1. Clinical Embryologist with completed core training

The Clinical Embryologist is a laboratory professional, directly involved in fertility treatment via Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR), who has had theoretical and practical training in the laboratory part of fertility treatment by reproductive cells, tissues, and embryos. Training involves:
a) a range of assessments and manipulations of biological samples (semen, spermatozoa, seminal plasma, testicular tissue, follicular fluid, cumulus-oocyte-complexes, oocytes, ovarian tissue, zygotes, early cleavage embryos, blastocysts and genetic material of reproductive cells and embryos)
b) processing of reproductive cells, tissues and embryos (cell separation methods, cell and embryo culture, insemination, micromanipulation techniques on reproductive cells, cryopreservation and cryobanking); preparation of reproductive cells, tissues and embryos for transfer or transplantation into the recipients, or for distribution to other tissue establishments.
c) knowledge of quality management procedure and audit according to the EU legislation on setting standards of quality and safety for the donation, procurement, testing, processing, preservation, storage and distribution of human tissues and cells.

2. Senior Clinical Embryologist with completed advanced training

Advanced Senior Clinical Embryologist training, demanding several specific areas of knowledge, is additional to the core training of Clinical Embryologists. These professionals should be able to:

- set up and lead ART laboratories, andrology laboratories and cryobanks of reproductive cells.
- coordinate work among laboratory co-workers, ensuring the highest laboratory standards
- troubleshoot
- follow and critically interpret published innovations in the field of ART
- participate in an interdisciplinary consultation with gynaecologists, reproductive medicine subspecialists, geneticists, andrologists, oncologists and other professionals
- be capable to be tutors for training in Clinical Embryology

ESHRE offers theoretical knowledge certification for Clinical Embryologists from European and Non-European countries. Accreditation of training centres for the implementation of standardised training in Clinical Embryology is currently open only to European ART centres.

Although the theoretical and practical part of the education from Clinical Embryology can be performed separately, ESHRE recommends that theoretical knowledge (described in ESHRE curriculum) and practical training (described in ESHRE syllabus) are achieved simultaneously:

a. Core training (3 years) should be completed after verification of logbook and after passing the ESHRE examination for Clinical Embryologists.
b. Advanced training (3 additional years) should be completed after verification of logbook and after passing the ESHRE exam for Senior Clinical Embryologists.

The ESHRE basic level or advanced level diplomas will only be issued after the candidate has obtained the ESHRE certificate from the theoretical knowledge examination for Clinical Embryologist or Senior Clinical Embryologists and obtained the completed ESHRE accredited basic or advanced training.

Together, the certificate and diploma are documents that confirm the acquisition of knowledge and skills in a given time. Thereafter, in order to maintain competencies in Clinical Embryology, evidence that the embryologist has regularly kept up-to-date with knowledge, a continuous professional development (CPD) is needed. Therefore, after attainment, the ESHRE certificates and diplomas validity needs to be supported by the ESHRE CPD certificate, which is issued annually and certifies professional activity and development in three years periods. The first validation begins three years after the initial awards.

It is important to know that once someone obtains the certificate and diploma, these qualifications cannot be taken away. However, it is the revalidation (reliant on compulsory CPD) that makes them "live". From 1st January 2024 onwards, CPD is compulsory to maintain the validity of all ESHRE embryology certificates or diplomas.

Training within an ESHRE accredited centre provides trainees with structured practical training based on the official ESHRE syllabus. You will be supervised by experienced ESHRE-certified tutors and have a standardised competency assessment using ESHRE logbooks. You will be exposed to multidisciplinary reproductive medicine practices and have opportunities to participate in research and quality management activities. This is all part of the recognised pathway towards obtaining the ESHRE Diploma in Medical Embryology, following successful completion of the practical training and the corresponding theoretical exams.

Yes. Trainees may continue their training within the newly accredited centre, provided they are eligible under the current ESHRE regulations, including the use of the official ESHRE logbooks introduced in 2022. Training undertaken after 1st January 2022 using the approved logbooks can be recognised towards completion of the ATCE programme.

Accreditation demonstrates that a centre meets internationally recognised ESHRE/EBCOG standards for practical training in Medical Embryology. Benefits include international recognition as an ESHRE Accredited Training Centre and demonstration of commitment to excellence in training the next generation of Medical Embryologists via a structured curriculum. The increased visibility within the international reproductive medicine community should attract highly motivated national and international trainees. This all contributes to harmonising Medical Embryology training across Europe.

Senior Embryologists will be recognised as official tutors, registered with ESHRE or as direct mentors to trainees.

Once you have submitted your application, the documents need to be reviewed. If all criteria are fulfilled, then an assessment visit can be scheduled. This should hopefully take place within 3 months.

Yes. You can apply for Core training only. Alternatively, you can apply for both Core and Advanced (Specialist) training, provided your centre fulfils the relevant requirements.

Centres applying for training accreditation usually have trainees in post. However, you can also apply, provided your centre can demonstrate a training capacity via using documentation from a previous trainee.

No. Accreditation evaluates the quality of the training programme for Medical Embryology rather than IVF success rates or clinical performance. For quality assessments, ESHRE offers ART Centre Accreditation for good clinical practice.

No. Embryo biopsy and preimplantation genetic testing are optional components of the syllabus. If you do not perform these procedures, then trainees do not need to learn the biopsy technique. However, you may wish to seek this part of their training through an affiliated centre that does perform biopsies.

Yes. You will need to demonstrate that you have an active research programme and that you provide trainees with protected time to participate in scientific activities. Core training requires a minimum level of research activities (e.g. validation studies). Advanced training includes learning about more complex studies, distinguishing between different types of research, preparing applications for ethics committees and interpreting published research, etc.

No. Accreditation can only be granted to one individual MAR centre at a time. A group of clinics or a healthcare network cannot be assessed by a single visit. If training is delivered across multiple centres, one centre can apply as the main training centre, with formal agreements (letters of intent) demonstrating collaboration with the additional centres to provide the complete training programme. Alternatively, each clinic can apply for their own accreditation.

This is possible. However, you must include any missing elements from the ESHRE syllabus. ESHRE accreditation can serve as an external control of the national training.

This may also be possible. provided your current training programme aligns with ESHRE requirements. Some adaptation may be needed to ensure all competencies are covered and appropriately documented.

For this to take place, the national professional body must contact ESHRE (certification@eshre.eu) to make a formal request. This can include a request to translate the ESHRE curriculum into the national language in accordance with the national use of ESHRE guidelines (https://www.eshre.eu/Guidelines-and-Legal) (Policy for translation of ESHRE documents). ESHRE will list the name of the national professional body on the ESHRE website. Reciprocally, the national professional body must include that they are using the ESHRE curriculum on their website.

Yes. Please see the how to apply page for details.

At the moment, only MAR centres located in Europe are eligible for ESHRE accreditation. However, ESHRE and the European Board & College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (EBCOG) are exploring options to accredit non-European centres in the future.

Yes. We recommend that each tutor supervises a maximum of three trainees.

No. ESHRE cannot award the Diploma in Medical Embryology based on previous experience. The ESHRE Diploma training programme has established a start date of 1st January 2022. Provided trainees have been undergoing training from that date forward, recording all training via ESHRE logbooks, then an accredited training centre can register the trainees for the Diploma programme.
Please note, only embryologists who have completed full training at an ESHRE-accredited centre and passed the ESHRE embryologist exams are eligible to receive the Diploma.

Yes. Accredited training centres can reserve posts for external trainees, provided they fulfil all the criteria.

The trainee does not pay ESHRE for the training. It is up to the training centre to decide whether to charge for the training. If the trainee is also involved in the routine clinical programme, it would be expected that they would receive payment for that work.