EBVS Advance – Terms of Service

European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS)
Last updated: 1st December 2025

1. Introduction

EBVS Advance is an online learning portal operated by the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS), a non-profit organisation registered in The Netherlands. These Terms of Service govern your access to and use of the EBVS Advance platform, including all courses, digital products, and related services (the “Services”).

By creating an account, purchasing a course, or using the Services, you agree to these Terms of Service (“Terms”).

2. Merchant of Record (Paddle)

Paid transactions on EBVS Advance are processed by Paddle. Paddle acts as the Merchant of Record, which means:

• Paddle is the authorised seller of digital products offered through the EBVS Advance platform.
• Paddle manages payment processing, invoicing, VAT calculation, and compliance with applicable EU consumer and taxation law.
• Your financial contract for any paid course or digital product is with Paddle.

You may receive receipts, invoices, and payment-related communications directly from Paddle. For payment queries, please visit https://paddle.com/support/.

EBVS remains responsible for the academic content and delivery of the Services.

3. Eligibility

To use the Services, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old;
• Have the legal capacity to enter into a contract;
• Use the Services in compliance with professional and regulatory obligations applicable to veterinary practice in your jurisdiction.

4. Accounts and Access

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to:

• Keep your account details secure and not share them with third parties;
• Ensure that information provided in your profile is accurate and kept up to date;
• Notify EBVS promptly of any unauthorised use of your account or other breach of security.

EBVS may suspend or terminate your access to the Services where there is misuse, breach of these Terms, academic misconduct, unlawful activity, or non-payment.

5. Learning Content and Academic Integrity

All course materials, including videos, text, assessments, recordings, presentations, and downloadable files (“Content”), are protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws.

Unless explicitly permitted in writing by EBVS, you must not:

• Reproduce, distribute, or publicly share the Content in whole or in part;
• Provide third-party access to your account or share your login details;
• Attempt to circumvent access controls, licensing limitations, or assessment mechanisms;
• Use automated tools or artificial intelligence systems to generate assessment responses where such use is not explicitly allowed.

EBVS reserves the right to invalidate or revoke certificates, records of achievement, or course completion where academic integrity is breached.

6. Certificates and Professional Recognition

EBVS Advance provides continuing education and professional learning for veterinary specialists, residents, and other professionals.

Unless explicitly stated for a specific course:

• Course completion does not in itself guarantee eligibility for EBVS specialist status, residency programmes, or examinations.
• Certificates issued by EBVS Advance confirm completion of learning hours and/or assessments only.
• Recognition of courses by national authorities, statutory regulators, or employers is not guaranteed.

7. Fees, Refunds, and Billing

Course fees and other charges are displayed at the point of purchase.

7.1 Payments

All payments are processed by Paddle acting as Merchant of Record. By completing a purchase, you agree to Paddle’s applicable terms and conditions and privacy policy.

7.2 Taxes

Value Added Tax (VAT) and any other applicable taxes are calculated and applied automatically by Paddle based on your billing country and status, in accordance with relevant law.

7.3 Refunds

Refunds are handled in accordance with Paddle’s refund policies and applicable EU consumer protection law. Requests for refunds should normally be submitted via Paddle support unless you are directed otherwise by EBVS.

7.4 Price Changes

EBVS may adjust course prices at any time. Any change will not affect purchases that have already been completed.

8. Platform Availability

EBVS aims to provide reliable and stable access to EBVS Advance. However, the Services are provided on an “as available” basis. Access may be interrupted or degraded due to maintenance, system updates, or circumstances beyond EBVS’s control.

EBVS is not responsible for:

• Internet connectivity problems or local network issues on the user’s side;
• Interruptions or failures of third-party services or infrastructure;
• Data loss caused by user actions or unauthorised third-party access resulting from your failure to keep credentials secure.

9. Intellectual Property

All trademarks, logos, course materials, platform design, and other Content made available through EBVS Advance are the property of EBVS or its licensors.

You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to access and use the Services and Content for your own personal professional development. This licence does not permit:

• Resale or commercial redistribution of Content;
• Creation of derivative works for external distribution;
• Use of EBVS or EBVS Advance logos without prior written permission.

10. Data Protection and Privacy

EBVS processes personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable data protection laws. Details of how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data are provided in the EBVS Privacy Policy.

Data relating to your course enrolments, progress, assessment performance, and certificates may be stored for academic record-keeping, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.

Paddle acts as an independent data controller for payment information. For more information on how Paddle processes your data, please refer to Paddle’s privacy policy.

11. Third-Party Services

EBVS Advance integrates with third-party services such as payment processors, email providers, analytics tools, video hosting, and learning technologies. Use of such services may be subject to the terms and policies of those third parties.

EBVS is not responsible for:

• Changes to or discontinuation of third-party services; or
• Any loss or damage arising from the use of third-party services beyond EBVS’s reasonable control.

12. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to use the Services to:

• Misrepresent your identity, qualifications, or professional status;
• Access or attempt to access accounts, data, or systems without authorisation;
• Reverse engineer, interfere with, or disrupt the operation of the platform;
• Upload or distribute malware, harmful code, or content that is unlawful, defamatory, discriminatory, or harassing;
• Interfere with the learning experience or rights of other users.

13. Disclaimers

The Services and Content are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. While EBVS endeavours to ensure that course materials are accurate, up to date, and evidence-based, EBVS does not guarantee that:

• Course Content is free from errors or omissions;
• The Services will meet your individual expectations or specific learning goals;
• Completion of a course will ensure success in examinations, recruitment, or professional advancement.

Nothing in these Terms seeks to exclude or limit any rights you may have under mandatory consumer protection laws.

14. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, EBVS shall not be liable for:

• Loss of income, business, contracts, or professional opportunities;
• Loss of data or corruption of data not caused by EBVS’s deliberate misconduct;
• Any indirect, consequential, or special damages arising from or in connection with the use of the Services;
• Issues related to payment processing, billing, or tax handling carried out by Paddle as Merchant of Record.

Where liability cannot be excluded, EBVS’s total aggregate liability arising out of or in connection with your use of the Services shall be limited to the total amount paid by you for the specific Service giving rise to the claim.

15. Modification of Terms

EBVS may update or modify these Terms from time to time. When material changes are made, EBVS will notify users via the platform and/or by email. Continued use of the Services after the effective date of the updated Terms will constitute your acceptance of those changes.

16. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by Dutch laws and, where applicable, relevant European Union law. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms or the use of the Services shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent courts of The Netherlands, without prejudice to any mandatory protections afforded to you as a consumer under the laws of your country of residence.

17. Contact

For questions about EBVS Advance or these Terms, please contact:
Email: info@ebvs.eu

For payment or billing queries, please contact Paddle:
Support: https://paddle.com/support/