Specialist Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound (Practical)
Course code: SC-CLINUSP
March, July
AUD $6,248 (2026 indicative first year fee). Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are not available
March, July
AUD $6,248 (2026 indicative first year fee)
IELTS 7.0: with no band less than 7.0
Course structure
Overview
The Specialist Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound (Practical) has a focus on:
- Improved analytical and interpretive skills
- Improved procedural skills for students who select a practical subject
- Enhanced time utilisation
- Improved written skills and problem-solving skills
Course structure
The Specialist Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound Online is a 25-point program, designed to take six months if studying part-time.
You must complete four subjects, each worth 6.25 points:
- One core subject
- Three electives.
Graduates of the Specialist Certificate (Practical) can apply for recognition of prior learning and progress to the Graduate Certificate with full 25 point credits. From there, they can advance to achieve the Diploma and Master of Clinical Ultrasound.
Workload
- The estimated workload is 5 hours study time per week for each subject.
Clinical Ultrasound Pathways
Explore this course
Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this certificate.
One compulsory subject (6.25 points)
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Clinical Ultrasound - Core Concepts · 6.25 pts |
Students will acquire a theoretical understanding and knowledge required to understand the production of clinical ultrasound images, including ultrasound physics, transducer and machine componentry, image optimisation, artefacts, and probe manipulation. This will enable safe application of focused ultrasound to improve patient clinical diagnosis and management, including the indications, contraindications, pitfalls and limitations of clinical ultrasound (both generally and in a specific (chosen) health care specialty). Students will also be able to evaluate the requirements for training, competence and certification in focused ultrasound. |
Three elective subjects (totalling 18.75 points)
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| 1st Trimester OBGYN - Practical · 6.25 pts |
After completion of this subject, students will have the knowledge and skill to perform and interpret focused clinical ultrasound of commonly encountered conditions of early pregnancy problems and pelvic pain and be able to write a structured report. Students will perform, interpret, write a report and submit a log-book on 15 ultrasound studies of a wide range of commonly encountered vascular pathology, and interpret and report an additional 10 online ultrasound studies. |
| 2nd and 3rd Trimester OBGYN – Practical · 6.25 pts |
After completion of this subject, students will have the knowledge and skill to perform and interpret focused clinical ultrasound of commonly encountered conditions of second and third trimester pregnancy problems and pelvic pain and be able to write a structured report. Students will perform, interpret, write a report and submit a log-book of 15 ultrasound studies of a wide range of commonly encountered vascular pathology, and interpret and report an additional 10 online ultrasound studies. |
| Abdo/Gastrointestinal - Practical · 6.25 pts |
After completion of this subject, students will have the knowledge and skill to perform and interpret focused clinical ultrasound and procedures of commonly encountered pathology of the abdomen including gastrointestinal system (excluding the renal system) and how to write a focused ultrasound report. Students will perform, interpret, write a report and submit a log-book of at least 15 abdominal and gastrointestinal ultrasound examinations and procedures on simulators and/or patients with a wide range of pathology and interpret and write a report on an additional 10 online ultrasound studies. |
| Breast Ultrasound - Practical · 6.25 pts |
After completion of this subject, students will have the knowledge and skill to perform and interpret focused clinical ultrasound and percutaneous procedures of commonly encountered conditions of the breast, implants, surrounding soft tissues and lymph nodes and how to write a structured ultrasound report. Students will perform, interpret, write a report and submit a log-book of 15 ultrasound studies and procedures of a wide range of commonly encountered breast, lymph node and soft tissue pathology on simulators and/or patients and interpret and write a report on an additional 10 online ultrasound studies. |
| Lung, Sternum and DVT - Practical · 6.25 pts |
After completion of this subject, students will have the knowledge and skill in how to perform, interpret focused clinical ultrasound of commonly encountered pulmonary pathology, grade the degree of sternal mobility after open cardiac surgery, diagnose deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limb and will learn how to write a focused ultrasound report on these clinical ultrasound modalities. Students will perform, interpret, write a report and submit a log-book of at least 15 focused ultrasound studies on simulators and/or patients with a wide range of pathology for lung, sternum and DVT, and interpret and write a report on an additional 10 online focused ultrasound studies. |
| Musculoskeletal Ultrasound - Practical · 6.25 pts |
After completion of this subject, students will have the knowledge and skill to perform and interpret focused clinical ultrasound and procedures of commonly encountered conditions of the musculoskeletal system and external soft tissue and how to write interpretive reports. Students will perform, interpret, write a report and submit a log-book of 15 ultrasound studies on simulators and/or patients covering a wide range of commonly encountered musculoskeletal and soft tissue pathology and will interpret and write a report on an additional 10 online ultrasound studies. |
| Nursing/Junior Doctor - Practical · 6.25 pts |
After completion of this subject, students will have the knowledge and skill to perform and interpret clinical ultrasound of the lung, heart, sternum, estimation of bladder volume, and assessment of the lower limb deep venous system for thrombosis. Students will perform, interpret, write a report and submit a log-book of 15 ultrasound studies and procedures on patients and/or simulators and interpret and report an additional 10 on-line ultrasound studies. |
| Paediatric Ultrasound - Practical · 6.25 pts |
After completion of this subject, students will have the knowledge and skill to perform and interpret focused clinical ultrasound of commonly encountered conditions of the heart, lung, and abdomen in paediatric patients and how to write a focused ultrasound report. Students will perform, interpret, write a report and submit a log-book of at least 15 focused ultrasound studies on simulators and/or paediatric patients with a wide range of pathology, and interpret and report an additional 10 online ultrasound studies relevant to paediatric practice. |
| Peri-Arrest Ultrasound - Practical · 6.25 pts |
After completion of this subject, students will have the knowledge and skill to perform and interpret focused clinical ultrasound to identify the cause of common causes of shock and cardiac arrest (peri-arrest) and how to write an ultrasound report. The peri-arrest ultrasound examination builds on the extended focused abdominal sonography in trauma (eFAST) of the abdomen, heart, and lungs to include assessment of non-traumatic shock and cardiac arrest including cardiac dysrhythmia, ventricular function and volume, pulmonary pathologies other than effusion as well as diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis of the lower limbs to assist in diagnosis of pulmonary embolus. Students will perform, interpret, write a report and submit a log-book of at least 15 peri-arrest studies on simulators and/or patients with a wide range of pathology and interpret and write a report on an additional 10 online peri-arrest ultrasound studies of a wide range of commonly encountered pathology causing peri-arrest. |
| Regional Anaesthesia - Practical · 6.25 pts |
After completion of this subject, students will have comprehensive knowledge of the sono-anatomy and skill in when and how to safely perform ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia blocks and insertion of catheters including the upper and lower limbs, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, head, and eye. Students will perform, interpret, write a report and submit a log-book of at least 15 ultrasound-guided regional studies and procedures on simulators and/or patients and interpret and report an additional 10 online studies. |
| Renal Ultrasound - Practical · 6.25 pts |
After completion of this subject, students will have the knowledge and skill to perform and interpret focused clinical ultrasound and procedures of commonly encountered pathology of the renal tract and scrotum and how to write a focused ultrasound report. Students will perform, interpret, write a report and submit a log-book of at least 15 renal and scrotal ultrasound examinations on simulators and/or patients with a wide range of pathology and interpret and report an additional 10 online ultrasound studies. |
| TOE - Practical · 6.25 pts |
After completion of this subject, students will have the knowledge and skill to insert and clean a transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) probe and how to perform a focused TOE examination, interpret and write a structured report on the assessment of haemodynamic state and cardiac pathology using two dimensional and colour flow Doppler. Students will perform, interpret, write a report and submit a log-book of at least 15 focused TOE studies on simulators and/or patients with a wide range of pathology and interpret and report an additional 10 online focused TOE studies. |
| TTE - Practical · 6.25 pts |
Students will learn to acquire the standard focused transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) views, perform, interpret and write a structured report on the assessment of haemodynamic state and cardiac pathology using two dimensional and colour flow Doppler. Students will perform, interpret and write a report on at least 15 focused TTE studies on simulators and/or patients with a wide range of pathology and interpret and report an additional 10 online focused TTE studies. |
| Ultrasound Critical Care Procedures–Prac · 6.25 pts |
After completion of this subject, students will have comprehensive knowledge of the sono-anatomy and the skill in when and how to safely perform ultrasound-guided percutaneous procedures commonly performed in critical care including central and peripheral vascular access, drainage of effusions from the lung, heart and peritoneal cavities, and ultrasound-guided surgical airway procedures. Students will perform, interpret, write a report and submit a log-book of at least 15 ultrasound-guided studies and interpret and report on an additional 10 online studies. |
| Ultrasound For Paramedics - Practical · 6.25 pts |
Students will learn how to use ultrasound to improve clinical assessment and procedures for patients in the pre-hospital setting. After completion of this subject, students will have the knowledge and skill to perform and interpret focused clinical ultrasound to identify the cause of shock and cardiac arrest (peri-arrest), including focused ultrasound assessment of the heart, lungs, abdomen, and deep venous thrombosis (eFAST), and vascular systems and estimation of bladder volume. Students will perform, interpret, write a report and submit a log-book of 15 peri-arrest studies on simulators and/or patients with a wide range of pathology, and interpret and write a report on an additional 10 online peri-arrest ultrasound studies. |
| Vascular Ultrasound - Practical · 6.25 pts |
After completion of this subject, students will have the knowledge and skill to perform and interpret focused clinical ultrasound of commonly encountered conditions of the arterial and venous systems and be able to write a structured report. Students will perform, interpret, write a report and submit a log-book of 15 ultrasound studies and ultrasound-guided cannulation of peripheral and/or central arteries and veins on patients and/or simulators and interpret and report an additional 10 on-line ultrasound studies. |