EBU Certification

Overview

In 1993 the UEMS adopted the Charter on Training of Medical Specialists in the European Community with the aim to harmonise specialist training in each specialty.  As part of this new initiative, all Specialist Sections, including the Section of Urology (represented by the EBU) developed a guideline specifying the needs and requirements of postgraduate specialist training. In 1995, the present European Training Charter was adopted. EBU’s objectives are to harmonise training in urology in Europe and promote high standards of training. We achieve that by implementing two types of certification:

  • Basic Urology Training Programmes (Residency Training Programmes in Urology - RTPU).
  • Sub-Specialty Centres.

In 1993, the first Residency Training Programmes in Urology were EBU certified. Amongst them were the University Clinic in Würzburg, Germany and Sismanoglio General Hospital in Athens, Greece. Since then, we certified and re-certified more than 50 Residency Training Programmes in Urology throughout Europe. 

Certification of EBU Sub-Specialty Centres was introduced in 2008.  In 2009 the first two centres were EBU Certified. The first one is the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, United Kingdom, specialised in female and reconstructive urology. The second centre, specialised in the treatment of stones in the upper urinary tract is Barts & The London NHS Trust in London, United Kingdom.  

EBU Certification give national training centres a unique opportunity to have their programmes evaluated and assessed against the highest European standards. This assessment has highly practical implications, as it provides structured and individual recommendation on further improvements and development.

Certification is limited to centres in UEMS/EBU member countries.

Certification procedure
The certification procedure consists of several steps:

  • Applications are first evaluated by the members of the Urology Training Programmes Committee (UTPC).
  • If the application meets the criteria, the UTPC will review the application at the next bi-annual committee meeting. Applications received before 1 March are discussed at the committee meeting in May. Applications received before 1 August are discussed at the committee meeting in October.
  • Upon receipt of the application, the applicant will receive an invoice covering the application fee.
  • If the application is assessed positively by the UTPC, the centre is evaluated by two committee members on their one-day site visit. This site visit is usually organised before the next committee meeting.
  • If positively assessed during the site visit, EBU Certification is granted. 
    • Basic Training Programmes (RTPU) are either certified for a period of three to five years, depending on the results.
    • Sub-Specialty Training Centres are certified for five years.
  • A letter confirming the certification status is forwarded to the applicant. When applicable, the committee will give recommendations on further improvement.
  • Finally the applicant will receive an invoice covering the (re)certification fee and the Certificate of Accreditation.

Application deadlines

  • 1 August 2010.

Fees

  • Application fee: EUR 260.
  • Certification fee: EUR 1.200.
  • Recertification fee: EUR 800.