The European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS) requires each European College to administer the procedures for evaluating continuing professional development (CPD) of its members.
As stated in the EBVS Policies and Procedures, Diplomates of an EBVS-recognized College must be evaluated every 5 years for re-registration, after which the successful Diplomates may be registered for another 5 years in the EBVS Directory. Each College is responsible for establishing a standard procedure based on a credit point system, in which prerequisites for re-registration of the Diplomates are described, and it is responsible for the re-registration process. While each College has its own responsibility in creating such a credit point system, this must be approved by the EBVS.
EBVS requirements to remain certified are based on practice, activity, General Meeting attendance and evidence of good standing.
Based on the above EBVS requirements, the ECVP developed its College-specific re-registration process, to qualify for which, a minimum of 100 points over the past 5-year period must be accumulated.
The points must be collected from a minimum of 3 areas of activity from the following 5 areas:
• Area 1: publications or published works related to veterinary pathology
• Area 2: presentations/communications
• Area 3: attendance at congresses/meetings
• Area 4: involvement in ECVP activities
• Area 5: other boards, committees and further qualifications
In addition, a minimum 2 attendances, either in person or online, and a minimum of 10 points over the past 5-year period must be accumulated for:
• Area 6: AGM/SGM attendance
CPD re-registration process and form
At the end of each fifth year the respective Certified Diplomate is contacted by the ECVP Office to submit his/her personal record indicating the CPD efforts during the last five years, using the ECVP Diplomate Re-registration Form. The form is available to download from each member's ECVP website profile. The form must be returned to the ECVP Office by the given deadline.
The CPD efforts are then evaluated by the CPD Committee which will decide whether the criteria for re-registration are met. In case of any queries, the respective ECVP member is contacted by the CPD Committee. At the end of the evaluation procedure, the respective member is notified by the ECVP Office of the outcome of his/her application.
Failure to meet the requirements for CPD
If a Certified Diplomate does not fulfil the criteria for passing the re-registration process, this will result in suspension of the title as a Certified Diplomate and will become a Non-Certified Diplomate. Restrictions and benefits that title implies are defined in the ECVP Articles of Association (Art. 4) and By-laws (Art. 1).
A Non-Certified Diplomate is not permitted to use the title of European Specialist in Veterinary Pathology or Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Pathologists (Dipl. ECVP) but may use the title Diplomate (Non-Certified). The status of Non-Certified Diplomate is revocable, should the person fulfil the requirements for re-registration and apply for re-instatement of active membership, or should the person wish to retire.
Re-instatement of a non-certified ECVP diplomate
This concerns only non-certified ECVP Diplomates as defined by the By-laws (Art. 1.1). Re-instatement asks for rectification of the cause of loosing the status as a Certified ECVP Diplomate. If loss of status is related to CPD issues, see By-laws (Art. 1.5). In addition a re-instatement fee of €200 applies. If loss of status is due to failure to pay membership fees in three consecutive years, re-instatement requires full payment of outstanding fees plus a re-instatement fee of €200.