The Diploma intends to widen the activity spectrum of those anaesthesia specialists who are already in clinical practice and are interested in acquiring additional knowledge encompassing the entire field of regional anaesthesia and acute pain management.
The concept of ESRA- and CME / CDP-approved courses and workshops takes into account the knowledge level of reasonably experienced clinicians. The salient points of different techniques, the overall strategies for their use, as well as their advantages and risks, are stressed in each of the courses and workshops candidates attend.
Regional techniques are integral components of anaesthesia and are frequently administered to high-risk patients, ranging from newborns to the frail elderly. Therefore, the objective of the examination is to treat defined subjects in an encompassing way, with sound knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology related to regional anaesthesia, as well as skills in block performance in a holistic context. A proper approach to acute pain management is mandatory in the clinical practice of anaesthesia and its knowledge is part of the content of the examination.
The ESRA European Diploma of Regional Anaesthesia examination takes place twice a year, once online in the early months of each year and onsite during the ESRA Annual meeting each September. Regional anaesthesia colleagues from outside Europe are able to participate in the Part I of the Diploma (the written test) online at a time and date that will be announced on our website at least 3 months prior to the exam.
In April 2024, both European Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy (ESRA) Diplomas – ESRA European Diploma of Regional Anaesthesia (ESRA-DRA) and ESRA- European Diploma of Pain Medicine (ESRA-DPM), were accredited by UEMS-CESMA further to an appraisal that took place in September 2023 during the 41st ESRA World Congress in Paris.
ESRA European Diploma of Regional Anaesthesia Part I
ESRA European Diploma of Regional Anaesthesia Part II
Frequently Asked Questions
Code of Conduct
The Part II is now split into 2 sections, Section A (remote or onsite) and Section B (onsite only). Both parts are mandatory.
Section A:
Section B:
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ESRA reserves its right to cancel the examinations depending on the COVID-19 evolution and governmental or health institution decisions. In that case the registration fees will be refunded but not the administration fee.
Special national restrictions like quarantine before/after traveling have to be taken into account by the candidates and are NOT the responsibility of ESRA and its national societies. Candidates who travel to another country for congress/exam has to inform her/himself about possible traveling restrictions.
From 2024 onwards, the Diploma Part I (written) multilingual examination will be offered online once annually at a time and date announced by the Diploma Board at least 3 months prior to the examination. The multilingual examinations will not be offered at national meetings in the future.
National ESRA affiliated societies have until 31st March to submit an application by email to esra-dra@esraeurope.org in case they are interested in having the diploma in their own language.
Requirements: the link is temporarily unavailable until the necessary changes have been made.
The examination fees are: Part 1, €350 (€350 / retake), and Part 2, €250 for each section of the Part 2 exam – onsite or online (remote) part, (€250 / retake). Fees must be paid in advance. A €175 administration fee for Part 1, and a €125 administration fee for each section of Part 2 prior to application’s approval. Once an application is approved, a €175 registration fee for Part 1, and a €125 registration fee for each section of Part 2 are required to finalize an application.
In case of refund (see ESRA European Diploma of Regional Anaesthesia criteria for refund), for Part 1, a €175 administration fee will be deducted from the fee paid by the candidate and for each section of Part 2 (section A or section B), a €125 administration fee will be deducted from the fee paid by candidate. The administration fees for all exams, are non-refundable.
For cancellation requests received until 1 month before the examination, the registration fee will be refunded via voucher, but the administration fee will be deducted.
After 1 month before the examination, refunds will only be considered for exceptional circumstances (e.g. unwell medically, family bereavement, etc.). Documentation to support exceptional circumstances will be asked.
Refunds will only be processed after the examination.
Part I results are communicated by email within one month after the day of examination. The total score will be provided. It is not possible for candidates to access individual exam papers (the exam itself) or to review questions.
Results processing and pass rate determination take place after each exam when it has been completed and all answers collected. This process assures the quality of exam content and the answers from candidates. Pass mark setting occurs based on established statistical methods (e.g. Cohen and others) and the judgment of the exam committee which will result in a pass mark for each exam. The candidates having a score on or above this pass mark pass the exam.
Part II results are communicated by email within one month after the day of examination. The result is either pass or fail. In case of failure, upon request, a brief letter from the Diploma Chair and Part II Vice-Chair will provide information about the individual’s examination performance and any reasons for failure.
Feedback and constructive criticism regarding parts I and II are welcome and helps us to improve our efforts and the quality of the examination process. However, Insults or threats to the Exam Committee or its members are not tolerated. Regrettably, a small minority of unsuccessful candidates in the past have used an aggressive or demanding tone, that in some rare cases, became offensive. We understand the frustration of failing an exam; regardless, we will report any and all aggressive and / or offensive incidents to the ESRA Board, which may subsequently choose to exclude candidates from ESRA European Diploma of Regional Anaesthesia and ESRA as consequence.
We expect every candidate to exhibit respectful behaviour during both the written and oral exam toward examiners, models, and Examination support / Congress staff. Inappropriate behaviour (cheating on the written exam, insulting examiners, etc.) may lead to immediate exclusion and disqualification from the exam.
Both parts of the examination will be conducted in English, therefore a good command of English is strongly recommended. The SBA for Part I examination will be corrected by English native speakers to avoid unnecessary confusion.
The faculty of the ESRA European Diploma of Regional Anaesthesia Part II is international. All of them are experienced examiners and speakers at international congresses. The English of the examiners is in all cases clearly understandable but not equivalent to a native speaker level. As there are two examiners in the room, overseen by an observer; all potential language-derived questions could be cleared during the exam.
Unsuccessful participants are encouraged to re-take the failed part of the exam. Re-takers may apply for the exam to be performed at the ESRA annual meeting with no additional requirements. Part I can be re-taken unlimited times. Part II can be only taken three times. If a candidate fails Part II for the 3rd time, he/she will need to repeat full requirements (3 workshops) and take both Diploma part I and II exams again.
The list of diplomates who have passed the examination is shown here.
The use of the logo is strictly reserved for the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy (ESRA). The sentence “Counts towards the ESRA European Diploma of Regional Anaesthesia” can only be used on CME-accredited workshop materials.
A workshop organised by a national society affiliated with ESRA is only valid if it is CME-accredited.
Click here to access the terms of reference.
Morné Wolmarans, UK Chair Oya Yalcin Cok, Turkey Vice-Chair Part I Peter Merjavy, UK Vice-Chair Part II
Margaretha Breebaart, Belgium Ashwani Gupta, UK Alan MacFarlane, UK Alexandros Makris, Greece Barbara Rupnik, Switzerland Emine Aysu Salviz, Turkey
Eleni Moka, Greece, ESRA President
For further information, please contact the ESRA European Diploma of Regional Anaesthesia Office Tel: +41 22 510 56 11 Email: esra-dra@esraeurope.org
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