ESHRE Clinical Embryologist certification: the first 10 years

• Published in: Human reproduction open 2020-01, Vol.2020 (3), p.hoaa026-hoaa026
• Main Authors: Kovačič, Borut, Prados, Fernando J, Plas, Catherine, Woodward, Bryan J, Verheyen, Greta, Ramos, Liliana, Mäkinen, Sirpa, Apter, Susanna Jamina, Vidal, Francesca, Ziebe, Søren, Magli, M Cristina, Lundin, Kersti, Sunde, Arne, Plancha, Carlos E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ESHRE Pages
• ISSN: 2399-3529; 2399-3529
• DOI: 10.1093/hropen/hoaa026

STUDY QUESTIONWhat has the ESHRE programme ‘ESHRE Certification for Clinical Embryologists’ achieved after 10 years?SUMMARY ANSWERThe post-exam analysis showed a pass rate of 60% for Clinical and 50% for Senior Clinical Embryologists and a high level of internal consistency of all exams, leading to a total of 773 certified Clinical and 493 Senior Clinical Embryologists over the decade.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYIn an ESHRE survey on the educational and professional status of Clinical Embryology in Europe, it was found that education of laboratory personnel working in the field of assisted reproduction is highly variable between countries. In 2008, ESHRE introduced a programme, curriculum and certification in the field of Clinical Embryology. Knowledge gained by postgraduate study of recommended literature, following a clear curriculum, is verified by a written two-level exam for obtaining a certificate for Clinical (basic) or Senior Clinical (advanced) Embryologists. With a total of 1266 certificates awarded over a period of 10 years and recognition by the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes and their Council for European Specialists Medical Assessment, the ESHRE Clinical Embryology exams have become an internationally recognized educational standard in the field of Clinical Embryology.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONA retrospective analysis of all applications for ESHRE Clinical (2009–2018) and Senior Clinical Embryologist Certification (2008–2018) and exam results of the first decade was carried out by the Steering Committee for Clinical Embryologist Certification.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSA total of 2894 applications for ESHRE Certification for Clinical Embryologists and the results of 10 exams for the Clinical (1478 candidates) and 11 exams for Senior Clinical (987 candidates) levels were analysed. A detailed post-exam retrospective analysis was performed regarding difficulty, discrimination and reliability levels of 1600 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with a single best answer among four options, from eight different curriculum topics (Basic cell biology, Genetics, Developmental biology, Female reproduction, Male reproduction, IVF laboratory, Cryopreservation and Laboratory management), representing the core theoretical knowledge of Clinical Embryology. Difficulty levels of the MCQs were subsequently compared regarding each topic and each yearly exam. The participation and success rates in the ESHRE Clinical Embryology exams were also ass