Everyone who wishes to work as a diagnostic medical sonographer in BC - international and Canadian diagnostic medical sonography graduates - must successfully complete the Sonography Canada Examination and be registered with Sonography Canada.
Sonography Canada has set into place certain requirements that must be met by potential registrants who wish to acquire their Canadian credentials. These requirements include:
- Documented proof of successful completion of a Canadian Medical Association (CMA) accredited diagnostic ultrasound education program or an equivalent ultrasound education program as recognized by Sonography Canada.
- Successful completion of the Sonography Canada Clinical Skills Assessment (CCSA).
- Successful completion of Sonography Canada approved written examination(s).
- Payment of all required credentialing and registry fees.
Sonographers applying for Sonography Canada registration may receive their credentials in the following specialties:
- CRGS® Canadian Registered Generalist Sonographer (Core and Generalist)
- CRCS® Canadian Registered Cardiac Sonographer (Core and Cardiac)
- CRVS® Canadian Registered Vascular Sonographer (Core and Vascular)
Exams are based upon the content of the National Competency Profile (NCP) for Sonography. Certain competencies from within the NCP have been identified as "examinable", as determined by their importance, their frequency-of-use, and the format of the exam. A bank of exam questions has been developed to assess the examinable competencies, using standardized test-development methods. Each time an exam takes place, different questions will be used, and psychometric analysis will be applied to ensure that the exam is valid, reliable and free from bias.
All exams are computer based and completed in secure, proctored facilities.
All exam questions are in multiple-choice format, and many will be based upon images. Candidates have the opportunity to move through the exam at their own pace (subject to the overall time limit), to answer questions, to skip questions, to flag questions for later review, and to change their responses until they exit the exam. The use of textbooks, notes, other resource materials or candidate provided calculators will not be allowed. Candidates will not have access to the Internet while they are writing the exam.
Sonography Canada offers its Core and Generalist (Ob/Gyn, Abdomen/MSK/Superficial Structures, and Generalist Vascular) exams in both English and French. The cardiac exam is currently only available in English.
Sonography Canada does not require documentation of language fluency testing to be eligible for the exams. However, Sonography Canada recommends having completed a language proficency exam. For information on the Sonography Canada Certification Exam Language Fluency Recommendations, please refer to Language FluencyRecommendations
Additional information is available on the Sonography Canada website.
Download or view our Sonography Brochure for licensing and immigration information for Sonographers.