This 10-week abdominal ultrasound course for physicians, delivered in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University, equips clinicians with the skills to perform and interpret abdominal point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) in acute medical settings. You’ll learn to acquire diagnostic-quality images, identify normal and abnormal findings, and apply ultrasound effectively to support clinical decision-making, patient safety, and service delivery. The main areas covered are: kidneys (hydronephrosis, renal cysts, and renal size assessment), bladder (urinary retention, post-void residual volume estimation), inferior vena cava (IVC) collapsibility (to assess volume status), gall bladder scanning, and free fluid detection (ascites, intraperitoneal bleeding, trauma).

This micro-credential can be taken as a standalone course or as part of our PgCert in PoCUS programme. Click here to learn more about the other micro-credentials we offer.

Next Dates: 18th September – 20th November 2025 (applications opening soon)

Fee: £600

What is a micro-credential?

A micro-credential is a short, specific course of study, with an assessment which earns credits. The Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme is a national UK university scheme to allow credits to be earned and accumulated. For example, a typical postgraduate diploma is 120 credits, a typical PgCert is 60 credits. Each of our micro-credentials earns 10 credits, with each credit representing the notional equivalent of 10 hours of study.

What is the commitment?

Each micro-credential requires 100 hours of notional study, most of which will be self-directed learning. However, for micro-credentials with a practical component (all except Ultrasound Image Acquisition and Optimisation and Departmental PoCUS Leadership modules), you must also complete a minimum of 21 hours of in-person, hands-on training at our London-based training centre if this is your first micro-credential with us, or 15 hours if you have already attended one of our other micro-credentials. You can enrol on up to two micro-credentials per term.

What are the entry requirements?

• Professional Registration: Registered with the General Medical Council (GMC), Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), or Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC).
• Educational Background: A relevant first degree, such as MB BS (or equivalent), or a bachelor’s degree, ideally at first-class or 2:1 level.
• Clinical Experience: Current employment in an appropriate role within the NHS or a UK-based private healthcare provider, with evidence of basic ultrasound experience.

What does the course cover?

• Medico-legal responsibilities, including practising within defined competencies and training requirements
• Role and development of departmental ultrasound protocols
• Indications for abdominal PoCUS examinations
• Patient information, consent, and preparation
• Relationship of PoCUS to other imaging modalities
• Image acquisition and optimisation techniques, including artefact recognition
• Normal and abnormal ultrasound appearances of abdominal structures relevant to acute medicine
• Interpretation of PoCUS findings in clinical contexts such as:
  • Renal impairment
  • Anuria
  • Loin pain
  • Abdominal swelling
  • Hypotension
  • Acute aortic syndromes
• Influence of PoCUS findings on further investigation and clinical management

How is the course taught?

You will have access to video materials covering the theoretical content. Didactic teaching will be combined with practical face-to-face sessions, where you will use a range of ultrasound systems to develop scanning skills on normal volunteers. Additionally, simulators will be used to practise imaging and identifying various abnormalities.

You must complete the required number of in-person practical training hours for this module—21 hours if it’s your first, or 15 hours if you’ve previously completed another module—before your assessment day.

How will your skills of Abdominal PoCUS be assessed?

The award of the micro-credential will require successful completion of both written and practical assessments. The knowledge content will be assessed through a multiple-choice examination using still images where appropriate. Practical skills will be assessed through obtaining optimal images on normal subjects and through obtaining optimal images of simulated pathology on simulators.

Schedule

The in-person training sessions will run from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Attendance on the first and last days (assessment day) is mandatory. Attendance on the second day is highly recommended to ensure you gain the foundational knowledge essential for further training. The remaining days are flexible. However, you must complete at least 21 hours of in-person training at our London-based centre for your first module, and 15 hours for each subsequent module, before the assessment day.

Autumn Term 2025 Schedule:

18th–19th September 2025 – core training days (18th September is mandatory)
16th–17th October 2025 – training days
6th–7th November 2025 – training days
20th November 2025 – assessment day (mandatory to attend)

An additional training day may be added if needed.

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