EBP exam
European Board of Paediatrics Examination
About the exam
The European Board of Paediatrics examination will assess the basic knowledge needed to underpin paediatric training. It is intended as an exam for trainees who have completed at least 2-3 years basic training, but who have not necessarily progressed to ’specialist’ training. However, it will also serve as an assessment of knowledge for trainees near the end of their training, or as an assessment of continuing knowledge for established paediatricians. It has been developed in collaboration with CESMA and the UEMS. Both have endorsed the exam.
CESMA state “We believe it will provide a valuable tool for assessing paediatric knowledge for trainees”.
The UEMS states “The UEMS is delighted to support the forthcoming European Board of Paediatrics Examination, the first pan-European knowledge based exam in general paediatrics, which it anticipates will provide an excellent assessment of core paediatric knowledge for paediatricians everywhere”.
The syllabus for the basic paediatric training has been agreed by EAP, and ratified by the UEMS, and can be found here. It includes all elements of the training recommended for basic paediatric trainees, and so is not limited to the knowledge base that will be tested in the EBP examination. However, details of the competencies and knowledge required are set out clearly in the document and form the basis for the examination.
The first examination will now be held online on October 16th, 2020. The closing date for applications is September 1st, 2020.
As there are a limited number of examination places applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Once your application has been accepted you will be given further details about taking the examination online.
History and purpose
Many countries in Europe have quite different approaches to the assessment of training. To address this, and to ensure that trainees from across Europe are trained in a comparable manner, the UEMS set up the European Council for Accreditation of Medical Specialist Qualifications (ECAMSQ) in 2008. The principles of assessment are that the competence of the trainee is the critical factor.
Assessment is generally accepted as needing four different elements: knowledge, clinical assessment (summative assessments), experience and competency (formative assessments).
Knowledge is usually assessed by means of a written exam, most commonly an MCQ exam. Such exams may test core training knowledge, or may be used at a later stage in training to assess specialist knowledge.
Clinical assessment (often just termed clinical exams) involve trainees being assessed face to face by examiners who test their ability to interpret data, assess patients or plan care.
Experience is usually either assessed by duration of training, or by the evaluation of logbooks determining what cases or what procedures have been encountered by the trainee.
Competency is often assessed by using a number of in-training mini-assessments, such as case based discussion, directly observed procedures and others. Information on these techniques (from the CanMeds website) can be found here.
European recommendations are not binding on any country, and each must determine for themselves how to assess competency, but the recommendations do provide a uniform platform on which training evaluation can be based.
The EAP has simultaneously been agreeing the elements of core training, that should be learnt by all doctors who predominately practise in paediatric medicine. This includes primary care doctors working with children, general paediatricians in hospital and subspecialists. The curriculum for that core training has been agreed 3 years ago, and approved by the UEMS.
Having recognised that knowledge examination is a critical component of the evaluation process, the need to develop an examination for European paediatricians is pressing. Some countries (such as the UK and Ireland) use an established exam, but most have no access to a standardised exam. This is wanted by EAP, but also by the UEMS, and by CESMA, the European group that oversees examinations in medicine. Over the last 10 years, many other (adult based) specialists have developed such exams, and paediatrics needs to join them.
Any examination needs to be a part of a broader assessment. The EAP strongly supports the need for competency assessment, as well as clinical examination and logbooks. However those additional assessments are usually better arranged within countries, and conducted in the native language of the trainees. At this stage (2020) the EAP is therefore looking to provide a high quality knowledge based exam, although the possibility of future clinical examinations remains our ambition.
Exam Regulations
Please read the Exam Regulations carefully.
By registering for the EBP examination, the candidate confirms that he/she adheres to the terms and conditions as stipulated within the regulations. If you have any questions please contact us on ebpexam@eapaediatrics.eu
ABOUT US
Who are the UEMS?
The Union of European Medical Specialists was founded in 1958 and is the oldest pan-European medical organisation. It has national representation from 40 countries. Within UEMS there are 43 specialist sections, of which one – the section of paediatrics – represents all medical paediatrics from primary care through to specialists. More information about the UEMS can be found here.
UEMS has a major role in developing harmonised training programs within medical specialties across different countries, and in accrediting educational events.
What is the EBP?
The European Board of Paediatrics is the Executive body of the Section of Paediatrics. It acts as a link between the UEMS and the EAP. It follows the rules and procedures of the UEMS, reviewing training programs and recommending them to the Council of the UEMS for approval. It is also responsible for setting standards for assessing training and training centres.
Who are young EAP?
The young EAP are trainees in paediatrics from across Europe. More information can be found here.
Rob Ross Russell
Is the current Chair of the European Board of Paediatrics. Rob works at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, UK, where he has been a consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care and Paediatric Respiratory Medicine.
Martin White
Martin White is a member of the Examinations Committee and EBP member. He is currently a National Specialty Director for Neonatology in Ireland and a former Dean of the Faculty of Paediatrics RCPI. He is a Neonatologist in CHI Crumlin and Coombe Hospitals, Dublin.
Liviana da Dalt
Full Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Padova, Italy, is the current Director of the Residency training Program in Paediatrics, the Rector Delegate for postgraduate Medical Education and the Vice President of the Medical School.
Alfred Tenore
Has held the positions of Chair of the European Board of Paediatrics and subsequently President of theEAP. He has held the position of Vice Chair of the Council for European Specialist Medical Assessment (CESMA-UEMS) and has been the founding Chair of the Global Pediatric Education Consortium (GPEC).
Exam details
Who can apply?
The exam is intended as a measure of basic paediatric training. It is open to all trainees who are in a recognised training institute, whether within Europe or elsewhere in the world. Applicants will need to provide a letter of confirmation from their training institute that certifies the trainee is a qualified doctor, and is training in paediatrics.
We also believe that fully qualified paediatricians may also find this exam useful for confirming their ongoing professional development, or for ‘revalidation’. Applicants with substantive posts in paediatrics can therefore also apply, again needing a letter from their institution confirming their position.
Who should take the exam?
As suggested above, the main group for whom this exam is designed is trainees in paediatrics. These may be in Europe (where they could be training in hospital based or community based posts) but the exam may also be valuable for trainees overseas, especially those looking for European experience*. We also believe that the exam may be useful for general practitioners who want additional paediatric experience, or for established paediatricians wanting to undertake CPD/revalidation.
*but please note the section below
What does the exam mean?
This exam is an assessment of basic knowledge, and successful candidates will get a certificate demonstrating that their theoretical knowledge of paediatrics has achieved a level to satisfy the UEMS. CESMA – the European body tasked with monitoring training assessment in Europe, has been involved with the exam from its inception, and their approval of the exam is anticipated once it has been running for a couple of years.
However it is not intended as a measure of completion of training. Assessment of knowledge is one component of assessing trainee competency, but needs to be taken into account with other measures (such as clinical skills and competencies, and volume of experience) before training can be properly assessed as complete.
As a European exam, no national medical body can be obliged to recognise the exam in their country, and it will not guarantee admission to any training program, but it will be valuable evidence of a level of training that will be recognised as such across Europe.
What are the exam regulations?
The exam regulations can be downloaded here. By registering for the EBP examination, the candidate confirms that he/she adheres to the terms and conditions as stipulated within this binding document.
QUERIES
If you have any questions please contact us on ebpexam@eapaediatrics.eu.
Applying
The first examination will now be held online on October 16th, 2020. The closing date for applications is September 1st, 2020.
Due to the move of the exam to an online platform, we have been able to reduce our prices for the exam in 2020. The new prices are shown below – those applicants who have already paid the full price will be reimbursed accordingly. Please also note a further reduction for trainees in European countries defined by the World Bank as Low or Low-Middle income countries.
If you have any questions regarding the online exam or new price structure, please e mail us here. If for any reason the exam should be postponed or cancelled, a full refund would be offered to all those who have registered by the closing date.
Applicants for the examination should apply through the on-line portal via this link.
Please note that the application will not be processed until the letter of support from your training/working institution has been uploaded.
Please provide a copy of your passport and a photograph of yourself (head and shoulders). The applicant name must match the passport name as this will be used as proof of identity for the exam.
Due to the move of the exam to an online platform, we have been able to reduce our prices for the exam in 2020. The new prices are shown below – those applicants who have already paid the full price will be reimbursed accordingly. Please also note a further reduction for trainees in European countries defined by the World Bank as Low or Low-Middle income countries.
The fee structure for 2020 is as follows:
| Exams Description | € |
| Paediatric trainees in European* centre | €350 €250 |
| Paediatric trainees in overseas centres | €550 €450 |
| Paediatricians in substantive posts | €550 €450 |
Paediatricians training in Europe, in low or low-middle income countries, as defined by the World Bank, are entitled to a further 25% reduction. Currently this would include the Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
Timetable
The first exam, which was due to be held during the EAPS meeting in Barcelona in October 2020, will now be conducted online.
The EAP is planning two exams annually which may continue to be held online or may be organised around EAP meetings in the Spring and Autumn, exact dates will be posted on this website once finalised.
How to prepare
Textbooks and source material.
Several texts provide the background theoretical knowledge needed to pass this exam.
Of the many major textbooks, Nelson’s Textbook of Pediatrics, now in its 21st edition remains the most commonly accessible, and is an excellent basis for any paediatric exam.
NELSON TEXTBOOK OF PEDIATRICS, twenty-first edition
Kliegman, St. Geme, Blum, Shah, Tasker & Wilson
The reference of choice among pediatricians, pediatric residents, and others involved in the care of young patients.
For those who prefer a more condensed summary of key knowledge, the additional recommended reference textbooks for this exam are the ones below. We are also planning to provide a number of sample questions on the website to assist with preparation – once available there will be a link here.
The Science of Paediatrics
Lissauer and Carroll
This textbook is well established, and contains all the material needed to pass the knowledge based exam.
Oxford Handbook of Paediatrics
Tasker and Acerini
This textbook is a useful clinical guide to paediatrics, but contains considerable information about the theoretical background.
Self assessment in Paediatrics
Lissauer and Carroll
A helpful book with facility to test your knowledge during study.
clinical cases for mrcpch applied knowledge in practice
Candidates might also benefit from review of case studies. The EAP is currently in the final stages of preparing a European Case study book, but at present this is not available. However alternatives include the RCPCH Clinical cases for MRCPCH Applied Knowledge and Practice
List of successful candidates
None yet!
FAQs
Given that different countries use different units of measurement, will I have to know them all?
We will include a range of normal values for any blood results used in the examination questions.
I am unable to use PayPal to pay the exam fee, is there another method I can use?
Although we would prefer PayPal, we can issue you with an invoice, which will have our bank details and then you can pay by bank transfer.
How long will the exam last?
The exam will last for 1 hour.
How many questions will there be in the exam?
There will be in the region of 80 questions.
What is the pass mark for the exam?
The pass mark is determined by the difficulty of the questions and varies slightly each time, but will be around 60-70%.
How many times can I take the exam, if I fail?
There is no limit to the amount of times you can take the exam.
Are there some practice questions? Is there a bank of sample questions?
At present we do not have a bank of sample questions that can be used by trainees preparing for the exam, but plan to make this available in due course. Many books of paediatric MCQs are available and some sample exams can also be accessed online, such as the ‘Advanced Knowledge in Practice’ sample exams on the RCPCH website.
Get involved!
Join our question writers! We have many paediatricians – senior trainees and established paediatricians – who are helping with question writing groups. Anyone interested please contact Ann Garrott on ebpexam@eapaediatrics.eu.
We also have a group of book chapter writers, developing case studies for the textbook.
Acknowledgements – our heroes!
(chapter writers and question writers)