If you want to conduct ultrasound exams, you need training and knowledge. To simplify your search, we have compiled a list of recent grads’ top veterinary ultrasound courses, along with their focus areas. When looking at systems, emerging veterinarians wish to continue their studies. They must select a program that lets them keep up with the latest studies.

Ultrasound is a well-known and influential imaging technology not only in human medicine but also in veterinary care. Given its widespread applications in universal healthcare, many veterinary graduates opt for specified training with the most up-to-date technology for veterinary ultrasound machines. However, selecting the right course is paramount to making ultrasound diagnoses with confidence and accuracy.

We recommend selecting a course that meets your specific training requirements over choosing the most famous avenue for postgraduate veterinary ultrasound training. However, it may not be easy to select the right course given the variety of techniques, specializations, and varying duration.

Veterinary Ultrasound Training Programs For Recent Grads

1. Sound Imaging has released one of the newest ultrasound courses on the market. Students get three days of on-hand lab experience, oral boot camp, and progressive educational levels. Become prepared. The program will prepare you for live scanning, as well as for ultrasound examinations. You will meet standards in a matter of minutes.
2. The North American Veterinary Community offers a week-long ‘Small Animal Abdominal Ultrasound’ course that can be undertaken by beginners, intermediate, and advanced students. It is taught in small groups to enable unparalleled hands-on training that is both standards and customized according to your specific needs. Led by internationally renowned ACVR-boarded radiologists, it provides a solid foundation in abdominal diagnostic ultrasound in dogs and cats.

The course provides skills in performing a complete abdominal ultrasound examination and obtaining the best images. It further provides an appreciation of the appearance of normal organs and variations in normal anatomy. It also covers the importance of anatomic landmarks in diagnostic ultrasound. Finally, it provides a working knowledge of several disease processes and crucial limitations. Towards the end of the postgraduate training, you will be able to demonstrate competency in ultrasound instrumentation.

1. The NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education, provides a two-day course in Small Animal Abdominal Ultrasound for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians. It provides diagnostic ultrasound experience and focuses on various abdominal organs and abnormal cases.

It offers lecture-based and hands-on laboratory training in ultrasound in veterinary practice to achieve competency in abdominal ultrasounds. Moreover, it provides a solid foundation in ultrasound physics and anatomy backed by several case examples to strengthen learning. The fee is $950 for two days and includes lunches and printed proceedings.

4. The Veterinary Imaging Center of San Diego (VICSD) offers two personalized ultrasound training programs for veterinarians and sonographers (both human and veterinary practice). The ‘Ultrasound Training program is a good option for hospital owners who want to provide their staff with ultrasound training at their hospital.

It includes the following:

• 3-4 hours of theory, including physics, applications, and cases
• 4 hours of wet labs

It also includes one-on-one sessions with VICSD’s board-certified radiologist. It costs $1500/day and requires that the hospital provide pets for training purposes.

The other training program – Ultrasound Sabbatical – is offered at VICSD and allows participants to attend both in-house and mobile ultrasound services, depending on their requirements and convenience. The program provides the opportunity to watch and interact as images are obtained. It also gives trainees exposure to collaborating, concluding, and writing reports based on findings. The cost is $1,500 for one week and $2,500 for two weeks.

Improve International provides short and intensive practice-oriented postgraduate programs ideal for busy veterinarians in various topics in veterinary medicine. In the field, they have three courses based on candidates’ skill levels and are designed by veterinarians. Their studies are conducted in small batches for optimal learning and are delivered by world-class speakers and held at high-tech teaching laboratories.

The three short ultrasound training programs offered by the institute are:

• Introduction to Small Animal Ultrasound

Veterinarians looking to get familiar with the basic ultrasound techniques can consider the Introduction to Small Animal Ultrasound program. This is an ideal program for you if you have little to no experience in operating an ultrasound machine.

It is a two-day training program that covers topics that will provide a strong foundation in the basics of ultrasound. The topics include ultrasound physics, machine setup, standard echocardiographic views, and ultrasonographic measurements required for diagnoses. It also covers ultrasonography of the liver and spleen and gastrointestinal, reproductive, and urinary tracts.

• Next Steps in Abdominal Ultrasound

The ‘Next Steps in Abdominal Ultrasound’ is a convenient two-day course ideal for veterinarians with some or limited experience in using an ultrasound machine. It gives trainees confidence in performing ultrasound examinations and includes machine setup, image recording, commonly seen artifacts, and performing elementary abdominal Doppler and invasive ultrasound-guided procedures. It also covers normal and abnormal ultrasonographic appearances of the liver, spleen, pancreas, and gastrointestinal and urinary tracts.

• Advanced Abdominal Ultrasound

The Advanced Abdominal Ultrasound is a two-day course that provides the next level of training. It is once again practice-oriented and prepares veterinarians to perform specific advanced scanning procedures.

Advanced Abdominal is most suitable for veterinarians and practitioners with experience with ultrasound machines. It focuses on performing and interpreting ultrasonographic examination of the right limb, the pancreas, both adrenal glands, and the peritoneum. It also includes basic approaches for identifying large blood vessel thrombi and portosystemic shunts.

1. Improve International also provides a General Practitioner Certificate in Small Animal Ultrasound that has been accredited by the International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ISVPS). Part of the program’s requirements includes attending the modular program taught by Improve International and studying all areas of the course syllabus. Upon course completion, candidates must satisfy ISVPS assessment requirements within four years to obtain the certificate.

Veterinary Ultrasound Machines From National Ultrasound

Training programs vary by course content, focus, methodology, and duration. As a result, you can choose the program that perfectly matches your practice’s requirements. You may have to supplement your knowledge periodically as ongoing training is recommended to keep abreast of the latest ultrasound practices.

Perfect Your Veterinary Imaging With National Ultrasound

If you’re looking to equip your clinic with the appropriate diagnostic imaging technology, National Ultrasound has a range of ultrasound equipment from reputable brands for both human and veterinary medicine. Furthermore, we offer an impressive selection of new and used ultrasound machines that cater to various applications. In addition, we provide repair and maintenance services and stock replacement parts and supplies to prevent downtime.

If you would like help in selecting the right ultrasound equipment for your clinic, contact National Ultrasound today. Our experts are trained to evaluate your requirements to fit what you need! Let us refine your ultrasound exams and imaging techniques.