The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound is a professional course work qualification which will enable advanced level students or qualified healthcare professionals, such as doctors, paramedics, nurses, chiropractors, physiotherapists and podiatrists, to extend their field of expertise to include the production and interpretation of focused point of care diagnostic ultrasound images. The course is divided into clinical specialisations through the use of majors which align with the requirements of clinical practitioners in different fields. The Emergency Focused Point of Care Ultrasound (PoCUS) major is designed for emergency doctors and paramedics. The Basic Soft Tissue Ultrasound Imaging (BSTUI) major is designed for chiropractors, physiotherapists and podiatrists. There is also a general major which enables you to choose any three units from a range of options and create a course to suit your clinical needs. Units include compulsory residential schools or weekly attendance on the university campus in order to participate in ultrasound skill acquisition and image interpretation training. This course is not a pathway to becoming an accredited medical sonographer or echocardiographer.
The
Graduate Certificate of Clinical Ultrasound enables healthcare professionals,
such as doctors and paramedics to extend their clinical practice to include the
production and interpretation of focused point of care diagnostic ultrasound
imaging to inform patient management and enhance patient care.
Duration | 0.5 years full-time or 1 years part-time |
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Credit Points that Must be Earned | 24 |
Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in postgraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
Course Type | Postgraduate Award |
Qualification (post nominal) | GradCertClinUS |
AQF Level | Level 8: Graduate Certificate |
Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
|
Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
Not Applicable |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
The COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory to be eligible to attend a WIL placement for this course. Students will be required to provide evidence of having completed a COVID-19 vaccination schedule by the closing date prior to a WIL placement. The vaccine received must be a vaccine approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia.
Prerequisites
Eligible applicants will be required to have a bachelor degree as named below, or have successfully completed the credit units in these units as indicated below:
48 units of credit for Level One Units
AND
36 units of credit for Level Two or Level Three Units
from the following course areas, studied in English:
Bachelor of Podiatry
OR
Bachelor of Physiotherapy
OR
Bachelor of Nursing
OR
Bachelor of Paramedic Science
OR
Bachelor of Science (Chiropractic)
OR
Bachelor of Medicine / Bachelor of Surgery
OR
equivalent
Please note individual units vary in their prerequisites and some require completion of the relevant degree.
Interim Awards | Not applicable |
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Exit Awards | Not applicable |
Professional Accreditation | Not applicable |
Learned Society Accreditation | Not applicable |
Compulsory Residential School | All units in this course contain compulsory residential schools and practical assessments. Delivery of residential schools will commence on the campuses where relevant staff are located - Sydney and Melbourne. However it is anticipated that by T3 2017 they will also be delivered in Brisbane with the possible exception of the echocardiography PoCUS unit due to equipment requirements. |
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Click here to view all Residential Schools |
MEDS20014 - Completion of a clinical logbook of a specified number of cases signed by a suitably qualified assessor. |
MEDS20015 - Completion of a clinical logbook of a specified number of cases signed by a suitably qualified assessor. |
MEDS20013 - Completion of a clinical logbook of a specified number of cases signed by a suitably qualified assessor. |
Year | Number of Students |
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2022 | 1 |
2021 | 2 |
2020 | 8 |
2019 | 16 |
2018 | 19 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
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Course Learning Outcomes | |||
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Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have specialised knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area | |||
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review,analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex problems | |||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to think critically and to generate and evaluate complex ideas | |||
4. SKILLS Have specialised technical and creative skills in a field of highly skilled and/or professional practice | |||
5. SKILLS Have communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical concepts | |||
6. SKILLS Have communication skills to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences | |||
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to make high level, independent judgements in a range of technical or management functions in varied specialised contexts | |||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to initiate, plan, implement and evaluate broad functions within varied specialised technical and/or creative contexts | |||
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for personal outputs and all aspects of the work or function of others within broad parameters | |||
10. FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE sufficient to undertake qualifications | |||
11. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of knowledge in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units | |||
12. FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS sufficient to undertake qualifications | |||
13. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of skills in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units | |||
14. Course content drawn from higher education units |
Course Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|
Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have specialised knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area | |||
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review,analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex problems | |||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to think critically and to generate and evaluate complex ideas | |||
4. SKILLS Have specialised technical and creative skills in a field of highly skilled and/or professional practice | |||
5. SKILLS Have communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical concepts | |||
6. SKILLS Have communication skills to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences | |||
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to make high level, independent judgements in a range of technical or management functions in varied specialised contexts | |||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to initiate, plan, implement and evaluate broad functions within varied specialised technical and/or creative contexts | |||
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for personal outputs and all aspects of the work or function of others within broad parameters | |||
10. FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE sufficient to undertake qualifications | |||
11. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of knowledge in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units | |||
12. FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS sufficient to undertake qualifications | |||
13. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of skills in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units | |||
14. Course content drawn from higher education units |
Course Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|
Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have specialised knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area | |||
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review,analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex problems | |||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to think critically and to generate and evaluate complex ideas | |||
4. SKILLS Have specialised technical and creative skills in a field of highly skilled and/or professional practice | |||
5. SKILLS Have communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical concepts | |||
6. SKILLS Have communication skills to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences | |||
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to make high level, independent judgements in a range of technical or management functions in varied specialised contexts | |||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to initiate, plan, implement and evaluate broad functions within varied specialised technical and/or creative contexts | |||
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for personal outputs and all aspects of the work or function of others within broad parameters | |||
10. FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE sufficient to undertake qualifications | |||
11. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of knowledge in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units | |||
12. FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS sufficient to undertake qualifications | |||
13. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of skills in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units | |||
14. Course content drawn from higher education units |
Number of units: 1 | Total credit points: 6 |
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Students must complete the unit Science and Instrumentation in Ultrasound in all majors as it provides foundation knowledge and skill for subsequent units.
All students must complete this core unit prior to, or contiguous with, units within their chosen major.
Available units | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
MEDS20009 | Science and Instrumentation of Ultrasound |
Number of units: 3 | Total credit points: 18 |
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This major provides the opportunity for advanced level students or qualified healthcare professionals in chiropractic science, physiotherapy and podiatry to acquire knowledge and skills in the use of ultrasound as a focused diagnostic tool at the point of care. It will be of value to physiotherapists, podiatrists and chiropractors engaged in, or studying towards, managing soft tissue injury and pathology. You will develop knowledge of musculoskeletal ultrasound with an emphasis on interpretation of anatomical structures, biomechanics and pathology. You will learn transducer manipulation techniques and skills to optimise ultrasound images for documentation. You will interpret the sonographic appearance of pathology to produce a differential diagnosis and report. You will differentiate the ultrasound appearance of musculoskeletal pathology from that of other body structures. You will evaluate clinical knowledge and ultrasound findings to make appropriate management decisions according to the clinical situation, including the requirement for a comprehensive scan and expert input as appropriate. Units include residential schools to enable you to gain the skills of transducer manipulation, ultrasound scanning techniques, ultrasound acquisition, optimisation and image interpretation.
Available units | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
MEDS20010 | Fundamentals of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound | |
MEDS20011 | Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (Upper Body) | |
MEDS20012 | Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (Lower Body) |
Number of units: 3 | Total credit points: 18 |
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This major provides the opportunity for qualified healthcare professionals in general medicine, emergency medicine and paramedic science to acquire knowledge and skills in the use of ultrasound as a focused diagnostic tool at the point of care. It will be of value to emergency doctors and paramedics engaged in managing emergency situations, assisting in bedside care, diagnosing cardiac pathology and guiding interventional procedures. You will develop knowledge of ultrasound with emphasis on interpretation of a range of anatomical structures and ruling out pathology. You will learn transducer manipulation techniques and skills to optimise ultrasound images for documentation. You will learn to use point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) dynamically to guide treatments and procedures and interpret the sonographic appearance of pathology. You will evaluate clinical knowledge and ultrasound findings to make appropriate management decisions according to the clinical situation, including the requirements for a comprehensive scan and expert input as appropriate. Some unit assessments include clinical logbooks and case studies so clinical access to ultrasound and appropriately qualified supervisors is required to complete this major. Units include residential schools or regular workshops to enable you to gain the skills of transducer manipulation, ultrasound scanning techniques, ultrasound acquisition, optimisation and image interpretation.
Available units | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
MEDS20013 | Diagnostic Ultrasound for Point of Care (PoCUS) | |
MEDS20014 | Bedside Cardiac Ultrasound for Point of Care (PoCUS) | |
MEDS20015 | Procedural Ultrasound for Point of Care (PoCUS) |
Number of units: 3 | Total credit points: 18 |
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This major provides the opportunity for advanced level students, or qualified healthcare professionals, in medicine, paramedic science, nursing, chiropractic science, physiotherapy and podiatry, to acquire skills and knowledge in the general use of ultrasound as a focused diagnostic tool at the point of care. It will be of value to those health professionals engaged in, or studying towards, managing clinical situations and providing bedside care in a range of clinical contexts. You can choose from a range of course options to match your clinical use of ultrasound. You will develop knowledge of ultrasound with emphasis on interpretation of anatomical structures and ruling out pathology. You will learn transducer manipulation techniques and skills to optimise ultrasound images for documentation. You will learn to use point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) dynamically. You will interpret the sonographic appearance of pathology. You will evaluate clinical knowledge and ultrasound findings to make appropriate management decisions according to the clinical situation, including the requirements for a comprehensive scan and expert input as appropriate. Units include residential schools or workshops to enable you to gain the skills of transducer manipulation, ultrasound scanning techniques, ultrasound acquisition, optimisation and image interpretation.
Students in the CH86 course are required to complete one of three majors:
· Basic Soft Tissue Ultrasound Imaging
· Emergency Point of Care Ultrasound (PoCUS)
· General Point of Care Ultrasound
Upon admission into the CH86 course, students are to nominate which major they would like to complete in order to ensure the correct units and major conditions are met. Just note however that due to the pre-requisites placed on the units completed under the Emergency Point of Care Ultrasound (PoCUS) major, only those students who have qualifications as medical doctors, nurses and paramedics are able to complete this major. If students do not have one of the aforementioned qualifications, students must select an alternative major.