The European Association of Neurosurgical Societies

EANS/UEMS European Examination in Neurosurgery

The European Examination in Neurosurgery consists of two parts: the Primary Examination (written multiple choice questions) and the Oral Examination.

Both examinations may be taken voluntarily, and have been prepared by an Examination Committee consisting of 8 Program Directors in Neurosurgery from various parts of Europe.

Oral assessments following completion of the EANS training course was first introduced in 1983 (Ljubljana). The concern for a more formal approach to an examination led in 1992 to the creation of Joint EANS/UEMS Examination Committee , which is now responsible for the European Examination of Neurosurgery.

Primary (written) Examination

The Primary examination is a written, multiple choice exam consisting of approximately 200 questions to be answered in three hours. The questions cover neurosurgery, neuroanatomy, neuropathophysiology, neuropathology, neurology, neuroradiology, fundamental clinical skills and other disciplines deemed suitable and important. The EANS Examination Committee has prepared the examination with the assistance of a professional testing organisation, which also carries out the analysis.

  • The best candidate each year will be awarded ten issues of the publication "Advances and technical standards in neurosurgery"

Applications for the Primary Examination in Padua are closed.

The next Primary Examination will be held on 25th September 2010, 16:00 - 19:15 in Halkidiki, Greece.

Download: application form.

Your application should be sent to Mr Owen Sparrow , Chair of the Joint Examination Committee with a copy to EANS Course Co-ordinator Petra Ernestova.

Requirements to take part in the Primary Examination

  • The Primary Examination is open to all residents in accredited neurosurgical programs in Europe, and to all neurosurgeons with a licence to practice neurosurgery. 
  • Those who are in training to become a neurosurgeon should not take the examination before their third year of training, because of the level of the examination, which is to be comparable to the level of the Primary Examination of the American Board of Neurosurgery.
  • The fee , to be paid in advance, is:
    €100 for Trainees in an official European training program (with proof)
    €200 for Trainees from non-European training programs
    €200 for neurosurgeons who have completed their training
    Those trainees attending the EANS Training Courses shall pay a sum of €25 Euros per course, to cover the cost of the examination.
  • Payments should be made to: Fortis Bank Gent Address: Kouter 8 - 9000 Gent - Belgium IBAN: BE24 0014 9428 8838 BIC: GEBABEBB

Those who take the examination agree that they are bound by the Committee's rulings regarding credentials and regarding the examination scores.

Candidates who fail or pass may take the examination as often as desired for either certification or self-assessment.

Part II (Oral) examination

The Oral Examination is the second and final of the European Examinations and successful candidates will be awarded the European Certificate in Neurosurgery. Whilst the European Certificate certifies that the holder has achieved a good level in the theory and practice of neurosurgery, it does not constitute a licence to practise neurosurgery in any European country. There is currently no possibility of taking this examination for the purpose of self-certification .

The next Oral examination will take place on January 29th and 30th 2010 in St Augustin,Germany.

The examination is a clinical problem solving and patient management test. It is not a theoretical examination, such as the primary examination.

Case histories are given, and where appropriate neuroimaging and other visual aids are shown to augment the presentation and development of cases.

Candidates explain verbally how they would proceed to evaluate or manage the cases and to plan and perform the proposed operations, if indicated. The examination, in the English language, consists of three parts, each lasting one hour. 5-8 cases will be discussed per hour.

Each of the three hours is conducted in an interview setting with two examiners, experienced neurosurgeons from a European country. During these three hours the candidate will, therefore, meet six different European examiners, each of whom will give an independent score. One hour is dedicated to an oral examination on operative neurosurgery of brain and skull.The other hour covers operative neurosurgery of spine and cord.In the third hour the topics to be discussed will be those that could not be adequately covered in the first two hours.

The final, combined result will be available by mail within 14 days after the examination.

A candidate who receives a passing grade for this examination will be granted the European Diploma in Neurosurgery.

  • If the exam committee finds that the quality of the best candidate's performance justifies this, he or she will be awarded the Braakman Diploma. Recipients of the Braakman award will also be given three years Individual Membership of the EANS.

Requirements to take part in the Oral Examination

  • Evidence that the primary European Examination in neurosurgery has been passed.
  • Licence to practice neurosurgery, a copy of this licence must be forwarded for inspection.
  • A logbook of operations, independently performed, during a consecutive period of 12 months after the licence has been granted.
  • Advance payment of €500 payable in Euros as specified on the application form. Bank: Fortis Bank Gent Address: Kouter 8 = 9000 Gent - Belgium IBAN: BE24 0014 9428 8838 BIC: GEBABEBB

Your application to sit the Part II examination, together with supporting documents, should be sent to Dr Martina Messing –Junger, Abteilung Neurochirurgie, Asklepios Kinderklinik, Arnold-Janssed-Str. 29, D- 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany m.messing@asklepios.com with a copy to EANS Executive Administrator Susie Hide susie.hide@btinternet.com .

The Examination Committee makes the final decision regarding a candidate's eligibility for the Oral Examination and potential certification after considering all available information pertaining to the entire process of certification.

Re-examination

If a candidate fails the examination once, and wishes to repeat the examination, a new application form must be submitted.

A minimum of one year must elapse before taking the exam for the second time; an additional year of practice data and a new logbook of operations are also required.

A re-examination fee must be paid prior to examination.

A candidate who fails the Oral Examination on two occasions must take and pass the Primary Examination again.