Examination Application

Application Information

Your application must be uploaded as a single combined PDF or Word document
Your submission must include:
•    Completed and signed application form (containing an electronic signature or a scan of a handwritten signature)
•    Two publications (if applicable)
•    Proof of payment of the examination fee

Important: Applications submitted in other formats or as multiple separate documents will be automatically rejected.

Application Policy and Administrative Fees
Please note that applications are legally binding. The selected examination format cannot be changed once your application has been submitted.
Incomplete Applications: To avoid unnecessary administrative delays, please ensure your application is complete before submission. Due to the extra workload involved, a €50 administrative fee will be charged each time the ECVP Office must contact you to request missing information or a resubmission (e.g., a second request will incur an additional €100 total, and so on).

Sponsor signature
Please note that a sponsor signature is required only for new applications.
The sponsor must be an ECVP Diplomate or an ACVP Diplomate who fulfills the criteria outlined in ECVP By-laws Article 2.1. By signing, the sponsor certifies that the candidate has completed the required training to sit for the examination.
The signing sponsor should be the person most responsible for the candidate’s training. If this is not possible, the applicant must provide a suitable explanation to the Council.

Please note: The examination application is valid for 1 year only.

Application for new candidates - full or split format 

New candidates are defined as those who: are making their first attempt at the examination, have failed to validate at least 2 sections, or 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

Please note that the sponsor’s signature is not required.

The complete application must be submitted online no later than 01 August preceding the year of examination.

SUBMIT EXAMINATION APPLICATION

Quick Eligibility Check
If you are uncertain about your eligibility to sit the examination, you can request a quick eligibility check.
To submit a request email your request as a single combined PDF or Word document
(together with the PDF copies of your publications) to the ECVP Administrative Office at admin@ecvpath.org. 
The Application Committee will review your credentials and provide feedback on your current standing.
Deadline Notice: Only quick eligibility checks submitted by 01 June are guaranteed to receive feedback prior to the examination application deadline.

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 examination. 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 examination 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 examination again as a new candidate.

An individual who has received an unfavourable 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 unfavourable decision. 

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

Examination Eligibility and Refund Policy

• Eligibility Notification: Eligibility to sit the examination is determined in early October, and applicants are promptly notified of their acceptance status.

• Refund Policy: If your credentials are not accepted, or if you withdraw from the examination before 01 December, your fees will be refunded minus a 10% processing charge. No refunds will be issued for withdrawals made after this date.

Payment Instructions

To pay and record your examination fee, please follow these steps:

1. Log In: Access your website profile to view the Pay Now button.
2. Select Payment Method: Click Pay Now, follow the on-screen prompts, and choose either bank card or bank transfer. (Note: If you select bank transfer, the banking details will be provided on-screen).

Ensure the transaction is successfully recorded on your resident profile.

Once completed, your payment receipt will be available on your profile under the Contributions section.

Please wait to pay the microscope rental fee (if applicable) until your application has been officially accepted.