Certification in echocardiography of congenital heart disease: experience of the first 6 years of a European process.
OBJECTIVE
Certification in congenital heart disease echocardiography presents unique challenges compared with certification of adult transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography. We report our experience in collaboratively developing an exam process that covers the size and age range of congenital heart patients, the varying professional backgrounds of echocardiography practitioners across the field and our approach to the challenge of introducing a pan-European certification endorsed by the major stakeholder groups; the European Association of Echocardiography (EAE), the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC) and the Grown Up Congenital Heart Working Group of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).


RESULTS
Since its inception in 2006 the exam has been held seven times; 137 candidates from 27 countries have sat the exam, 107 candidates (78%) have passed the exam components and 60 candidates have successfully completed the logbook submission and have been certified in echocardiography of congenital heart disease echocardiography by the EAE. In addition to the certification process, a comprehensive curriculum, teaching programme, and teaching courses have been developed.


CONCLUSIONS
The instititution of a European certification process for echocardiography of congenital heart disease has proved feasible.
Division of Cardiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Luc
L
Mertens
Owen
O
Miller
Kevin
K
Fox
John
J
Simpson
D002309:Cardiology / Q000193:education*; D002568:Certification; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013997:Time Factors