Accreditation Print

NATIONAL ACCREDITATION FOR TRANSTHORACIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

National accreditation for transthoracic echocardiography is a professional certification of the acquired level of crucial knowledge and skills in echocardiography. To gain accreditation it is necessary to meet the requirements of both theoretical and practical parts.

Who can register for the exam?

  • cardiologist,
  • cardiology fellow,
  • internist with 10 years working experience in the area of cardiology.

 

THEORETICAL PART OF THE ACREDITATION PROCEDURE

The right to recognition of theoretical part can be acquired in the following two ways:

  1. by passing the written exam comprised of 150 questions (50 questions related to presented cases and 00 theoretical questions);
  2. by collecting points through educational contents of the Working Group, which are in line with the basic and necessary contents regulated by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI). In the period of maximum up to four years it is necessary to collect a total of 200 points.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE TEST

  • Minimum number of participants: 5 people
  • Maximum number of participants: 20 people
  • The exam price is 1,000.00 kn including VAT
  • The term/date of the exam is determined according to the number and time of registration of candidates.

After registering for the exam, if for objective reasons you are unable to take the exam, it is necessary to cancel it in writing, and the refund will be reduced by 30% if the exam has been canceled up to 48 hours before the test, and after that deadline no refunds can be received.


ATTACHMENTS TO REGISTRATION

Please attach to the application a signed statement by your mentor. Mentor statement (pdf button 136.57 kB)
Mentors can only be members of the Working Group listed in the attached list of mentors.
List of Mentors (pdf button7.38 kB)

We would kindly ask the candidates to contact the mentor from the attached list in the institution of their education.

If you have questions regarding the selection of a mentor, please contact the organizing committee of the exam.

 

EXAM REGISTERING PROCEDURE

1. Login
Exam registration is exclusively electronically. All information on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The exam is anonymous and each participant will get the password to his/her email address after registering for the exam.

2. Signed statement of the mentor
Please submit a mentor statement by e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

3. Payment
Payment is done after completing the registration form. Necessary data are listed on the application.

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE THEORETICAL PART OF THE EXAM

  • Arrival at the exam is at 08:30 am
  • Exam starts at exactly 09:00 am
  • Exam lasts for 4 hours
  • Answer to 150 questions
  • It is forbidden to bring the cell phone into the classroom
  • Personal items will be disposed of at the table when entering the classroom
  • Seating plan is predetermined
  • During exams it is not allowed to leave the classroom
  • Every participant will be provided with:
    • questions.
    • paper for answers
    • clean paper pad
    • 2 pencils

Each participant must have their own calculator on the exam.

 

ORGANIZATION AND CONTENTS OF THE EXAM

- 09:00 - 10:50
The first part consists of presented cases - 50 questions related to TTE cases that will be projected on the wall, time is limited to 110 minutes.

- 10:50 - 11:20
A break for half an hour in the adjoining classroom with refreshments

- 11:20 - 13:30
The second part of the exam is theoretical - 100 questions,
time is limited to 130 minutes

 

READING FOR EXAM

Reading for the exam can be downloaded via the following link https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines-&-Education/Career-development/Certification/Adult-Transthoracic-Echo/Adult-Transthoracic-Echocardiography-TTE

 

RESULTS OF EXAMINATION - THEORETICAL PART

The candidate will pass the written exam if he/she passes both parts of the exam.
 - A minimum of 32 correct answers out of 50 for presented cases
 - A minimum of 65 correct answers out of 100 for the theory

If a candidate does not pass the exam, a refund is not possible.
Within a month you will be notified of the results of the exam via e-mail.

 

PRACTICAL PART OF THE EXAM

After passing the written exam, there follows a practical examination. 

Within a period of consecutive 12 months (during a year before or after the written part of the exam) you need to collect 250 written findings  according to the selected diseases, with measurements and conclusion according to the instructions of EAE for standardized echocardiographic examination and submit it in a form of a Logbook. https://www.escardio.org/static_file/Escardio/Subspecialty/EACVI/certification/EACVI-TTE-250-case-list.pdf

 

In addition, it is necessary to send also 6 cases in digital format (CD, DVD or USB) that will include written findings and necessary movies (in .Avi or .Mpeg format), pictures (in .jpg format at a minimum resolution of 600x400 pixels) and conclusion according to EACVI requrements (https://www.escardio.org/static_file/Escardio/Subspecialty/EACVI/certification/EAE-TTE-logbook-template-requirements.pdf)  for each case:

  1. Normal finding
  2. Ischemic heart disease
  3. Aortic stenosis (AS)
  4. Aortic regurgitation (AR)
  5. Mitral regurgitation (MR)
  6. Additional case according to your choice

 

These should be the original reports that the candidate has written in their place of practice. Please ensure that you follow these guidelines:

  • no patient name should be visible
  • no candidate name should be visible
  • several measurements should be included to indicate the workings and outcome of each case
  • a comprehensive conclusion should be included

Findings in the report must by supported by relevant measurements and Doppler derived data.

 

Please send 250 written findings and 6 original reports in digital form to the following address:

Working Group on Echocardiography HKD
Clinic for Cardiovascular Diseases
Kišpatićeva 12
10000 Zagreb
Exam results will be sent via email.

 

RECERTIFICATION PROCESS

In order to keep their certification status, all certified persons should apply for the re-certification process every 5 years.

Recertification consists of submitting the 15 full written reports, including digital archive according to standardized protocol and short CV, along with evidence of 50 CPD/CME points (with 25 specifically on echo) collected over the 5 years of certification. 

 

Presentation from the meeting Working Group 22nd October 2011.
Separovic Hanževački J., M. Ivanuša, I. Ivanac.

Nacionalna akreditacija iz transtorakalne ehokardiografije (pdf button 601.67 kB)