The European Certified Pharmacologists Programme: an update

The European Certified Pharmacologists (EuCP) Programme was launched in July 2014 by EPHAR, the Federation of European Pharmacological Societies, with the intention to identify experts in the field of pharmacology whose competency profile, in addition to their personal specialised scientific expertise, covers expert knowledge in all major fields of the discipline. The need for continuous further professional development has already been identified on a pan-European level by the European Union’s Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI). In this context, the EuCP Programme shall also encourage individual professionals in the field of pharmacology to broaden their personal competency profiles in order to increase their chances for high-level positions in an increasingly competitive employment environment. Seventeen EPHAR member societies have declared their active participation in the EuCP programme so far (Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey). EACPT, the European Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, has also declared its decision to join the EuCP Programme.

The member societies were called to set up transparent rules for national EuCP schemes which must meet all requirements of the EuCP Guidelines; national programmes must include a clear catalogue of criteria with respect to knowledge, practical awareness and skills, as well as general rules including rules for final assessment of candidates.

Three EPHAR member societies (France, Austria, the Netherlands) have already submitted national EuCP schemes. The programmes differ in structure and reflect the flexibility of the EuCP Programme with respect to the respective national conditions. The Italian programme is based on a catalogue of criteria; applicants have to certify and document their expertise on the basis of this catalogue. The Austrian programme is based on a legally regulated medical specialisation in pharmacology and toxicology including a structured training catalogue and ending with a formal exam (separate EuCP guidelines for non-medical pharmacologists shall be submitted in the future). The Dutch programme describes rules for training of pharmacologists who shall be certified as EuCPs.

Thus, these first submitted national programmes can also serve as ‘case studies’ for other participating member societies to develop their national EuCP rules. The EuCP programmes of the Austrian and Italian Pharmacological Societies have already been approved by the EuCP Committee. The detailed guidelines of these national EuCP schemes can be downloaded from the EuCP website (eucp-certification.org).