Information for ISRA members interested in the ESRA Diploma of Regional Anaesthesia, including exam structure, current dates and official ESRA links.
The ESRA European Diploma of Regional Anaesthesia, also known as ESRA-DRA or EDRA, is a European diploma for anaesthetists seeking to demonstrate advanced knowledge and competence in regional anaesthesia and acute pain management.
The ESRA European Diploma of Regional Anaesthesia was created in 2005 to support high standards in regional anaesthesia. It is aimed at clinicians already involved in anaesthesia practice who wish to develop their knowledge across regional anaesthesia, ultrasound-guided techniques, perioperative analgesia and acute pain management.
ESRA- and CME/CDP-accredited courses and workshops are designed for reasonably experienced clinicians. They focus on the key points of different regional anaesthesia techniques, strategies for clinical use, and the advantages, risks and limitations of each approach.
The diploma is assessed in two parts. Part I is a written examination. Part II has two sections, both of which must be passed: Section A, an oral viva taken remotely or onsite, and Section B, a practical demonstration on a live model, taken onsite only.
From preparation to award
Prepare and confirm requirements
Review the official ESRA-DRA prerequisites, syllabus and recommended reading, and confirm current workshop requirements and timeframes. ISRA does not administer the examination — confirm fees, deadlines and application status directly with ESRA.
Written examination
A written paper assessing knowledge across anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, regional anaesthesia techniques, acute pain management and related clinical topics. It is offered in two formats each year: an online sitting earlier in the year and an onsite sitting at the ESRA Annual Congress. The exam is computer-based — candidates bring their own laptop.
Oral and practical examination
Part II has two sections. Both must be passed, and they may be taken in either order. If a candidate passes one section but not the other, only the failed section needs to be retaken.
Oral viva
An oral viva, taken remotely or onsite. Two questions: discussion of a clinical case, and management of a regional anaesthesia complication.
Practical demonstration
A practical demonstration on a live model, onsite only. Two ultrasound-guided block demonstrations — a core block and an intermediate or advanced block.
Diploma awarded
Check with ESRA before applying
ISRA does not administer the ESRA-DRA examination. Candidates should confirm all prerequisites, workshop requirements, fees, deadlines and application status directly with ESRA.
- Check the official ESRA-DRA prerequisites before applying.
- Review the Part I and Part II syllabus and recommended reading.
- Confirm current workshop requirements, including accredited workshop requirements.
- Check whether your workshops fall within the required timeframe before the exam date.
- Confirm examination fees, deadlines and application status directly with ESRA.
2026 ESRA-DRA examination dates
The details below are provided as a guide only. Candidates should confirm dates, fees, application status and eligibility requirements directly with ESRA before applying.
Date: Wednesday 9 September 2026
Format: Onsite only for this sitting (an online sitting is also held earlier in the year — confirm dates with ESRA)
Location: Lisbon, during the 43rd Annual ESRA Congress
Application deadline: 11 August 2026, if capacity is not reached
Section A (oral viva) is taken remotely or onsite on dates scheduled separately by ESRA. The onsite Section B (practical demonstration) sittings for 2026 are listed below.
Section B — Coimbatore
Date: Saturday 18 July 2026
Format: Onsite only
Location: Coimbatore, India, during the 16th Annual AORA 2026 Congress
Application deadline: 15 June 2026, if capacity is not reached
Section B — Lisbon
Date: Saturday 12 September 2026
Format: Onsite only
Location: Lisbon, during the 43rd Annual ESRA Congress
Status: Applications closed — capacity reached; waiting list available via ESRA
Please note
Examination information changes regularly. ISRA provides this page as a signpost for members, but candidates should rely on ESRA as the official source for applications, deadlines, eligibility requirements, fees and examination updates.
FAQ EDRA-DRA
Full details of the ESRA-DRA examinations, including prerequisites, exam formats and frequently asked questions are available at https://esraeurope.org/esra-dra/. We have included the main points you need to know below.
Prerequisites
- ESRA membership (free with ISRA membership)
- Must have two years of experience in a dedicated anaesthesiology post before applying for the exam. NB: This does not need to be a training scheme post.
- No requirement to have attended any ultrasound or cadaveric workshops.
- No evidence of having performed a minimum number of blocks required.
Format
- 120 Single Best Answer (SBA) questions in 120 minutes
- Each question has one stem with four possible answers
- More than one option may be correct, candidates must choose the single most appropriate answer.
Full details of the ESRA-DRA examinations, including prerequisites, exam formats and frequently asked questions are available at https://esraeurope.org/esra-dra/. We have included the main points you need to know below.
Prerequisites
- ESRA membership
- Successful completion of ESRA-DRA Part 1
- Written confirmation by Head of Department/Programme director that the applicant has performed:
- 150 neuraxial blocks (spinal, epidural, CSE)
- 150 peripheral nerve blocks, encompassing 75 upper limb blocks (interscalene, supraclavicular, infraclavicular, axillary and distal nerves) and 75 lower limb blocks (sciatic, femoral, popliteal and ankle)
- Various other nerve blocks including paravertebral, intercostal, abdominal wall, chest wall, caudal and IVRA.
- Workshop attendance (required for part 2B only, not for 2A)
- Minimum of three workshops attended
- One of the three must be a cadaveric workshop
- One of the three must be an ‘ESRA workshop’*
- All workshops must have CME/CPD approval
- Workshops must have been attended within the five years prior to applying for exam
- Any workshop attended after July 1st 2022 must be ESRA-DRA accredited (list of accredited workshops available on ESRA website).
- For any workshop <6hrs, two or more workshops can be added together, with 6hrs of hands-on practice time equating to one workshop requirement.
*ESRA workshops: ESRA Congress workshops, ESRA Innsbruck Cadaver Course, ESRA Paris or Eastern Europe workshop, ESRA Winter Week workshop, ESRA Trainee workshop.
Format
- Part 2A
- Oral VIVA examination
- 30-minute duration
- Two questions, 15 minutes each
- Q1: Clinical case discussion
- Q2: Management of a regional anaesthesia related complicatio
- Part 2B
- Practical US demonstration on live model + related questions
- 20-25 minutes
- Two questions, recent exam format change so both questions now require ultrasound rather than landmark demonstration
- Q3: Core regional block (see below)
- Q4: Intermediate/advanced block (see below)
Core Blocks (Q3)
- Superficial Cervical Plexus
- Interscalene
- Axillary Brachial Plexus
- Distal Upper Limb Blocks
- Erector Spinae Plane
- Serratus Anterior Plane
- Rectus Sheath
- TAP (Midaxillary & Subcostal)
- Lumbar Neuraxial Scanning
- Femoral Triangle
- Femoral Nerve
- Suprainguinal Fascia Iliaca
- Popliteal
Intermediate/Advanced Blocks (Q4)
- Suprascapular nerve (Anterior & Posterior Approach)
- Axillary nerve (Posterior – Humeral Approach)
- Intercostobrachial + Medial Cutaneous Brachial N. Blocks
- Cutaneous Nerves at Elbow (Posterior, Lateral, Medial)
- Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block
- Infraclavicular & Costoclavicular Block
- IPPB (PECS1) / PSPB (PECS 2)
- Thoracic PVB (Parasagittal & Transverse Approach)
- IIioinguinal/Iliohypogastric
- Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve
- PENG
- iPACK + Geniculars
- Ankle
- Parasternal Plane (Superficial & Deep)
- QL (Anterior, Lateral, Posterior)
- Obturator Nerve (Anterior & Posterior Branches)
- Proximal Sciatic N Block (Anterior Approach)
- Sciatic N Block (Lateral Midfemoral Approach)