Ultrasound Micro-Credentials
Many clinicians have recognised the huge potential of point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS). PoCUS can be enormously useful in diagnosis and also in patient management. It can also add interest to clinical work and give a new dimension to our understanding of clinical problems.
As a result, many clinicians are wanting to develop their point-of-care ultrasound skills and knowledge to a deeper level than is routinely available within the specialty-based certification structures (FAMUS, FUSIC, Core etc). As the existing alternatives, PgCert, PgDip and MSc involve a time and cost commitment that is unrealistic for many, there is a movement across many universities to offer shorter courses suitable for people in full-time work. This has led to the concept of micro-credentials.
We have teamed up with Canterbury Christ Church University to create ultrasound micro-credentials.
Next dates: 25th April – 27th June 2024
Cost: £450 per micro-credential
Venue: Terracotta Court (ground floor), 167 Tower Bridge Road, London, SE1 3LN
Registration
Registration will be through Canterbury Christ Church University. You can find out more on the specific micro-credentials pages:
NB: You can only enrol on 2 micro-credentials at a time
Schedule
Attendance on the first day and on the assessment day is mandatory. The other days are flexible. You’ll have the following dates and times for in-person training:
Thursdays, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
25th April – start date*
16th May
30th May
6th June
20th June
27th June – assessment day*
*mandatory to attend
Mondays, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
20th May
3rd June
10th June
24th June
18 years of experience in teaching RCEM courses
Over 15 000 clinicians have taken our courses
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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. A typical bachelors degree has 360 credits (120 per year), a typical PgCert is 60 credits. Each of our micro-credentials equates to 10 credits. Each credit is the notional equivalent of 10 hours of study.
How can I obtain a PgCert (subject to validation)?
To obtain a PgCert, you will need to successfully complete six micro-credentials. The Ultrasound Physics Micro-credential is mandatory for obtaining a PgCert PoCUS award (subject to validation), but you have a choice over the other five.
The university approval for this is still in process. We hope to be able to award our first PgCerts in autumn 2024.
What is the commitment?
Each micro-credential will require a 100 hours of notional study. Most of this will be private study. However there will be a minimum of 21 hours per micro-credential of in-person learning, with an option to undertake more in-person learning if required. The in-person component will be undertaken at our training centre in London. Most of this time will be hands-on practical skill development. There will also be some face-to-face teaching.
The micro-credential will finish with an additional in-person session for skill assessment. There will also be a MCQ-based knowledge assessment.
Candidates are encouraged to undertake further scanning through their own workplace and to keep a record of their scanning experience. However the assessment in the micro-credential is not based on a logbook of cases, but rather on the demonstration of a satisfactory level of knowledge and skill.
Who is this suitable for?
These micro-credentials are intended for clinicians working in settings where these skills may be useful. They are particularly likely to be useful for doctors working in acute settings such as emergency medicine, acute medicine, intensive care and emergency surgery. However, these micro-credentials may be useful for a wide range of clinicians looking to develop ultrasound skills.
The entry requirements for these micro-credentials are that applicants will normally:
- Be registered with either The General Medical Council (GMC), Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), or the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC).
- Have a relevant first degree – either MB BS (or equivalent), or a bachelors degree, ideally either at first-class or 2:1 level.
- Have experience of employment within an appropriate clinical role.
What People Say About Our Micro-Credentials Courses
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