Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe
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PublicationsCIRSE InsiderEBIR – Now available in Italian!

EBIR – Now available in Italian!

July 18, 2024

With the recent advancements in technology and techniques, interventional radiology has experienced substantial global growth, heightening the need for standardized assessment and certification. However, access to these has often been limited to English, sometimes creating barriers for non-English speaking professionals.

To address this issue, the EBIR (European Board of Interventional Radiology) has again extended its language portfolio. In collaboration with the interventional radiology section of the Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM), the EBIR exam will be offered in Italian for the first time on October 24, 2024. Successful completion of the exam demonstrates that a radiologist has met rigorous international standards in IR. This can enhance their career prospects by allowing them to qualify for more advanced positions.

The introduction of the EBIR exam in Italian is an important step towards greater inclusivity in medical certification. It is now accessible to practitioners who may have been previously deterred by language constraints. This development is also expected to broaden the reach of interventional radiology services in Italian-speaking regions.

“I express my full support and enthusiasm for CIRSE’s decision to offer the EBIR in the Italian language!” Says EBIR Deputy Chairperson Prof. Laura Crocetti. “This great achievement is representative of the continuous growth and development of this certification over time, and reflects CIRSE’s ongoing commitment to collaborate with national societies, broadening the reach of the EBIR. I believe it will greatly benefit all the Italian IRs who are aiming to certify their IR experience.”

A Q&A session for Italian IRs took place at SIRM this year held by Dr. Fabiane Barbosa.
Prospective candidates had the chance to ask successful EBIR candidate Dr. Doortje Rothfuchs their questions in English and German at ET 2024.
 Dr. Jimena González-Nieto shared her experience at ECIO 2024 in English and Spanish.

The EBIR’s language portfolio

Candidates have had the opportunity to take the EBIR exam in German since January 2021, and in Spanish since October 2022. The exams are meticulously translated and proofread to maintain the rigor and integrity of the English original.

The exam’s availability in German, Spanish, and Italian includes translated sample questions, guidelines and video material in various exam languages. Candidates (and all other interested parties!) also have free access to translations of the European Curriculum and Syllabus for Interventional Radiology, which provides the basis for the examination. The documents are available for download here.

“Setting international standards while providing the exam in multiple languages helps maintain the high level of global competency in IR and improve the quality of patient care.” Says Ms. Maria Weren, Head of Certification and Accreditation at CIRSE. “Where possible, the EBIR strives to support the accessibility of the assessment through native languages to foster recognition of IR in medical certification and continuous education.

Q&A sessions

To further support candidates, question and answer sessions are now offered in all four exam languages. These interactive sessions provide a valuable opportunity for examinees and interested IRs to engage directly with successful candidates, learn more about the exam format and how to prepare. The next Q&A session will take place at CIRSE 2024.

Upcoming examinations

Examination dates 2024

  • October 24, 10:00 (CEST) | English | Spanish | Italian | application deadline September 5, 2024

Examination dates 2025

  • March 20, 10:00 (CET) | English | German | application deadline January 31, 2025
  • October 23, 10:00 (CEST) | English | Spanish | Italian | application deadline September 4, 2025

Examination dates 2026

  • March 19, 10:00 (CET) | English | German | application deadline January 29, 2026

To learn more about the remote, online-proctored EBIR examination format and eligibility criteria, visit the CIRSE website at www.cirse.org/ebir.