Goals

Establish, monitor and maintain equality of standards in education and training in practice of perfusion and related studies for the benefit of the public
Set out Essentials and Guidelines by which training programmes will be accredited by the Board and where such programmes will lead to qualifications recognized by all societies in Europe
Develop an Advanced level of education and training programme to train the trainers in perfusion and thereby qualify the trainers to teach perfusion skills.
Establish a common perfusionists certification programme in Europe and thereby permit greater mobility of labour with recognition of professional competence
Issue a European Certificate of competence in Perfusion to certify that the bearer has satisfied the Board by examination that the required standard of competence has been attained.
Liaise with the European commission to legalize these objectives through the appropriate health department.

The European Board meets twice a year in order to discuss and define the rules to reach the objectives set above. Officially, the European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion is represented by the chairman, the general secretary, and the treasurer. In addition, there is a certification committee and an accreditation committee which form the academic committee of the board. The certification committee is in charge of matters regarding the certification of the individual perfusionist whereas the accreditation committee leads in matters regarding accreditation of perfusion schools and training centres. Several important steps have been accomplished since the foundation of the European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion. A number of documents have been produced, including Essentials and Guidelines, an Examination Guide, Sample Questions for examination candidates, etc. The full text of these documents can be obtained from the general secretary.

Written examinations from the European Certificate in Cardiovascular Perfusion have been organized under the auspices of the Board, with significant participation throughout Europe. These written examinations will be completed in the near future by additional oral examinations for those candidates who have successfully passed the written examinations. Practical examinations are to be introduced later.

In 1996 the first written exams where given. Until then it was possible to obtain the certificate by a Grandperson clause for perfusionist who had performed solely a minimum of 100 clinical perfusions in Europe, and had been practicing clinical perfusion for at least 2 years.