Key completion criteria for the Echocardiography Training Programme

The three key completion requirements

1. Completion of the work-based assessments and competences on the e-portfolio – you must have both modules of the ETP signed off by your training officer by the end of the funded programme. See the dates below for your relevant date.
2. Successful completion of the Post Graduate Certificate (PGCert) in Clinical Echocardiography – you are required to successfully pass the PGCert in Clinical Echocardiography. You will be subject to the requirements set out by the individual HEI in completing the PGCert in Clinical Echocardiography, and according to the curriculum set for the programme for the specialty.
3. Successful completion of the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) level 2 Transthoracic Accreditation process – you are required to have passed the written portion of the BSE Accreditation process before the completion date and have attended a practical assessment. The BSE Accreditation process allows for one resit of the practical assessment and if this is required you will be eligible to complete the ETP if you are successful at a timely resit attempt outside of the programme. For all cohorts, completion of the programme will be awarded provided you are fully Accredited within 6 months of the end of the programme (exceptionally 12 months in agreement with the School).

Your certificate of completion

The Certificate of Completion for the Echocardiography Training Programme (CCETP) confirms that you have met all the relevant mandatory completion criteria for the programme.

Timescales for receiving your certificate

Once you have successfully completed the mandatory requirements of the ETP, you will receive a confirmation of completion email. The hard copy completion certificate will be sent, as soon as possible, to the address we have on file for you. However, this may be up to 4 to 6 weeks later. Availability of hard copy certificates will be dependent on the national restrictions relating to the pandemic in place at the time of completion. However, electronic copies will be made available if hard copies cannot be provided.

We anticipate that BSE Accreditation will be achieved by the end of  the funded programme, but this may be later if the trainee requires a second attempt at the practical assessment, or for those in the pilot cohort who take their first attempt at the practical assessment in the month following.  Full completion may therefore be up to 6 months of the end of the programme (12 months in exceptional circumstances with prior agreement with the School). For this reason, and for trainees who may have an extension to their PGCert or have recorded exceptions, the completion certificate will be awarded when the completion criteria have been met in full, providing this is not more than 12 months after the programme ends. Therefore, the timescales may vary significantly for individual trainees.

It will be your responsibility to inform the School that you are ready for the certification process. When you have completed all 3 elements, please inform the School and we will assign an application for exit form, for you to complete on OneFile. Application to exit the ETP programme with certification will normally be formally submitted to us within 2 months of ending the programme and no later than one year after that date. Once you have signed the exit form, we will confirm your status on OneFile and with the HEI and the BSE.

Summary of completion requirements and final date to complete for trainees starting the programme in 2021 and 2022