THE EUROPEAN REGISTER FOR CLINICAL CHEMISTS

To ensure freedom of movement in the European Union, a limited number of professions is regulated by a so-called Sectorial Directive; all ot her disciplines, including clinical chemistry, fall under a General Di rective. However, clinical chemists in the EU wish their specialty to be more specifically regulated; this means that common standards of ed ucation, training, experience and compliance with continuing professio nal developments must be guaranteed. Therefore, the European Communiti es Confederation of Clinical Chemistry (EC4) is about to implement the European Register for clinical chemists, and has composed a guide to this Register. The document describes the conditions for entry to spec ialty training, the minimum standards for registration (university edu cation and postgraduate vocational training with a minimum total of ei ght years), the competencies of those qualifying for registration, and the operation of the register. Registration guarantees professional a nd managerial competencies; the title conferred is ''European Clinical Chemist''. EC4 recognises the existing national registers as far as t hey are based on the minimal requirements as indicated. An EC4 Registe r Commission (EC4RC) will maintain and control the European Register, supported by National Clinical Chemistry Registration Committees (NCCR C). An NCCRC controls the quality of the education in each country and assesses candidates. An individual (EU citizen or non-EU citizen trai ned in an EU country) applies privately for the European Register to E C4RC and, where applicable, the application is accompanied by a docume nt from the NCCRC of the country of registration, stating that the app licant has the necessary qualifications. For EU citizens trained outsi de the EU the final decision is with EC4RC; non-EU citizens not traine d in an EU country are not eligible for registration. Registration is renewed once every five years.