Earn while you learn and gain skills, knowledge and behaviours that will inform and develop your clinical skills in the area of ultrasound in diagnostic imaging

About the apprenticeship

Course length: 3 years, part-time

Start date: March

Course level: Level 6

University award: BSc (Hons) Medical Ultrasound

How much it costs: funded through the employer

Accredited by: Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education (CASE)

Course summary

• Get hands-on practice using industry standard simulation equipment, including ultrasound machine
• Learn to develop and deliver person-centred care.
• Collaborate with other professional groups in health and social care.
• Provide high quality, patient-centered care in a collaborative environment

This apprenticeship is designed to teach you the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to develop clinical practice in the area of ultrasound and diagnostic imaging. In addition to sonography-specific skills, you will learn how to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to professional development.

You will have access to industry standard simulation equipment in order to support your learning in a safe and stress free environment, this includes a fully-working ultrasound machine to learn practical and technical skills on.

Since March 2023 this apprenticeship has been accredited by Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education (CASE).

Please be aware that as Sonographer is not currently a protected title in the UK,  you will not be eligible to be registered with the HCPC, although it is hoped that this will become a possibility in the future.

For this reason, employment may not be possible in certain NHS trusts and some private sector organisations, although many organisations already employ sonographers from non-traditional backgrounds, graduates will be eligible to join the Register of Clinical Technologists (RCT) accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

This course meets the sonographer (integrated degree) apprenticeship standard.

How you learn

You’ll learn how to acquire, interpret and analyse ultrasound images and work in a team that provides diagnostic imaging to a range of patients and conditions. 

You'll work with independent professional practitioners responsible for managing their own work and for a wide range of specialist ultrasound scanning equipment and resources.

You will learn through: 

• theoretical lectures, tutorials and seminars
• clinical practice-based learning
• simulation
• technology-enhanced learning
• practical sessions
• virtual and distance learning
• independent learning

You will progress through the course following successful achievement of assessments, which address the learning outcomes for each module and allow you to complete the course.

You will also complete an endpoint assessment towards the end of the apprenticeship.

Campus facilities

You'll learn in modern facilities at our Collegiate Campus.

You'll have access to:

• ultrasound simulation suite
• intelligent Ultrasound Scantrainer and cloud-based resources
• bodyworks EVE simulator
• ultrasound machines and phantoms for simulated learning

Entry requirements

Throughout the course, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours at university. They can be existing employees looking to develop their careers, or new applicants to the business.

Applicants must:

• be over 18
• not be in full time education
• have the right to abode in the UK
• meet the course entry requirements

GCSE (or equivalent)

Maths and English at level 2 or above (grade 4, or previously C)

If you don't have this yet, you'll need to achieve this level before you take your end-point assessment.

Additional qualifications

You'll need to provide evidence that you have successfully completed formal study at Level 3 and have at least 6 months experience in a health and social care setting to apply. 

If you do not have at least 6 months experience working in a health and social care setting, you must hold one of the following: 

• 96 UCAS points from 3 A levels 
• Level 3 BTEC National Qualifications MMM
• Access to HE Diploma 
• T-Levels 
• Level 3 Higher Technical Qualifications 
• Previous degree level or higher study including Foundation Degrees

Your understanding of health and social care and the profession is assessed throughout the selection event processes. We will also consider you if you have alternative qualifications or a combination of qualifications and work experience

Modules

The programme adopts a blended learning approach with modules delivered through a combination of lectures, class-based seminars, practical work and site visits.

Year one

• Collaboration for individual and community wellbeing
• Personal and professional development
• Introduction to science of medical ultrasound
• Introduction to professional ultrasound practice
• Abdominal and pelvic ultrasound practice
• Obstetric ultrasound practice 1
• Medical ultrasound competence for practice

Year two

• Evidence and enquiry for practice
• Assessing and addressing complexity
• Fundamentals of professional ultrasound practice
• Abdominal and gynaecological ultrasound practice
• Obstetric ultrasound practice 2
• Medical ultrasound competence for practice 2

Year three

• The advancing professional
• Professional leadership
• Working with complexity in practice
• Professional ultrasound practice
• Individualised topic ultrasound practice
• Medical ultrasound competence for practice 3
• End-point assessment medical ultrasound

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change.