Ultrasound Certificate Program

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Introduction

The goal of this program to provide a structured training environment that allows a small animal veterinarian to reach a defined level of ultrasonography expertise. Three didactic and laboratory courses must be completed as part of the programs: Basic Abdomen, Basic Echocardiography, Advanced Small Parts. The program combines traditional short courses with two additional training tools. The first is the requirement for preparation of casebooks in each of the three areas. Participants will be required to submit a casebook of 15 cases. A standardized format of case description, imaging protocol and follow-up verification will be followed. After completion of all short course training and acceptance of casebook, the participant will take an on-line final exam, involving practical case material.

Timeframe

  • Duration:
    • 3 years from time of enrollment to successful completion of the on-line examination
    • If timeframe exceeded, new enrollment required
  • Enrollment must be made within 5 years of completion of every course
    • If any of the 3 courses was completed more than 5 years before enrollment, than said courses must be repeated prior to acceptance into program

Prerequisites

  • D.V.M. or V.M.D. degree
  • active state/national licensure to practice veterinary medicine
  • Ultrasound system in the practice
    • 5.0 to 7.5 MHz small footprint transducer
    • B- and M-mode

Coursework (click course for requirements)

  • Basic Abdomen
  • Advanced Abdomen
  • Echocardiology
  • Coursework should be completed in a concentrated 1-2 day effort
  • Alternative methods of covering the didactic material will be considered, including
    • On-line
  • All laboratory topics must be hands-on with designated instructor

Casebooks

  • Casebook of 15 clinical cases will be prepared by each participant.
    • A minimum of 5 cases must be accepted from organ systems listed in each course (see coursework descriptions):
    • 5 cases each from topics covered in basic abdomen, advanced abdomen and echocardiography short course requirements. One "normal" case will be accepted for basic abdomen, advanced abdomen, and echocardiography.
  • Cases can be submitted individually or in groups to program organizers on-line or via post
  • No outside consultation or advice is acceptable
    • Any evidence of outside consultation or advice will result in permanent, lifelong, and irreversible discontinuation from the program.
  • Cases will be evaluated individually
    • Cases will be evaluated on all image and clinical aspects (see casebook criteria)
    • Participants may re-submit the same case with additional materials, as appropriate
    • After submission of 20 unacceptable cases, the participant will be discontinued from the program with no financial reimbursement
    • Discontinued participants will need to complete all coursework again prior to re-enrollment

The format of each case will be as follows:

  • case identifier
  • signalment
  • client history
  • physical examination results
  • results of preliminary work-up (blood work, urinalysis, radiographs, etc. as appropriate)
  • complete set of ultrasound images (format varies with each topic)
  • interpretation of ultrasound examination
  • results of therapy or confirmatory testing (surgery, necropsy, etc. as appropriate)
  • discussion of case
  • references
  • Please click here for an examples of a cardiac submission and an abdomen submission.

Final Examination

  • After completion of all coursework and acceptance of the casebook of 15 cases, the candidate may take the final examination. Each candidate must obtain a 70% satisfactory rating in each of the 4 sections of the examination. Exam content will match the listed course content and will be image-based. The examination will be divided into the following sections:
    • ultrasound equipment and physics
    • echocardiography
    • basic abdomen
    • advanced abdomen
  • Participants may re-take the examination 30 days after the last unsuccessful attempt,.
  • After 5 unacceptable examination efforts, the participant will be discontinued from the program with no financial reimbursement
  • No outside consultation or advice is acceptable
    • Any evidence of outside consultation or advice will result in permanent, lifelong, and irreversible discontinuation from the program.
  • Discontinued participants, due to failure of 5 attempts at completion of the examination, will need to complete all coursework and casebook submissions again prior to re-enrollment

Certification

  • Successful participants will be awarded a “Certificate in Small Animal Ultrasound”
    • This will be awarded at the next available IVUSS meeting during the banquet
    • If unavailable for the IVUSS meeting, the Certificate will be mailed to the participant
  • Successful participants will be asked to assist with the management of the Certificate Program

Cost

  • $500 per participant (includes 3 years IVUSS Membership)

Privacy/Reporting Policy

  • IVUSS will provide corporate sponsors with pass rates. Each sponsor will receive the pass rate for individuals sponsored by that company as well as the overall pass rate for all individuals enrolled in the Certificate Program. For example, "Company Z" has 10 sponsored participants and there are 100 participants from all sources. "Company Z" would have access to their participant pass rate (90%, 9 of 10) and the overall pass rate (80%, 80 of 100). No company will receive any personal information in the reporting of pass rates.
  • Corporate Sponsors will not receive information on ultrasound machines being used by participants.

Additional Information or Questions