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The HERMES examinations strive to illustrate the current best practices in respiratory medicine. Current guidelines are therefore the basis of the questions in patient management, whether in differential diagnosis, diagnostic procedures or therapy.
The following ERS sources are recommended for your examination preparation. This list should serve as general guidance only. Candidates should seek other sources for up-to-date information.
Paediatric Respiratory Medicine
ERS HERMES self-assessment or Virtual Academy courses
If you have any queries regarding the HERMES Examinations, please contact the HEREMS Team hermes@ersnet.org
Approximately four to six weeks after the examination takes place, candidates will be notified via email that the examination results have been released, and their official result letter, certificate of attendance and certificate of CME credits (if requested during registration) will be available to download from myERS.
Successful European Diploma candidates will be contacted via email to arrange the delivery of their printed certificates which will be delivered to them within four months of the examination date.
Candidates are entitled to appeal examination results within ten working days of the examination results being released. For more information on the appeals process, please refer to the Appeals Procedure.
You register for the HERMES examination via myERS. If you are accepted for the examination, you will receive a confirmation email from us. This email contains a unique link to the ProctorU website. Please follow the instructions provided in the email. Each candidate must create an account with ProctorU and schedule their examination on this platform by booking the date and time slot. As there will be many candidates taking the examination online CYIM will be operating a staggered start time for the examination. For more information please refer to the ProctorU website for full details on this process: https://www.proctoru.com/live-plus-resource-center#how
ProctorU is a company that specialises in invigilating exams remotely and they will be directly monitoring you throughout the exam. The proctor is there to monitor you throughout the examination and assist with any technical problems.
For more information, watch this short video
In the link below you will find a tutorial to the Online examination platform. This will help you to familiarise yourself with the layout of the platform in advance of the examination.
For more information, watch this short video
The examination time is 3 hours in duration. Examination time usually starts around 09.30am CET. Once you have registered, you will be given instructions on how to book your staggered exam start time. Staggered time slots are given in 10-minute increments. For example: If your exam is scheduled for 09:30 – you will be able to choose a time slot of: 09:30, 09:40, 09:50 etc. Once a candidate has booked their time slot for the examination, they will receive an email confirming this. The email will also contain the link to the examination which will only be activated on exam day, at the allocated start time.
There is a registration process that takes place with a Proctor before the examination takes place. This can take 10 – 15 minutes. The Proctor will go through all the registration steps with you. When this is complete you will gain access to the examination platform and the 3-hour examination time will commence.
Yes, you will need to create a ProctorU account. This is the platform that the exam will be offered. You will be sent an email from ERS requesting you to create your profile. It is not possible to take the online examination without creating this account. Once you are registered with ProctorU you will need to book your start time for the examination.
Yes, you can access the ProctorU platform anytime once you have created your account.
You can take the online examination at home or in an office, where the space is quiet and has no distractions. There are no allocated test centres. Prior to the exam, ERS will request that you attempt internet connection and software tests from the same location/room as you would for the actual exam day, to ensure that you will have the best environment ready for the exam.
You will need to ensure you have the correct conditions to sit your examination which includes being:
We have partnered with ProctorU who provide live remote invigilation. The proctor/invigilator will be able to see what is happening on your computer screen and will also be observing you via your webcam (face on view). There is a chat function with the invigilator you will see this on screen. They can also interact with you via your microphone.
We are using a platform specifically designed for computer-based assessments combined with live invigilation services. This means your computer and webcam are accessed by the system and a live proctor/invigilator will uphold the examination regulations and procedures. You will be required to verify your identity by showing your ID on screen before the examination commences.
Yes, the visual and audio recordings are stored by our e-assessment provider for 24 months after which they are deleted. We record the examination session in case there are any anomalies post examination or if we receive any queries. Access to these recordings is granted only to the HERMES examination coordinator who may need to report on any issues related to results or malpractice.
No, it is a closed book examination with live remote proctoring.
You will be sent an email requesting you to check your computer equipment. When received, please follow the steps provided very carefully. Please refer to the ProctorU website for full details on equipment required to sit the examination
Important: you cannot use a tablet or mobile phone to sit the examination. It is mandatory to do an equipment check (laptop, webcam, microphone etc). This check can be carried out anytime and must be done minimum one week before the examination day. Support is available from ProctorU if there are any issues. The equipment check can be found in your personal ProctorU account.
There is a full equipment check available for you on your ProctorU account. This check can be carried out anytime and must be done minimum one week before the examination day. Support is available from ProctorU if there are any issues. The equipment check can be found in your personal ProctorU account. Important: please carry out the equipment check on the laptop/PC you intend to sit the examination on.
No, we strongly advise that you use Google Chrome for optimal use for the examination. Further information on web browsers can be found here
No, you will need to make sure you have all the correct equipment to sit the examination.
Yes, this is possible.
The candidate is automatically locked out of our platform. You will need to reconnect via your ProctorU account and the proctor/invigilator will bring you back into the examination. ERS takes no responsibility for the loss of internet connection during the examination so it is important that the candidate tests the internet connection and ensures connection is of high quality before the exam.
You will need to have an official photographic identification ready to show the proctor/ invigilator. This can be a national ID card, a passport, a drivers license. Your identification must be in date (recent). Please make sure that your name on your myERS account reflects the name on your ID.
No, it is against examination regulations to have any additional materials such as paper, pen, pencil on your desk during the examination.
You are permitted to have a bottle of water on your desk. To avoid any accidents during the examination please use a bottle instead of cup or a glass and to make the observation easier for the proctor/ invigilator we ask candidates not to eat during the examination unless is absolutely necessary (e.g for medical reasons, please contact the HERMES team in advance if you need to eat during the examination: hermes@ersnet.org).
We encourage all participants to use the bathroom in advance of the examination. If there is a medical reason for you needing bathroom breaks, please email the HERMES Team: hermes@ersnet.org as soon as possible.
If you do require a break during the examination this is included within the 3 hours allocated to the examination.
No, it is against examination regulations to have any additional materials such as a calculator or any other devices. There is a calculator function available on the online exam platform.
Please use the on-screen chat function to engage with the proctor/invigilator. Please wait for the proctor/invigilator to respond to you. The proctor/invigilator is there to assist you with any technical issues you might experience during the examination.
Yes, you can access the ProctorU privacy policy
Yes, there is no difference in the validity of the examination.
Mentorship is available for those sitting the Diploma examination in respiratory medicine. Registered candidates will have the opportunity to receive guidance on taking the examination and find out more about the positive impact that taking the ERS HERMES examination can have. Candidates must register and finalise their payment by 31 May 2023 at the latest in order to obtain a mentor. ERS will contact candidates directly.
If you have any queries relating to the HERMES examinations, please get in touch
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