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Rules and requirements for certification for Nurses and midwives

Last update: 20 February 2025

Please read these rules & requirements in conjunction with ESHRE®’s Online Home Exam Policy and the General Terms and Conditions for Accreditation and Certification.

Applicants must guarantee that they fulfil the requirements for Nurses and Midwives Certification, as stated below, in order to be accepted for the exam.

  • The certification programme is available to active ESHRE members only. Please ensure your membership is active from start of the application process until publication of the results. See link to become a member or renew your membership.
  • Your academic qualification (degree) must be validated by NUFFIC prior to submitting your application (minimum academic requirement is a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing or midwifery* which requires a minimum of 3 years study with valid certificate from a university or college).
  • Minimum 2 years’ experience in MAR (either as nurse or midwife – clinical and/or relevant research) on the day of submission of your application.
  • Complete a digital logbook and ethical case (over a maximum of two years), which requires digital signoff - confirmed by respective supervisors.

*A nurse or midwife is someone registered as a nurse or midwife in their country after having obtained a formal 3-year Nursing/Midwifery training at Bachelor level of education. or in line with requirements specified in article 31 of 2005/36/EC; amongst others: after 10 years of general education and at least 3 years of study (4600 hours) (http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2005/36/oj).

The online application for the 2025 exam will be available from 3 March 2025 (13:00 CET) until 30 April 2025 (13:00 CEST).

Your completed electronic application form must be submitted via the application platform by 30 April 2025 (13:00 CEST). Applications will not be accepted after this date/time.


Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application by the end of June 2025 and whether their application to sit the exam has been accepted or declined.


Accepted applications will be communicated via the application platform only.


The online application process consists of two separate steps:


Step 1: The academic qualification validation process

The Nurses & Midwives Certification Steering Committee requires independent recognition of applicants' academic qualifications (degree). Only NUFFIC-validated Academic Qualifications will be considered; validation should be received before submitting your application for the exam.


1. Eligibility and NUFFIC Validation

  • Applicants must have their highest Academic Qualification validated by NUFFIC (the Dutch organisation for international cooperation in higher education).
  • NUFFIC applies criteria and procedures aligned with the Lisbon Recognition Convention.
  • Thereafter, validation will be coordinated by ESHRE.


2. The following documents are required for upload:

  • Original parchment of highest academic degree (both sides).
  • If degree awarded in non-English language, you will require an official English translation by a certified translator, a notary, or the issuing university/college.
  • Academic transcript (transcript is an official document containing your scores and which is issued by the institution or faculty).
  • If your highest academic degree is an MSc, please also provide the BSc academic degree, together with, official translation and academic transcript.
  • Additional documents supporting the MSc.

    Note: Some master’s courses do not fit the criteria of official national university degree, therefore, not all master’s courses will be validated as such by NUFFIC. For example, according to Spanish regulation, the “Título Propio”, may be accepted by employers and representation of a certain level of competency, however, it is not recognised as an official master’s degree.

  • If your highest academic degree is a PhD, please also upload the supporting MSc/BSc academic degree(s), official translation(s) in English, together with academic transcript(s).
  • Ensure the name on your ID/passport matches the name on your degree. If your name has changed, please upload the official document/s clarifying the name change (ie., marriage certificate).
  • Ensure you upload all required documents in one submission (Subsequent submissions will incur additional validation fee).


3. Validation Fee

  • The academic qualification validation process is available throughout the year via https://aqv.eshre.eu/.
  • After submitting your documents, you will receive a payment link to settle the validation fee of 50 Euro (excl. VAT) which covers one submission only.

    Note: Fees are non-refundable and NUFFIC's conclusions are final and non-negotiable.


4. Validation result

  • Once validated, the NUFFIC validation report will be available in your personal account. Only a validated degree allows you to proceed to Step 2: The application process.
  • Applicants who previously participated in the Nurses & Midwives exam (before 2025) and already hold NUFFIC validation at the correct level, can proceed directly to Step 2.

 

Step 2: The application process

This part consists of completing and submitting your online application for the exam via https://enmcp.eshre.eu/. After submission of your application, you will receive a payment link for the application fee of 100 Euro (excl. VAT).

Please note that the paid fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.

Only fully completed and correctly submitted applications (and for which the exam fee has been received), will be reviewed by the Nurses & Midwives Certification Steering Committee. As soon as your application is accepted, this will be communicated via the application platform.


All communications regarding your application will be sent via the application platform, except for the payment links, which will be sent by email. It is the applicants’ responsibility to check messages on a regular basis to meet the application deadline (in the event additional information and/or documents are required). The deadline can be a maximum of 7 calendar days following the date of the message received from ESHRE).

If no response received within the given deadline, your application will be declined.

Please ensure all sections in your completed logbook have been digitally signed by the relevant supervisor (please note, laboratory sections must be signed by a senior member of the laboratory, previously listed as eligible supervisor).

3.1. Submission Procedure:

  • Completed Logbooks must be uploaded to the online platform. Prior to upload, they must be printed, signed by the applicant as well as the head of the clinic, and scanned, with scanned copy uploaded.

3.2. Fraud Policy:

  • False or incorrect information will lead to rejection of the application, disqualification from the exam and potential withdrawal of certifications.
  • ESHRE may impose, at its own discretion, adequate sanctions for fraudulent submissions.

4.1. Exam Details:

  • The exam is conducted in English only; no translation aids are permitted (no dictionary, or translation applications are permitted during the exam).
  • The exam is online, knowledge-based assessment held annually.
  • The exact timetable of exams will be published on the ESHRE website.

4.2. Technical and Identification Requirements:

  • Candidates must use their own PC or laptop (tablets and smartphones are not allowed); ESHRE is not responsible for technical issues causing missed exams.
  • The onboarding procedure by ProctorExam requires candidates to provide valid photo identification (photographic ID card or passport).
  • Useful information on what to expect from an online exam provided by ProctorExam can be found on their website: https://proctorexam.com/test-taker-support/.

4.3. Exam Format:

  • The exam comprises two parts, each lasting one hour (total: 95 questions), conducted on the same day with a 10-minute break.
  • For 94 questions, the question format is Single Best Answer (SBA). For each question, five potential answers will be provided. On occasion, potentially all could be correct, but participants should identify the one considered the “best” suitable answer to the question. Therefore, only one answer can be selected per question.

    Example SBA

    Which hormones are responsible for the process that induces follicular development, rupture, oocyte release, and endometrial receptivity?

    1) FSH & Oestrogen
    2) FSH & LH
    3) LH & Oestrogen
    4) Oestrogen & Progesterone
    5) Oestrogen & Hcg

    The correct answer is 2) FSH & LH.

    • The format of one question, is referred to as an Extended Matching Question (EMQ).
    The extended question opens with a description of a clinical scenario, followed by three separate questions, all related to the opening clinical situation. Each of the three questions have a drop-down selection of 10 possible answers from which, you should select the most appropriate.

    Example EMQ

    Topic Female reproduction

    Lead-in statement:
    For each one of the following scenarios, select the most appropriate condition from the list of options. Each option may be used once, more than once or not at all.

    Options

    a) Polycystic ovarian syndrome
    b) Endometriosis
    c) Premature ovarian insufficiency
    d) Prolactinaemia
    e) Recurrent miscarriage
    f) Latent hypothyroidism
    g) Hypothalamic amenorrhea
    h) Chromosomal abnormality
    i) Turner syndrome
    j) Ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome

    Scenario 1

    A 35-year-old woman presents to the clinic as she wishes to become pregnant but has had no menstruation for the past 6 months and prior to that irregular, and often short cycles. She has taken several pregnancy tests which are negative. Measurement of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) showed higher levels than normal and very low oestradiol levels. Which condition do you suspect?
    The most appropriate option is Premature ovarian insufficiency.

    Scenario 2

    A woman presents to the clinic for information on her fertility status. She has normal FSH, oestradiol, AMH. Vaginal ultrasound shows normal ovarian follicle count however one finds evidence of a septate uterus. These findings may put her at higher risk of which condition?
    The most appropriate option is Recurrent miscarriage.

    Scenario 3

    A couple have been trying to conceive for 13 months and during initial investigations one finds normal semen analysis, low AMH and antral follicle count (AFC), normal FSH and regular menstruation. She experiences moderate to severe menstrual pain and sometimes pain during sexual intercourse. Findings on history and examination so far lead you to suspect which of the listed conditions?

    The most appropriate option is Endometriosis.

 

4.4. Conduct, Compliance and Legal Oversight:

  • Participants must adhere to strict behavioural rules, including silence and no communication during the whole exam.
  • Fraud or inappropriate behaviour (e.g., copying questions, using pen and paper) will result in exam termination, invalidation and possible exclusion from future ESHRE activities.
  • Detected misconduct after the exam may lead to certificate revocation and sanctions.
  • ESHRE may consult legal advisors on matters related to fraud or rule violations.
  • Non-compliance or failure to submit the exam according to the policy will render the exam invalid.
  •  ESHRE is at liberty to consult with its legal advisors at any time with respect to the application of these rules. In the event fraud or cheating is suspected, ESHRE will discuss the implications with its legal advisors.

 

4.5. Exam Policies and Intellectual Property:

  • All participants must consent to the online home exam policy terms and conditions before the exam.
  • Exam questions are the intellectual property of ESHRE and cannot be viewed or accessed afterward. Copying or reproducing questions is considered fraudulent.

 

4.6. Attempts and Restrictions:

  • Applicants can have three consecutive attempts per exam level. Failing, non-attendance without prior notice or invalidated exams will count as attempts, unless decided otherwise by the Nurses & Midwives Certification Steering Committee.

 

4.7. Communication:

  • Relevant instructions will be provided via the application platform at least one month before the exam date.

 

4.8. Participant Agreement:

  • Acceptance of the online home exam policy and adherence to all stated rules are mandatory.
  • Funds, including application fees, are non-refundable.

 

  • The exam results will be released to the participant via the online ESHRE ENMCP platform. The pass mark is the minimum score that is required for a participant to pass the exam.
  • The fixed pass mark is set at 66%, and outcome is non-negotiable. Applicants may notify ESHRE of complaints regarding the exam results (including invalidation of the exam) in writing to certification@eshre.eu within two months of the date of the notification of the exam results and/or the decision to invalidate the exam. If no complaint has been received by ESHRE within the defined time period, the applicant shall be deemed to have accepted the exam results.
  • In exceptional cases, complaints will be reviewed by the Nurses & Midwives Certification Steering Committee and, if required, the ESHRE Executive Committee, whose decision is final. The ESHRE Nurses & Midwives Certificate will become available for download in the ESHRE ENMCP platform for successful candidates.