EUROPEAN FORUM FOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH OF MUSCULOSKELETAL RADIOLOGY


DIPLOMA IN MUSCULOSKELETAL RADIOLOGY

The European Diploma in Musculoskeletal Radiology is a recognised European qualification for MSK radiologists and will help to standardise training and expertise across Europe. In addition, it will assist its holders in the promotion of their skills and experience when dealing with other clinical colleagues and with the general public/patients.

The Diploma is endorsed by the European Society of Radiology (ESR).

The European Diploma in Musculoskeletal Radiology certifies that the holder has a level of knowledge of musculoskeletal radiology in line with the requirements of the European Training Curriculum for Radiology level III (www.myesr.org/trainingcurriculum) by successfully passing a high-quality test of knowledge consisting of 40 MCQs covering all Level III topics in musculoskeletal radiology and the ESSR subcommittees area of expertise and an oral test with cases falling within Level III curriculum that practicing MSK radiologists are expected to come across.

ESSR is not an official certifying body. The European Diploma in Musculoskeletal Radiology confirms proof of knowledge of  musculoskeletal radiology in addition to any national qualifications certifying competency.

Examination 2025

The next EDiMSK exam is planned during the ESSR 2025, Toulouse, France.
The application will remain open until April 2, 2025.

Candidates 

The training of candidates has to be in line with previously established basic principles of radiology training as laid out in the ESR European Training Curriculum for Radiology.
If you are an experienced MSK Radiologist, remember that the entire MSK field, as mentioned in the ESR level 3 curriculum is tested. Please prepare for the exam. And do not think you will be able to pass the exam without preparations.

  • Subspecialisation should take place after the designated time for radiology residency. In exceptional cases, partial Subspecialisation may already start within the years of differentiation (E.g. UK / NL). Radiology Residency should preferably last no less than five years. For candidates with less than five years of training only: Proof of experience as a supervised staff radiologist is required.
  • At least two years of subspecialty training are required. Maximum one year of subspecialty training can be done before board certification.

The examination is only open to fully-trained, licensed, and practicing radiologists.

Knowledge Base

The level of knowledge requested from candidates has to correspond to the curricular contents for full subspecialisation in the field of radiology provided by the ESR European Training Curriculum for Subspecialisation in Radiology (Level III). https://www.myesr.org/education/training-curricula/

Articles on the European Diploma in Musculoskeletal Radiology

The European Diploma in Musculoskeletal Radiology (EDiMSK) is a recognized European qualification of excellence for musculoskeletal (MSK) radiologists. The EDiMSK confirms proof of knowledge ofMSK radiology, in addition to any national qualifications certifying competency. To help candidates prepare for the exam, three essential articles are available:

  • European Diploma in Musculoskeletal Radiology: Written Part of the Exam 

This article guides candidates taking the EDiMSK examination on how to prepare for the written exam that consists of 40 multiple-choice questions
(MCQs). Information is provided on how the questions are structured and the candidate is scored. Ten MCQs representative of the written section of the EDiMSK are also presented. Access via this link.

  • European Diploma in Musculoskeletal Radiology: Oral Part of the Exam 

This article guides candidates of the EDiMSK examination on preparing for the oral exam by providing more information on the oral part that consists of clinical cases. Information on how the clinical cases are structured and how the candidate will be scored are given and in addition ten cases that are
representative for the oral part of the EDiMSK are presented. (Soon to be published).

  • European Diploma in Musculoskeletal Radiology: Webinar Program of the ESSR

This paper aims to introduce ESSR members to the ESSR webinar program, which offers an additional source of direct, interactive learning from renowned musculoskeletal (MSK) radiologists. These webinars contribute to Continuing Medical Education and assist in preparing for the EDiMSK. The concept, history, and organization of the webinars are discussed. (Soon to be published).

Eligibility criteria / Necessary application documents

Collection of necessary application documents may start from year 4 of general radiology education

  • Certificate of completed training (Members in training are not entitled to take part in the examination)
  • RIS documentation or logbook in English language (download here) with a total record of the candidate’s experience in musculoskeletal radiology countersigned by the candidate’s programme director or head of department
  • A letter of support from the programme director or department head.
  • At least 50 CME credits in MSK events recognized by the ESSR*
  • CV
  • Proof of ESR** and ESSR membership in the year(s) of the application and the examination
  • Attendance of 2 annual meetings of the ESSR and/or ECR within a 5-year period
  • Being first author of an Accepted Abstract for a national/international MSK event recognized by the ESSR

*MSK events recognized by the ESSR include ESSR Meetings and Events, European Congress of Radiology (ECR), European School of Radiology (ESOR) Courses, and Meetings of National and International Radiological and/or Musculoskeletal Societies (eg. International Skeletal Society Meetings)
** Please note that only full and corresponding radiologist members are entitled to an ESR endorsed diploma

Further recommendations:
– Participation in ESSR webinars
– Participation in ESSR subcommittee events and courses
– Participation in the ESOR MSK Fellowship in a recognized training center

Once met these requirements, the candidate can apply for the diploma and will undergo a final examination at the Annual ESSR Congresses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is there a minimum required amount of RIS documentation or logbook entries?
Since there is a lot of variation in MSK practices within Europe and also within countries, there are no strict minimum numbers. Thus, the RIS documentation or logbook will be reviewed by the ESSR office and the Educational Committee considering each application on an individual basis. It will help the reviewing body to check whether the candidate for the EDiMSK has indeed been involved in MSK practice after residency and that a level of knowledge in MSK corresponding to the curricular contents the ESR European Training Curriculum for Subspecialisation in Radiology (Level III) can be expected.

2. Is there a recommended number to guide candidates in completing the RIS documentation or logbook?
The ESSR Education Committee gives here some numbers that may give a clue for the candidate, but these numbers are not considered as minimum or as condition sine qua non to become eligible to sit the EDiMSK given the variation of MSK practices in Europe. Experience required in five years on MSK-focused radiological diagnostics and therapy:

• Radiography – 500 reports of examinations (including examinations each for upper extremity, lower extremity and spine & pelvis)
• MR imaging (including Arthro-MRI) – 500 reports of examinations (including examination each for upper extremity, lower extremity and spine & pelvis)
• Ultrasound – 100 reports of examinations (including examinations each for upper extremity and lower extremity)
• CT (including Arthro-CT) – 300 reports of examinations (including examinations each for upper extremity, lower extremity and spine & pelvis)
• Interventions – 25 procedures (regardless body area, kind of procedure and imaging guidance system)

3. Is there a minimum number of Arthro-MRI scans required?
There is no minimum number of Arthro-MRI scans required. However, it is recommended that if you do not perform Arthro-MRI scans during your daily practice, you should attend relevant courses or lectures on the topic. This is because arthro-MRI scans could be a subject included in the examination.

4. What should be done if there is no program director or head of department available to provide a letter of support?
In case there is no programme director or head of department, a self-confirmation is accepted.

5. Which CME credits and events are recognized?
Continuing medical education (CME) is continuing education that helps those in the medical field maintain competence and learn about new and developing areas of their field. All CME-accredited events are recognized, especially those accredited by certifying bodies such as ACCME, AMA, EACCME, and RCPSC. In addition, CME-accredited events by other international and national organizations could be recognized, if the certificate you provide includes a statement of certification indicating the amount of hours of continuous medical education you have earned.

For specific cases:

  • TMC Academy Radiology CME Courses & Fellowships are recognized as they are an EACCME trusted provider.
  • RadEd Asia MSK Online Fellowships are also recognized, as these CPD points are acknowledged by the Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, where one CPD point equals one hour of learning.

 

Once met the eligibility criteria, the candidate can apply for the diploma and will undergo a final examination at the annual ESSR Congresses according to the ESR rules.
Please note: an active registration for the respective congress is required to attend the examination.
Only a limited number of candidates can be accepted for the examination at each meeting. Applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis – date of receipt of application form! Early application is therefore recommended.

Candidates are required to submit a single PDF file that includes all necessary information, clearly structured and in the order specified in our guidelines. The application must include the ESSR eligibility checklist, completed and checked by the candidate.

Applications that do not follow these guidelines will be returned to the candidate without review.

DOWNLOAD HERE THE APPLICATION FORM

Examination Structure

The examination usually takes place at the ESSR Annual Meeting. The examination will be performed with up-to-date technical and educational tools.The candidate is responsible for ensuring a stable internet connection and must raise any technical or other issues during the exam, as measures need to be discussed individually.

The examination consists of written and oral components, both contributing 50% of the total score for the exam. Both parts of the examination (oral and written) have to be passed.
After the examination, an examiners meeting will be held. At this meeting, the results of both components of the exam will be added together to produce a total score for the examination for each candidate.

Written Exam

  • 40 multiple choice questions (1 correct /4 answers)
  • The exam lasts 60 minutes
  • Candidates will be tested in all aspects relevant to MSK radiology

Oral Exam

  • Examiners will test the candidate discussing cases at the workstation in a maximum of 20 min long session.
  • The exam will be held in English.

Each candidate will be examined by ESSR representatives. ESSR examiners are appointed by the Executive Committee of the ESSR.
Eligibility criteria of ESSR examiners:

  • each ESSR examiner has to be an ESSR member AND
  • has made an active contribution to the field of MSK radiology as judged by CV (publications, teaching, committees etc.)

Important for accepted candidates: No appeal may be made in relation to the content of the examination.

Fee Structure

The handling fee is the following: EUR 400,-
In case a candidate did not pass the European Diploma in Musculoskeletal Radiology he/she has the possibility to retake the examination one year later.

You can retake the exam 3 times for free.
A reduced fee of €200.00 will then be granted to members in good standing.

Renewal

The ESSR Diploma certification has 5 years validity.
Renewal of the Diploma might be requested by the candidate by providing proof of completion of the following items during the 5 years of Diploma validity:

No written/oral exam will be required for renewal. A renewal fee of EUR 30,- will be charged.

Terminology

Successful candidates will be awarded the “Diploma of Musculoskeletal Radiology” by the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology and may add the title “EDiMSK – European Diploma in Musculoskeletal Radiology” to their names.
The title is active and allowed to be used until the respective expiration date of the diploma.

Sample Examination

Do you want to apply for the ESSR Diploma? Test your skill in advance!

Written Exam

Under this LINK you can do a self-test of 5 sample MCQs. At the end of your self-test, when you have answered all the questions, you will see how many answers were correct and how many points you have. As a rule, candidates must answer at least 70% (28/40 questions) correctly to pass the written part of the exam.

Oral Exam

During the oral part of the exam, candidates are required to discuss relevant imaging findings and make the diagnosis. Here you can find a few images of the case that was under discussion in the last session of the ESSR Diploma. The case refers to a 45 year-old woman with recent onset of right anterolateral hip pain. Which is the diagnosis?
Click here to see the images and diagnosis as PDF
Click here to see the images and diagnosis as PPTX