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 Medicine

• ESHRE has a mandate from the EU

• EBCOG/ESHRE is recognised as The Authority

• Builds on an existing system within the field of clinical medicine

• We can go for an Accreditation system

• Certificate for Clinical embryologists

• ESHRE has no mandate from the EU

• ESHRE is not automatically recognised as “The Authority”

• No pre-existing system. Recognition of clinical embryologists exist in some countries

• We have to go for a Certification system now

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