Rules and requirements

Accreditation of training centres

1. Application to become a training centre

European MAR centres can apply to become embryologist training centre if all criteria are fulfilled and have at least one Trainee who has been in training for at least half a year and at least one open post for external Trainee. The training centre must have a syllabus. Each Trainee records the procedures performed in a logbook. Application is via an e-platform where you can complete checklists and upload documents. The applicant has to be an ESHRE member.

2. General Requirements for Embryology Training Centres

To be eligible for training, a centre should:

1. be open to seeing all types of patients seeking MAR to ensure embryologists are exposed to the wide variation of patients seeking assisted conception;

2. have a proven track record for continuity of the MAR service for at least 5 years;

3. have an adequate workload providing a full range of required experience in reproductive medicine and in the ART laboratory, listed in ESHRE syllabus;

4. have a formal agreement with another MAR centre, if the main training centre cannot provide all modules from the syllabus;

5. have evidence of CPD and training in the field of Clinical Embryology. Examples include recognised certification of knowledge, expertise and co-authorship in research peer-reviewed abstracts and papers;

6. have adequately equipped Andrology, Cryo and ART laboratories operating in accordance with the ESHRE Good Laboratory Practice guidelines, with sufficient equipment for training without interfering with the regular clinical programme;

7. have proof of passing inspections by national auditors;

8. have one Reproductive Medicine subspecialist or specialist in Gynecology and Obstetrics, who is responsible for the clinical treatment programme in which the trainee is actively involved;

9. have CPD-active ESHRE-certified Clinical (for the core training only) and/or Senior Clinical Embryologists (for the core and advanced training), appointed as Tutors (training programme manager). Tutors and supervisors must have sufficient experience in the relevant programme field and be registered with ESHRE. If the Tutor changes the training programme, the ESHRE Steering Committee has to be informed and, if needed, the training centre may need to be re-assessed;

10. if not available at the main centre, Trainees should be provided with the opportunity to visit and partake in embryology tasks associated with preimplantation genetic testing;

11. have sufficient laboratory staff to enable the Trainee to partake in Clinical Embryology on a full-time basis (or in the case of a part-time Trainee, during all of their normal working hours). Participation in work outside normal working hours and during weekends or national days is not excluded;

12. have established close collaboration with Reproductive Medicine subspecialists, ART laboratory professionals and other relevant specialists (andrologists, geneticists, endocrinologists, laboratory medicine specialists, psychologists) within and outside MAR centre, providing counselling, networking and research advice;

13. have adequate library / open online access and other resources for support work and research programme related tο the field of Reproductive medicine;

14. fulfill criteria for minimum clinical / laboratory activity in the centre:

• 150 semen analysis a year / trainee
• 150 sperm preparations a year / trainee
• 50 Oocyte Pick Up (OPU) cycles (must include IVF and ICSI) a year / trainee
• 5 Surgical Sperm Retrievals a year / trainee
• 10 Sperm cryopreservation a year / trainee
• 50 Oocyte / embryo cryopreservation cycles a year / trainee
• 40 Oocyte / embryo thawing a year / trainee
• IVM (optional)
• Embryo biopsy (optional)