Board Members: Stig Einarsson (President, S-Uppsala), John Verstegen (Vice-President, B-Liege)

Jörg Aurich (Secretary, A-Vienna), Laszlo Solti (Treasurer, H-Budapest), Gary England (GB-Reading)

The European College of Animal Reproduction (ECAR) is an organisation for veterinary specialist training in Animal Reproduction and a member of the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation, the umbrella organisation of Veterinary Specialty Colleges in Europe. ECAR cooperates closely with its American counterpart, the American College of Theriogenologists. Mutual recognition of training programmes and examinations is envisaged for the future.

The certifying examination of ECAR in 2003 will be held on 21 and 22 November in Vienna, Austria. Candidates, who have succesfully passed the exam will be conferred the title of European Diplomate in Animal Reproduction

Eligibility for the exam: The exam is aimed at veterinarians working in animal reproduction and whose work experience and/or previous training is clearly equivalent to an ECAR training programme. Veterinarians working in clinical animal reproduction of one or several species groups - either in practice or in University institutions - or who have already completed advanced training programmes (e.g. Diploma in Bovine Reproduction) are especially invited. All applicants must meet the following requirements:

• They must be veterinarians and licensed to practise veterinary medicine in Europe. (Veterinarians with non-European degrees can be admitted to the exam on an individual basis by the Board of the College).
• They must be of satisfactory moral and ethical standing within the profession
• They must have worked at least 60% of their time in animal reproduction during the last five years.
• During the last five years they must have published at least one full paper in a reviewed journal and one additional publication (which can be a minor publication, e.g. case report, conference abstract). Professional qualifications other than publications will be reviewed by the Credentials Committee and can be considered equivalent to the publication requirements.

Structure of the exam: The exam will consist of multiple choice questions and essay questions. Clinical material (e.g. morphological pictures, biopsy slides, semen samples) will be included in the exam. The exam will be divided into two parts. The first part (general part) will be identical for all candidates. The second part (specialised part) will take into account the subfield or species-group chosen by the candidate. The second part of the exam can be taken in the following subfields:

• Ruminant Reproduction and Herd Health
• Pig Reproduction and Herd Health
• Equine Reproduction
• Small Animal Reproduction
• Reproductive Biotechnology

ECAR Secretariat

Prof. Jörg Aurich

Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Andrology

University of Veterinary Sciences

Veterinärplatz 1

1210 Vienna, Austria

phone +43-1-25077-5401, fax +43-1-25077-5490, e-mail joerg.aurich@vu-wien.ac.at

Applications will be reviewed by the ECAR Credentials Committee before 31 July. After admittance to the exam, an examination fee of 250 Euro will be charged and is due before 1 November 2003.

(1) Curriculum vitae

• institutions where veterinary training was obtained
• professional activities after graduation (list previous employment and specify percentage of work time devoted to animal reproduction)
• academic degrees
• professional degrees (e.g. national specialist degrees) and membership of veterinary institutions
• continuing education or training courses attended
• any additional information considered relevant by the applicant

(2) List of publications and/or list of qualifications/contributions the applicant suggests to be considered equivalent to publications by the Credentials Committee. For the publications, the contribution of the applicant has to be indicated.

(3) Copies of degrees and diplomas

(4) Subfield the applicant wants to choose for the exam

General part: 

25% general, comparative
20% ruminants

10 % pigs
20% equine
20% small animals
5% exotic, wildlife, laboratory and avian species

in depth questions on either ruminant farm animals, pig, horses, small companion animals or biotechnology of reproduction (field chosen by candidate, only one field can be taken per exam, it is possible to add another field the following year without having to repeat the general part)

Day 1: General part
4 sessions (2 hours each): Multiple choice questions and essay questions

the number of questions of each type will be decided by the exam committee

Day 2: Subspecialty part

2 sessions (2 hours each): Multiple choice questions, essay questions, part of the essay questions based on photographs of clinical cases (macroscopic and/or microscopic)