EFORT on the road to European training for medical specialists

Pass the EBOT exam and work anywhere in Europe

Issue: February 2014

With the freedom of establishment within the EU, a standardization of training in specialized medical fields has gained in importance. The EBOT exam enables orthopaedic surgeons throughout Europe to prove their qualifications with a certification that enjoys not only acceptance but respect all across Europe. The exam might even replace the national exams for medical specialists in the long run.

Establishing recognized and also guaranteed training standards throughout Europe is also a central task of a European organization of medical specialists such as the European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (EFORT). The exam of EBOT (European Board of Orthopaedics and Traumatology) marks a major step in this direction. Young medical specialists who make the extra effort of passing another exam can certainly expect substantial benefits from doing so, said EBOT Chairman Prof. Jorge Mineiro from Lisbon, Portugal: “The EBOT exam is the a prestigious qualification accepted by institutions throughout Europe as proof of solid training in orthopaedic surgery. Any orthopaedic surgeon wishing to work abroad is well advised to take this exam.” All European associations of medical specialists within the scope of EFORT helped to create this exam. The exam is intended to establish a comparable Europe-wide standard. Prof. Mineiro said, “With the EBOT exam, there is no doubt that the successful candidate is a well prepared surgeon for practicing anywhere in Europe regardless of the country in which he or she originally received training. Right now there are different assessments about the quality of national training.”

The right to take the exam is granted to specialists who are citizens of an EU country or of Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, Croatia and Israel and who possess a certificate of full qualification as an orthopaedic surgeon from a national authority. Citizens from countries other than the above ones can take the exam if they practice or if they are on a resident or fellowship training post in orthopaedic surgery and traumatology in an EU country.

The exam is taken in two sections, each of which has separate preparatory courses. Section 1 is a written multiple choice test with 100 items taken throughout Europe in examining centers at the same time by all candidates on the same day in a given year. This year that day will be April 17. Passing section 1 of the exam is a prerequisite for being admitted to section 2, which is an oral test taken in English. Currently candidates gather on the first weekend of October in a European capital for this purpose. In 2014 they will meet in October in Vienna. There are plans to conduct section 2 of the exam in the future on the same weekend but at different locations and in multiple languages.

There are good chances this will be the case by 2015, according to Prof. Mineiro. The speciality areas covered by the exam are the upper and lower extremities, the spinal column, basic research and pediatric orthopaedic surgery and traumatology. Prof. Mineiro said, “Besides specialization aspects, an important part of preparation is to become accustomed to the multiple choice test.” As regards orthopaedic-surgical knowledge, Prof. Mineiro recommends that candidates take the EBOT exam as soon after their medical specialist exams as possible while the knowledge is still fresh in their minds and up-to-date. Section 1 of the exam can even be taken by residents in their last year of training.

But EFORT is thinking of a few steps even further into the future. In the long run, it is hoped that the EBOT exam would replace the national exams for medical specialists or be merged with them. Prof. Mineiro: “The drawback of the EBOT exam at the moment is that it tests only theoretical knowledge but not practical skills. This is the reason why we plan in future to introduce a section 3 to the exam that would test practical skills and attitudes of medical specialists. An advantage of this clinical section 3 of the EBOT exam would be that the national organizations would become more heavily involved in the European exam. This clinical section would be taken by candidates in each country in their own national language and by a national board in liaison with the Europe-wide EBOT Examining Committee. However, it is difficult to predict right now how long this major step forward will take in order to achieve this goal, but we would expect it to happen over the next decade.”

To obtain more information and to register for the exam, please visit www.ebotexam.org

For more information
Prof. Dr. Jorge Mineiro, Chairman of the EBOT Examination

info:
www.ebotexam.org

Key dates
EBOT Examination 2014
Section I, written part17 June 2014 in different training centers throughout Europe
Section II, oral part 4 & 5 October 2014 in Vienna, Austria
Apply now! More information on www.ebotexam.org
EBOT Interim Exam 2014: 3 April 2014
More information on www.ebotexam.org/interim