EBIR study guide
EBIR · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The European Board of Interventional Radiology (EBIR) is a certification of IR knowledge offered within the CIRSE certification framework, and the EBIR pages sit under CIRSE's certification section alongside separate certifications for endovascular specialists and interventional oncology specialists. Candidates typically encounter it as the core European credential for interventional radiologists who want documented, exam-based evidence of their knowledge of the specialty rather than a purely portfolio-based recognition. The EBIR study guide has 7 sections and about 1,815 words.
01Clinical Assessment, Patient Selection and Peri-procedural Care
This domain tests whether you can run an IR episode as a clinician: risk-stratify, obtain valid consent, optimise comorbidity, and manage drugs, contrast and follow-up. EBIR items often turn on a single decision - proceed, delay, or modify the plan.
329 words, about 2 min02Vascular Access, Angiography and Arterial Intervention
This domain covers the technical core of arterial IR: safe access, catheter–wire skills, angiographic interpretation, and choosing between angioplasty, stenting, embolisation and surgery. Items often ask for the next step after a complication or the correct device for a lesion.
312 words, about 2 min03Venous, Lymphatic and Access Device Intervention
This domain tests venous thrombolysis, inferior vena cava filters, venous stenting, varicocele and pelvic vein embolisation, central venous access and dialysis access. The exam favours indications, contraindications and device positioning.
260 words, about 1 min04Non-vascular Intervention: Biliary, Gastrointestinal and Genitourinary
This domain tests percutaneous biliary drainage and stenting, nephrostomy and ureteric stenting, gastrostomy and abscess drainage. Expect questions on approach, catheter choice and complication avoidance.
250 words, about 1 min05Interventional Oncology: Embolisation and Ablation
This domain tests transarterial embolisation, chemoembolisation, radioembolisation, portal vein embolisation and thermal ablation. Items focus on patient selection, staging and safe technique.
225 words, about 1 min06Emergency, Trauma and Complication Management
This domain tests embolisation for haemorrhage, trauma algorithms and recognition and management of procedural complications. Items are scenario-based and time-critical.
214 words, about 1 min07Radiation Safety, Imaging and Quality Governance
This domain tests radiation physics, dose monitoring and optimisation, imaging selection and quality governance. Expect dose-limit calculations and ALARA decisions.
225 words, about 1 min