EBP-EAP exam

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.

Who can apply? 

The exam is intended as a measure of basic paediatric training. It is open to all trainees who have completed at least 30-36 months of training in a recognised training program in Paediatrics, 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 (“attestation”), 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’. Fully qualified paediatricians can therefore also apply, again needing either a letter from their institution confirming their position or a diploma in Paediatrics.

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

EXAM TERMS & CONDITIONS

Please read the Exam Privacy Notice and Exam Terms and Conditions carefully.

By registering for the EBP-EAP examination, the candidate confirms that he/she adheres to the terms and conditions as stipulated within the Terms & Conditions. 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.

EXAM COMMITTEE

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).

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.

SCORING

Each correctly answered question earns you one (1) point, and there is no penalty for incorrect answers – no negative marking. It’s important to note that leaving a question unanswered is treated as an incorrect response.

Following the examination, the results undergo a meticulous statistical analysis at an independent partnering institution. The Examination Committee, in collaboration with the Institute of Medical Education, conducts a rigorous 3-round statistical analysis, complete with key validation. This process includes crucial decisions on whether to retain or eliminate questions with lower performance, ultimately establishing the passing score.

To successfully pass the examination, candidates need to achieve a number of points equal to or exceeding the passing score determined by the Examination Committee.

RESULTS

Expect your examination results to be accessible within 6 weeks from the examination date. Each candidate will receive a notification email, with a prompt to login and view your results online.

Successful candidates gain exclusive access to a detailed review of their results, providing comprehensive insights into their performance, along with a valuable comparison to fellow examinees. Explore your achievements and benchmarks with our user-friendly interface, tailored to empower your understanding and celebrate your success in the context of your peers.

ENHANCED: more detailed results display (2023-2024)

Starting from 2023, the EBP-EAP Examination boasts an enhanced results display.

Successful candidates now enjoy access to an in-depth review of their results, providing a comprehensive overview of their performance in comparison to fellow examinees. Take a sneak peek below to see a few examples of the revamped results display.

Score by Section

An easy overview displays your performance by section.

Detailed Breakdown by subject

For a more detailed analysis, subjects (e.g. anaphylaxis) are further broken down in a separate section. This feature aids in distinguishing the subjects where you excelled from those that may require additional attention.