Standards

Eligibility & Assessment Criteria

• A recognised undergraduate degree, diploma, or equivalent qualification in medicine, nursing, biomedical science, healthcare science, reproductive biology, urology, andrology, or a closely related health or life science discipline from an accredited institution — or a postgraduate qualification in a relevant clinical or scientific field where the undergraduate degree is in an adjacent discipline
• A minimum of 1 year of verifiable clinical, laboratory, or combined clinical-laboratory experience in a setting with direct relevance to male reproductive health — including andrology laboratories, urology departments, male fertility clinics, reproductive medicine units, sexual health services, or ART centres offering male factor investigation and treatment
• Demonstrated foundational knowledge of male reproductive anatomy and physiology, including testicular structure and function, spermatogenesis, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, epididymal maturation, ejaculatory physiology, and the hormonal regulation of male fertility — evidenced through academic transcripts, professional training records, or a structured knowledge assessment
• Basic competence in or supervised exposure to routine semen analysis in accordance with World Health Organisation (WHO) reference criteria (current edition), including assessment of sperm concentration, total motility, progressive motility, morphology (Kruger strict criteria), vitality, and the identification of common semen abnormalities including azoospermia, oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia, and combined defects
• Awareness of and, where applicable, supervised exposure to advanced sperm function and diagnostic testing — including sperm DNA fragmentation analysis (SDF), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress assessment, anti-sperm antibody testing, hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOS), and computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) — at a level appropriate to the applicant's professional role and laboratory setting
• Foundational understanding of the clinical causes of male subfertility, including primary and secondary testicular failure, obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia, varicocele, endocrine disorders, genetic causes (Klinefelter syndrome, Y-chromosome microdeletions, CFTR mutations), lifestyle and environmental factors, and the principles of medical and surgical management of male infertility
• Awareness of surgical sperm retrieval techniques and their clinical indications — including testicular sperm extraction (TESE), micro-TESE, percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA), and testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) — and an understanding of how retrieved sperm is processed, cryopreserved, and utilised in conjunction with ART procedures such as ICSI
• Demonstrated understanding of the male fertility patient pathway, including the initial consultation and history-taking process, physical examination principles, interpretation of semen analysis and hormonal investigation results (FSH, LH, testosterone, prolactin, inhibin B), referral pathways to urology and genetics, and the coordination of male factor management within a multidisciplinary ART team
• Evidence of patient-facing or patient-support experience in a male fertility or reproductive health context, including sensitive communication with male patients regarding diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options; support for couples navigating male factor infertility; and awareness of the psychological impact of male subfertility on individuals and relationships
• Demonstrated awareness of ethical principles in male reproductive medicine, including informed consent for diagnostic procedures and sperm storage, confidentiality in the context of couple fertility investigations, the ethical use of donor sperm, and compliance with applicable national and international regulatory frameworks governing andrology laboratories and male fertility services (e.g. ESHRE, HFEA, or equivalent national authority)
• Completion of, or active enrolment in, a recognised continuing professional development (CPD) programme, short course, postgraduate module, or specialist training relevant to andrology, male reproductive medicine, semen analysis, or male fertility — demonstrating commitment to professional growth and evidence-based practice in the sub-specialty
• A professional reference from a supervising andrologist, urologist, reproductive medicine consultant, laboratory director, or senior healthcare professional with direct knowledge of the applicant's work in a male fertility or andrology setting — attesting to clinical or laboratory conduct, professional attitude, foundational competence, and suitability for accreditation
• A personal statement of professional intent (minimum 300 words) outlining the applicant's career goals within male reproductive medicine and andrology, their motivation for seeking ECPA accreditation in this sub-specialty, and their commitment to ongoing professional development, ethical practice, and patient-centred care in the field of male fertility