The Academy of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine and the European Register of Specialists in Laboratory Medicine: guide to the Academy and the Register, version 4 – 2020

The purpose of the Register

1. Through setting an Equivalence of Standards the Register supports the delivery of high quality, equivalent laboratory medicine practice across Europe that in turn helps protect patients’ safety. The Equivalence criteria:

   1. Define 9 (preferably 10) years as minimum training period with a Master of Science (MSc or equivalent) qualification after an initial 4–5 year academic period followed by an EFLM-approved exit qualification/ certificate after a further 4–5 years vocational training.

   2. Include expectations for education and training to follow the EFLM syllabus which also identifies the competences required to assure patients that they receive safe and high quality care [4].

   3. Require specialists to be included in a professional register (if available) in their home country and to maintain their competence and knowledge base through participation in CPD activities.

2. The Register provides a platform for recognition of specialist practice across Europe, particularly in the absence of a government register of specialists and/or an identified regulated profession.

3. It supports EFLM’s drive to achieve recognition of non-medical specialists through European Union (EU) Directive 2013/55/EC (The Recognition of Professional Qualifications). Under the Directive, professional organisations and/or competent authorities within the Union are invited to submit suggestions to the EU Commission for a Common Training Framework for a given profession. To be adopted the framework must combine the knowledge, skills and competences of at least one third of the Member States. Professionals who have gained their qualifications under a Common Training Framework will be able to have these recognised automatically across the Union. To date, EFLM’s proposed Common Training Framework has attracted the support of professional organisations in 15 of the 27 EU Member States [5].

4. It raises awareness of laboratory medicine’s role and contribution to better health and best care, and supports EFLM’s role as the leading representative professional organization for laboratory medicine across Europe.

5. It offers registrants automatic membership of the Academy and access to the benefits described below.

Eligibility

1. Meeting Equivalence of Standards is the cornerstone to eligibility. Applications to join the Register are open to medical, scientific and pharmacy trained individuals who are members of EFLM’s national, affiliated and provisional societies and whose education/training has been balanced over 9 (preferably 10) years across the following disciplines:

   1. General chemistry of at least 35%.

   2. General chemistry plus haematology of at least 65%.

   3. Flexibility as to the remaining 35%, including general chemistry, haematology, microbiology, genetics and In Vitro Fertilisation in a proportion consistent with the requirements in the country of destination, consisting of work experience, accredited courses, relevant exams of the national training programs, traineeships.

2. Key to the distinction between the specialist and the non-specialist is the ability to meet the competencies described in the EFLM syllabus [4] and version 3 of the guide to the Register [3]. Evidence is sought during applications.

3. Evidence that education and training is commensurate with specialist practice includes submission of an EFLM-approved exit qualification. Ideally the qualification will be government recognised, exceptionally professional organisation and/or university qualifications/certificates may be considered.

4. Registrants are expected to adhere to the code of conduct which behoves specialists to conduct themselves in a manner that does not bring Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine into disrepute [6]. Where a specialist is subject to disciplinary sanction (e.g. suspension, removal from their national and/or professional organisation register), EFLM applies the same outcome in relation to the EFLM Register.

5. In the absence of a nationally recognised register and/or a regulated profession, indicative registers (for example from professional organisations) linked to competencies that identify specialist level practice may be appropriate.

6. Eligibility is annually renewable and supported on the basis of maintenance of CPD and continued inclusion in a professional register (if available). Examples of CPD activities are described in version 3. Where there are established mechanisms for recording CPD these should be identified as part of the application process. In the absence of established mechanisms individual evidence will be sought that a minimum of 1 h per week is dedicated to CPD

7. Meeting Equivalence of Standards of one European country whilst practising in another European country is not a barrier to recognition as a Specialist in Laboratory Medicine. Similarly, individuals practising beyond European borders may be eligible to be recognised as an EuSpLM if their training meets the accepted Equivalence of Standards of the country in which their education/training was undertaken.

Process for joining the EFLM Register

A first step to joining the Register is to join the Academy. Register applications are measured against the Equivalence of Standards of the country in which education/training took place. Evidence that EFLM’s standards can be met may be submitted by an EFLM member society to EFLM’s Profession committee using the proforma on the ‘EuSpLM Register’ pages on the EFLM web site as a template. As much of the evidence cited in Section “Eligibility” above is welcomed. Both Equivalence and registration applications must be submitted in English.

The purpose of the Academy

The overriding purpose is to support the education, training and CPD of individuals with an interest in laboratory medicine. In turn the Academy helps raise the profile of EFLM by providing a web domain for information and communication. Membership is on an annual renewable basis for (currently) 15 Euros per annum and offers:

1. Free online subscription to EFLM’s journal Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine;

2. Unlimited access to all documents (laboratory standards) of the CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute) database;

3. Regular e-mail notifications of all EFLM activities, programmes and opportunities;

4. Eligibility to apply for EFLM travel grants (subordinated to the application criteria of each specific EFLM initiative);

5. Reduced registration fees to strategic conferences, symposia and courses organised solely by EFLM;

6. Free access to EFLM webinars;

7. Enrolment on to the EFLM Register of Specialists in Laboratory Medicine for individuals who meet Equivalence of Standards.

Eligibility

Eligibility extends to:

1. All individuals who are interested in laboratory medicine.

2. Representatives of diagnostics companies.

EuSpLM registrants whose registration pre-date the launch of the Academy automatically become members.

Process for joining the Academy