Certificate Clinical Embryology Certificate
The Clinical Embryology Certificate provides training in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to assess the parameters of gametes and embryos and building increased competence in IVF laboratories. The curriculum consists of fours courses, spanning three semesters over one year.
This primarily distance-learning program is designed to build knowledge and skills for healthcare professionals involved in assisted reproductive healthcare and develop a better understanding of assisted reproductive technology (ART). In addition to the distance-learning platform, the program includes a one week training residency on the Eastern Virginia Medical School campus in Norfolk, VA that students in the Certificate program are required to attend. This residency provides rigorous hands-on training in IVF techniques, skills evaluation from program faculty and industry professionals, networking opportunities within cohorts, and the ability to develop relationships with program faculty and staff.
Admissions
Candidates must have completed all undergraduate degree requirements and have been issued a bachelor’s degree prior to matriculating as a VHS student. If the bachelor’s degree was issued by a U.S. college or university, as a general rule, it should be from a regionally accredited institution. However, the program may grant exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Official transcripts from the awarding institution must specify the date upon which the degree was issued. Graduate-level course transfer credits will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants must:
- Have a grade point average of 2.75 (B-) or better.
- Have successfully completed two semesters of college-level biology and chemistry with lab.
- Submit two letters of recommendation (submitted by the reference electronically) from individuals who are acquainted with you academically and/or professionally. References from close friends and family members will not be acceptable.
- Submit a personal essay. Complete essay instructions are available inside the online application portal.
- Curriculum vitae and/or resume
If you are applying as an experienced embryologist or andrologist, you must:
- Currently, work or have worked in clinical IVF or basic reproductive research as an embryologist, andrologist, nurse, physician or research scientist.
- Complete a Reproductive Clinical Science MS Degree Program Skills Report Form and submit it within your online application portal.
If you are applying with no experience, you must:
- Shadow at an IVF facility and obtain a letter that lists what was observed.
- Complete a Reproductive Clinical Science Master’s Program Shadowing/Observation Report Form and submit it within your online application portal.
Contact the program for more details and assistance if needed.
International students, or applicants whose native language is not English, must take the TOEFL and receive a score equal to or greater than 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test or 80 for the iBT exam.
Application Procedures
- Log into GradCAS, create a username/password, and complete and submit the online form, including your personal essay, job history and CV/resume, along with the $125 application fee. If you cannot complete the form in one sitting, your information will be saved, and you may return to finish the process.
- Using the form provided within the online system, submit two letters of Recommendation from two individuals who can realistically evaluate your abilities and probability of success in the program. Preferably, one of the letters should be from your current employer.
- List all related work or volunteer experience.
- Official transcripts from each college/university attended, including an official transcript from any degree-granting institution that specifies the date upon which the degree was issued. Transcripts must be sent electronically or by mail directly to GradCAS. Any official transcript received by the program or the School of Health Professions Admissions and Enrollment department will not be accepted. If you do not list or send official transcripts for all institutions attended, processing of your application will be delayed.
- All coursework must be entered in GradCAS in the Transcript Entry section
- Sending Transcripts Electronically (Click here for additional information). GradCAS only accepts electronic transcripts from:
To send transcripts to GradCAS by mail, provide the registrar with the following items:
- GradCAS Transcript Request Form. Ask the registrar to attach it to your official transcripts. This form is not required but strongly recommended as it helps ensure your official transcripts are properly matched to your application. If you cannot use this form, make sure the registrar prints “GradCAS” and your full GradCAS ID# on the transcript before mailing it.
- Any school-specific forms required by the registrar.
- Any transcript fees required by the registrar.
- All information needed by the registrar to properly identify you in the school’s database including any name changes.
- Your GradCAS ID#.
Institutions must send transcripts directly to GradCAS to the following address:
GradCAS Transcript Processing Center
P.O. Box 9217
Watertown, MA 02471
GRE School Code: 5729 TOEFL School Code is B886
International Applicant Procedures
In addition to meeting the admissions requirements above, international applicants are required to meet the following:
Foreign Transcripts
- Request a course by course evaluation of all foreign transcripts showing GPA calculation on a four point scale.
- Eastern Virginia Medical School does not endorse any particular evaluating and/or credentialing service. You can use the following agencies:
Translation: If the academic institution that you attended does not issue documents in English, the credentialing agency will require that you submit a word-for-word translation of your transcripts. You can contact University Language Services to submit your transcript for translation and instruct them to send the translated transcript to the credentialing agency you choose.
Transcript Evaluation: International students whose native language is not English may contact one of the following credentialing agencies to submit transcripts for official evaluation: WES or ECE. Instruct the credentialing agency to send the official evaluation (and translation) directly to GradCAS. You must provide both a course-by-course evaluation report along with an overall GPA calculation. Evaluations are mandatory even for transcripts from institutions that report grades in English. This provides EVMS with a U.S. credit equivalency and allows the transcripts to be reviewed accurately. WES and ECE are preferred credentialing services. If you wish to select a company other than these, please contact the program first.
TOEFL: International applicants whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL exam and receive a score as follows: Paper-based test: 550; Computer-based test: 213; iBT exam: 80. Please go to the ETS website to take the TOEFL exam, and request your TOEFL scores be sent directly to GradCAS. ETS reports scores for two years after the test date. If you have previously taken the TOEFL but the two-year period has expired, the program will accept a personal copy if available.
GradCAS: GradCAS will ONLY accept the evaluation report from the credentialing agency. Do not send your foreign transcript to GradCAS.
All other foreign transcript evaluations from the credentialing agency must be sent directly to GradCAS to the following address:
GradCAS Transcript Processing Center
P.O. Box 9217
Watertown, MA 02471
GRE School Code: 5729 TOEFL School Code is B886
Applicant Help Center
- Having trouble accessing the application? The preferred browsers are Google Chrome or Firefox
- Applicant Help Center
- If you have questions about your application status, please contact your GradCAS Customer Service Representative at tel:8573042086 or GradCASinfo@liaisonedu.com
Technical Standards
The abilities and skills candidates and students must possess in order to complete the education and training associated with the master’s in Reproductive Clinical Science are referred to as technical standards. These abilities and skills are essential for clinical laboratory practice as an embryologist and/or andrologist.
1. Observation Skills Technical Standard
1.1. Demonstrate sufficient attention and accuracy in observation skills (visual, auditory and tactile) in the lecture hall, laboratory and/or online settings. Indicators include, but are not limited to, accurate visualization and discrimination of text, numbers, patterns, graphic illustrations and other imaging texts.
2. Communication Skills Technical Standard
2.1. Demonstrate effective communication skills with healthcare professionals and with people of varying cultures, ethnicities and personalities.
2.2. Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:
• Clear, efficient and intelligible articulation of spoken English language.
• Legible, efficient and intelligible written English language.
• Accurate and efficient English language reading skills.
• Accurate and efficient, expressive and receptive communication skills.
• Ability to accurately follow directions (oral and written).
3. Critical Reasoning Skills Technical Standard
3.1. Demonstrate critical reasoning skills, including, but not limited to, intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities.
3.2. Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:
• Demonstrate ability to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate and synthesize information.
• Demonstrate ability to acquire, retain and apply new and learned information.
4. Motor And Sensory Function Technical Standard
4.1. Demonstrate sufficient motor and sensory function to perform typical clinical laboratory duties.
4.2. Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:
• Functional and sufficient sensory capacity (visual, auditory and tactile) to use laboratory equipment and perform procedures.
• Execute motor movements that demonstrate safety and efficiency in the various learning settings (i.e., classroom, online and laboratories).
• Physical stamina sufficient to complete the online didactic and some laboratory study, which will include prolonged periods of sitting.
5. Behavioral And Social Attributes Technical Standard
5.1. Demonstrate the behavioral and social attributes vital to participation in a professional program and service as a practicing laboratory professional.
5.2. Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:
• Possess the emotional health required for full utilization of mental faculties (judgment, orientation, affect and cognition).
• Ability to develop mature and effective professional relationships with faculty, patients, the public and other members of the healthcare team.
• Possess personal qualities that facilitate effective therapeutic interactions (compassion, empathy, integrity, honesty, benevolence, confidentiality).
• Demonstrate impartial motives, attitudes and values in roles, functions and relationships.
• Ability to monitor and react appropriately to one’s own emotional needs and responses.
• Display appropriate flexibility and adaptability in the face of stress or uncertainty associated with clinical encounters and clinical environments.
• Compliance with standards, policies and practices set forth in the EVMS Student Handbook and the program handbook.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Course Sequence | ||
| Term 1 - Fall | 3 | |
| Female Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility I | ||
| Female Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility II | ||
| Term 2 - Spring | 4 | |
| Gametes & Embryos I | ||
| Gametes & Embryos II | ||
| Ethics, Society, & Art | ||
| Term 3 - Summer | 3 | |
| Introduction IVF, Laboratory Tech and Skills Development I | ||
| Introduction IVF, Laboratory Tech and Skills Development II | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 10 | |
Internal Transfer Credits: Students taking courses in and completing the Clinical Embryology Certificate may apply to transfer these course credits into the Reproductive Clinical Science - Embryology & Andrology (M.S.) program. A grade of 'B' or better is required for each transferred course. If accepted into the program, approved internal transfer courses will be included on the student's transcript and will be used to calculate the cumulative GPA for the master’s degree.