences
• At least 3 years experience working in an ART-lab
• Prove relevant practical experience (Log book)
• Passing an examination
• Multiple choice
• 2/3 correct answers
• A registration and examination fee for non-members.
• Timeline:
• End of 2008
• Application
• Examination at the ESHRE meeting in Amsterdam
• English and possibly Dutch
• Send in log-book
• Certificate issued after everything is completed
The System for Clinical Embryologists
• In 2010 (and onwards)
• Application deadline end of 2009

• Examination Sunday at the start of the ESHRE meeting

• …and so on for the coming years

• Still in development
• Examinations in other locations than the ESHRE-meeting, i.e. in
participating/collaborating countries
• Examination in different languages

• The Senior Clinical Embryologists is expected to help out here

The Certification System

• The ESHRE web-site will eventually contain:

• Application forms
• Log-books
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• The Curriculum
• Examples of exams for SCE and CE
• Teaching material
• ….
We build on trust

• Candidates for SCE and CE will have to send us information

about their qualification including a completed log-book.

• We trust that they give us correct information.

• We will randomly check applications.
• Deliberate submission of incorrect information:

• rejection of the application

• already issued certification will be revoked

• You would not want to be on that list 
The Certification System – future development

• Currently the system is limited to people working within the

geographical borders of Europe.

• Considerable interest from countries outside of Europe

• Middle-East
• Asia
• South America
The Certification System – future development

• As soon as we can cope with the practicalities, the system will be

open for candidates working outside Europe.

• We need to gain experience with the system before expanding.

• Embryologist organisations outside Europe are welcome to join at

that time.
• We need local organisation to help us to set up a system in their
country region
• Translate and help to organise exams
• Check Log books
The Certification System – future development

• ESHRE is of cause willing to share it’s experience and thoughts with

sister organisations in other parts of the world

• In the future, also practical collaboration is a possibility