Examination Application

Application Information

Application forms for the examination are available online and require the signature of an ECVP Diplomate or an ACVP Diplomate who fulfils the criteria listed in the ECVP By-laws Art. 2.1., who sponsors the candidate by certifying that training has been followed to permit sitting for the examination. 
The signing sponsor should be the person most responsible for the candidate’s training. When this is not possible the applicant should provide an appropriate explanation to the Council. 
An application is valid for 1 year only.

Application for new candidates - full or split format 

Please note: new candidates are defined as those who are on their first attempt or who have failed to validate at least 2 sections or who have scored less than 30% in one or more failed sections.

Application for candidates retaking sections and/or taking sections of the second block of the split format

Completed application forms accompanied by the examination fee - must be submitted no later than 01 August preceding the year of examination. Please note that this year the examination application will open on 19 May 2025.

SUBMIT EXAMINATION APPLICATION

If you are uncertain of your eligibility to take the examination, please complete our quick eligibility check and feedback will be provided on your current position. The request should be submitted to the ECVP Administrative Office (admin@ecvpath.org) together with PDF files of the publications. Only quick eligibility checks submitted by 01 June will receive feedback before the examination application deadline.

>>>>>   To pay the Examination fee please login to your ECVP profile   <<<<<

Eligibility to sit the examination is determined in early October; applicants are promptly notified as to acceptance. If the applicant’s credentials are not accepted, or if candidates withdraw from the examination prior to December 1st, fees are refunded, except for a 10 percent processing charge. No refunds are made after this date.

Credentials

The general requirements of the College Examination are that the eligible candidate must:
1.     be registered as a resident in an ECVP-approved training programme
2.    must have completed at least three (3) years of supervised training in a standard pathology training programme or have completed an alternative training programme approved by Council.
3.    have submitted, as first author or co-author, at least two (2) original papers (in English) in the broad field of veterinary pathology in peer-reviewed journals of international repute. A thesis or monograph will not be accepted as a publication. One of the two papers must have been accepted by the time of application to take the ECVP certifying exam. A second manuscript can be under review at the time of application. In cases where the second paper has not been accepted prior to the examination and the candidate passes the examination, the candidate will only be declared and registered as Diplomate of the ECVP once providing proof that the second paper is accepted. Acceptance of the second publication needs to be confirmed no later than six (6) months after passing the examination. In case the second publication is not accepted within the six (6)-month period after passing the examination, the candidate’s initial credentials will not be validated and therefore the candidate will be required to re-sit all sections of the College Examination
The final requirement to obtain the full credentials is having passed at least two sections of the exam and has reached a minimum score of 30% in the failed section(s). If a new candidate does not pass a minimum of two (2) sections or does not obtain a minimum of thirty percent (30%) in any one failed section, the candidate may reapply to take the exam again as a new candidate.

(See also sections “Guide for Training Sponsors” and “Examination Structure and Organisation”)

An individual who has received an unfavorable ruling (e.g. regarding qualifications to sit the examination) may appeal against this decision. Such an appeal must be received in writing to the ECVP Office within 90 days of the date of the letter informing the individual of the unfavorable decision. 

(For examination passing rules see section “Examination Strucure and Organisation”).