Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Subspecialty certification vs. special interest training modules

Finishing the full subspecialty certification training leads to the ESGO-EBCOG Diploma. In contrast, completion of the special interest training modules results in a Certificate of Special Interest Training in Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound or in Systemic Treatment in Gynaecological Oncology. The formal FESGO-EBCOG title is exclusively tied to the completion of the full training.
Yes. Fellows can choose to train specifically in a special interest training module, such as Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound or Systemic Treatment. However, they must still follow the entire ESGO Curriculum. The required level of surgical proficiency is lower – for example, they need to attend a radical hysterectomy but are not required to perform it.
Yes, simultaneous training is possible, but it will result in a longer fellowship. Fellows must declare their intention to pursue both certificates in their application to ensure the centre has adequate space and capacity.
No, not all accredited centres will automatically be able to offer special interest training. Centres must meet specific volume and resource criteria to ensure quality training for these extra positions. Fellows should check directly with the chosen centre.

The programme should be 2–3 years, with a maximum time allowed to meet both the quantitative and qualitative criteria of 4 years. There is one exception, and that is for the ESGO Exam, which can be passed up to 6 years after the start of the fellowship, to allow fellows to repeat the exam which can only be sat once a year. But even when a fellow needs to postpone the exam, the rest of the training programme should be completed within 4 years.
No, the fellowship programme should be between 2–3 years fulltime, but we allow prolongation due to e.g. part-time training or parental leave up to 4 years.
Part-time fellowship is possible as long as the total fellowship does not exceed 4 years. E.g. part-time training for a 2-year programme is allowed and would mean a period of 4 years of training.
In principle all training should be in an ESGO-accredited Training Centre. It is possible to do just 1 year in an ESGO-accredited Training Centre, as long as the remainder of the training is completed in a well-recognised and respected centre.

Yes, in this new curriculum we also define the qualifications of supervisors or tutors (Training Programme Director and Educational Supervisors). E.g. they should have taken part in a teach-the-teachers course. In addition, their responsibilities are now clearly defined.
A supervisor will have their own REDCap eLogbook account and share the data access group (DAG) with their fellow(s). They can therefore monitor their fellow’s progress and will be invited by fellow(s) to complete the skills and competency assessments in their eLogbook.
In principle the ESGO Exam can be taken as many times as needed to pass the exam. However, the exam should be passed within 6 years from registration of the start of the fellowship. This effectively means that from the start of the fellowship, the yearly exam can be taken 6 times.
The new ESGO Curriculum aims to align with the best and most modern means of teaching. In general, there is a trend within and outside of Europe to perform regular, systematic and structured assessments for each new activity which requires some training and technical skills. It may seem a lot of detail, but an will take virtually only a few minutes.
Yes, the supervisor(s) will change with the centre as they have been defined and ESGO-accredited per centre.
At this moment not all European gynaecological oncologists have ESGO subspecialty certification, but during the accreditation visit review, centre staff are also being reviewed as to their ability to train.

The ESGO Curriculum hasn't defined a period of time over which the centre needs to reach a mean volume per year. The volume criteria apply to the time of, or rather the year prior to the request for accreditation.
No. Two centres may join but must each individually meet the ESGO-accreditation requirements as per the ESGO Curriculum and be accredited on their own. However, once accredited, centres may join to optimally use their joint volume.
You may register in the ESGO subspecialty training programme before your centre is accredited, and your activities can be counted for 1 to 3 years. However, at least 1 consecutive year of your training must be spent in an ESGO-accredited Training Centre, and surgical procedures must be performed there.
Yes, the bars are high as our patients deserve to be treated safely and to the highest standards. There has been some discussion about publications, but since there are nowadays so many possibilities to publish, that even for fellows in countries with little means this should be feasible. Also, the new ESGO Curriculum stresses the necessity to address all competences, not only the technical and surgical ones. Therefore a fellow should also get at least some experience in e.g. organisation and communication.
Yes. Radical surgical procedures are well defined in the ESGO Curriculum and so is cytoreductive surgery. The latter procedures may be for any tumour type.

ESGO has not proposed a ‘grand-father/grand-mother’ transition. Attending doctors and consultants who already work as a gynaecological oncologist cannot be certified retrospectively. However, since there is no age limit, they can opt for participation in a fellowship programme of at least 2 years, including the ESGO Exam.
Indeed, fellows from outside Europe are welcome to apply for the subspeciality certification. It is possible by spending at least one year at an ESGO-accredited Training Centre. Fellows and centres should be aware that the rules of the ESGO Curriculum will apply equally to non-European centres and fellows. Fellows are reminded that they will personally be responsible to comply with European regulations for workers/students from outside Europe (visa, working permit, registration with medical councils or boards etc).
In principle retrospective registration of skills and procedures is not allowed, except if they have been acquired and certified during an elective year as part of general training. We are aware that there are countries without accredited training, and this is exactly why ESGO is working towards disseminating the ESGO Curriculum globally.
You can definitely sit the ESGO Exam, even if you have no certificate or training in an ESGO-accredited training centre. If you pass, you will be issued a certificate stating that you , but you cannot be issued the official ESGO Diploma of European Gynaecological Oncologist with this alone.