The recognized gold standard for training of genetic nurses and genetic counsellors is Masters level theoretical and practical training (equivalent to a full-time 2 years Masters or 120 ECTS). The EBMG Genetic Nurse and Genetic Counsellor Division reviews the curricula of European Master's programs to assess whether the programmes comply with Professional and Educational Standards for genetic counsellors in Europe and accordingly, with the European core curriculum for genetic counsellors.
The EBMG has produced a list of the recommended core curriculum for Masters training programs. Please note that after 2017, all MSc programs are expected to introduce Genomics as a part of theirr curriculum.
New Masters Programs
As of March 2021, the assessment of eligibility of new Masters Programs will be done according to the following requisites and timeline:
- Submissions for assessment from new MSc programmes are possible in June each year,
- The result of the assessment will be communicated the following October,
- Only students who graduated from an EBMG accredited MSc program will be eligible for EBMG registration. The EBMG MSc accreditation therefore needs to be granted prior to the students' graduation year or at least within the same year. (for example, if accredited in June 2020, only students from the academic year 2018-2020 and subsequent years will be eligible for EBMG registration as trained genetic counsellors).
- The assessment process only start after proper payment of the fee to the EBMG office. Please note that, starting from March 2020, fees have been updated. Please see page :section 6. Fees,
- The EBMG accreditation of a MSc course is now valid for 6 years,
- If a MSc submission is not complete and does not include the required forms and documents, the MSc will not be eligible for assessment and half of the fee will be retained,
- If after full assessment of the MSc submission, the documentation is still considered as needing major changes in order to reach the EBMG standards, the MSc Director will be informed of the requirement to re-submit the following year including payment of a new fee.
Thus, If you are a Masters course director who wishes to apply for approval of your Master programme, please inform the EBMG (gc.master.ebmg@gmail.com) of your interest. Please complete Form A and email the completed form and supporting documentation to the EBMG. Please take into consideration that if the EBMG receives a considerable amount of applications we may not be able to assess them all in a particular year. In this case, we will offer priority to Master applications needing registration within the academic year of student graduation.
Renewal of Approved Masters Programs
If you are a Masters course director who wishes to apply for renewal of approval of your Master programme, please complete Form B and email the completed form and supporting documentation to the EBMG (gc.master.ebmg@gmail.com). Please ensure that your course now includes genomics training.
- Submissions for renewing EBMG accreditation are possible in October each year. Documents should be sent by email to gc.master.ebmg@gmail.com.
- The result of assessment will be communicated the following february.
- The assessment process only starts after proper payment of the fee to the EBMG office. Please note that, starting form March 2020, fees have been updated. Please see page :section 6. Fees,
- The renewal of EBMG accreditation of a MSc course is now valid for 6 years,
- If a MSc submission is not complete and does not include the required forms and documents, the MSc will not be eligible for assessment and half of the fee will be retained,
- If after full assessment of the MSc submission, the documentation is still considered as needing major changes in order to reach the EBMG standards, the MSc Director will be informed of the requirement to re-submit the following year including payment of a new fee.
Assessed Masters Programs
The following programmes have been assessed and graduates of these programs may apply for registration via the normal route. Please note that registration at European level will not supersede local registration systems where those exist. Thus, graduates from United Kingdom programmes that are working in UK must use the National route. Please see section 3.4 (National registration route)
Current accredited Masters Programs
- UK, MSc in Genetic and Genomic Counselling at University of Cardiff (graduates from 2012 valid until october 2026)
- UK, MSc in Genomic Counselling at University of Manchester (graduates from 2012 valid until october 2026)
- UK, MSc in Genetic and Genomic Counselling at University of Glasgow (graduates from 2012 valid until october 2026)
- France, MSc in Genetic Counselling at Université de la Méditérannée - Aix Marseille II, Marseille (graduates from 2012 valid until october 2026)
- Spain, MSc in Healthcare Genetics (specialism in Genetic Counselling), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) (graduates from 2021 valid until october 2026)
- Portugal, MSc in Genetic Counselling at ICBAS, Universidade do Porto (graduates from 2021 valid until october 2026)
- Italy, MSc in Genetic Counselling at Medical University of Sienna (graduates from 2021 valid until october 2026)
- Austria, MSc in Genetic and Genomic Counselling at Medical University of Innsbruck (graduates from 2021 valid until october 2026)
- Sweden, MSc in Genetic Counselling at Linköping University (graduates from 2022 valid until october 2027)
Past accredited Masters Programs
- Romania, MSc in Genetic Counselling at Babes-Bolyai University (graduates from 2012 valid until october 2017). Students who pass this course and undertake the additional student placement offered by the programme will be eligible to register as genetic counsellor with the EBMG
- Portugal, Professionalizing Master Course in Genetic Counselling at ICBAS, Universidade do Porto (graduates from 2012 valid until october 2017)
- Spain, MSc in Genetic Counselling at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona (graduates from 2012 valid until october 2021)
