EBN - European Board of Neurology Examination
General Information
The European Board Examination in Neurology is considered to be a tool for the assessment of neurological training and for boosting its standards. It is an important step towards further harmonisation in European neurology.
Successful candidates from all over the world are conferred the title "Fellow of the European Board of Neurology (FEBN)"
The exam is unified based on European Training Requirements in Neurology and EAN Guidelines. It consists of a step 1 written part testing (handling) knowledge, and a step 2 oral part testing other competencies from the CanMEDS roles.
The exam was held in 2009 for the very first time and since then 850 candidates passed the exam.
Joint Education Board
The European Board Examination in Neurology is a joint assignment of both EAN and UEMS SN/EBN via the Joint Education Board (JEB). Since establishing the JEB, cooperation in this regard is conducted via the board and has a designed framework.
EBN Exam 2026
18th European Board Examination in Neurology 2026
The EBN Exam exists of two partial exams (written and oral) and both will be held ONLINE only.
Dates:
Oral Examination: May 08 & May 09, 2026
Written Examination: May 15, 2026
Deadlines:
Early bird application deadline: January 25, 2026
Final application deadline: March 08, 2026
Deadline for submitting workpieces (CAT, Essay) for the oral examination: March 08, 2026
Please find more information about the EBN Exam and the Application Process on the Website of UEMS-SN: UEMS Section of Neurology - European Board Examination (uems-neuroboard.org)
Discounts and Funding
EAN RRFS, Full and Corresponding members, who participate in the exam, receive 20% discount on their congress registration.
All other exam participants and examiners receive a 10% discount off their congress registration fee.
Structure of the Competency-Based Assessment
The EBN examination is a rigorous, two-part online assessment designed to evaluate competencies across the professional roles adopted by UEMS: Medical Expert, Communicator, Scholar, Health Advocate, and Professional. The overall grade is a summary of the results from four distinct components.
Written Examination (70% of Final Mark)
The written part is a three-session, four-hour examination featuring approximately 100 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) on general neurological topics aligned with the ETRN. Its objective is to test both foundational knowledge and the efficient handling of information.
- Closed Book Section (1 hour / 40 MCQs): Questions in this initial section must be answered without references, focusing on knowledge recall and related to specific review papers and guidelines provided on the website. This is where a deep understanding of core subjects, like those pertaining to headache guidelines or neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Lewy body dementia, Parkinson's neuropsychiatry), becomes paramount.
- Open Book Sections (3 hours / 60 MCQs): The remaining questions allow candidates to consult their own paper reference sources, such as personal textbooks. This section tests the management and application of knowledge, reflecting real-world clinical practice in which resources are often limited.
Oral Examination (30% of Final Mark)
The oral examination focuses on presentation skills, communication, and the ability to discuss complex ethical and scientific issues. It comprises three submissions, which must all deal with topics from different fields of neurology to ensure breadth of knowledge.
- Essay (10%): A short essay (max. 800 words) on a neurology-related public health or ethics topic. Given your interest in patient autonomy and public advocacy, this segment offers a critical opportunity to demonstrate competence as a Health Advocate and Professional. This is orally presented using a 5-minute PowerPoint, followed by 5 minutes of questioning.
- Critical Appraisal of a Topic (CAT) (10%): A critical evaluation of a topic in clinical neurology, which must be an original, non-plagiarised piece. This tests the Scholar's competency in assessing current scientific literature. Like the essay, it involves a 5-minute presentation and a 5-minute Q&A.
- Clinical Case Presentation (10%): The candidate presents an interesting clinical case from their own practice, focusing on diagnostic challenges, policy choices, and problems encountered. This directly assesses the Medical Expert and Communicator roles.
JEB Examination Committee
In order to effectively organise the continually thriving exam, the Examination Committee has been established. This committee is a working group of the Joint Education Board that will coordinate and conduct all activities concerning the exam, from collecting and supervising questions to management of the examination online. The nomination is for at least two years.