Joining the Register requires people to have met the Equivalence of Standards of the national society in which their education and training was completed. On EFLM’s approval of a national society’s Equivalence of Standards, applications to join the Register are invited either individually or as block auto-registration in which national societies submit a list to the EFLM Office of individuals who meet the approved criteria. Regular audit helps ensure the Register only captures bona fide registrants.

The Equivalence of Standards criteria are as follows:

• Minimum 9 years (ideally 10) years academic (4/5 years) and specialist (5 years) training;
• Education and training to standards set in the EFLM
• A Master’s degree in Medicine, Pharmacy or Science;
• An EFLM Profession Committee recognised ‘Equivalence of Standards’ exit qualification;
• Evidence of participation in continuous professional development (CPD).

It requires curriculum content to include:

• General chemistry of at least 35%;
• General chemistry plus haematology of at least 65%;
• Flexibility as to the remaining 35%, including general chemistry, haematology, microbiology, and genetics and IVF in a proportion consistent with the requirements in the country of destination.