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Read the CORE curriculum

Learn with diagrams and how-to videos
This curriculum describes the proper technique to safely and effectively use point of care ultrasound in the acute care of heart, lung, abdomen, and first trimester obstetrics pathologies. It includes protocols for image generation, image identification, and clinical integration.
SECTION 1
POCUS
Basics
5 modules with diagrams
- Ultrasound controls
- Physics of ultrasound
- Probe movements
- Probe types
- System care
SECTION 2
Advanced skills for certification
6 modules with videos
- Sub-xiphoid cardiac
- Aorta
- Abdomen
- First trimester obstetrics
- Pleural effusion
- Pneumothorax
Sign up for a course
The following CORE courses are offered by independent organizations
(listed alphabetically A-Z)
Certain courses are accredited and meet
CPoCUS quality and training criteria
Note: CPoCUS does not determine course fees or cancellation policies

CanPoCUS
- Halifax, NS
- Introductory courses
One-day introductory acute care course for physicians, residents, and nurse practitioners. Special rates available for Residents and Students.
TBD

CIUSSS Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean
- Chicoutimi, QC
- IP certification courses
Three-day hands-on workshops and exams designed to provide certification in point of care ultrasound.
TBD

EDE Bootcamp
- Brantford, On
- IP certification courses
Three-day hands-on workshops and exams designed to provide certification in point of care ultrasound.
TBD

EM POCUS
- Doha, Qatar
- Introductory courses
- IP certification courses
Three-day hands-on workshops and exams designed to provide certification in point of care ultrasound.
TBD

ePoCUS Essentials
- Montreal, QC
- Introductory courses
- IP certification courses
Introductory level courses and IP certification courses providing POCUS instruction on CORE indications.
TBD

Montreal PoCUS
- Montreal, QC
- Introductory courses
- IP certification courses
Introductory level courses and IP certification courses providing POCUS instruction on CORE indications.
TBD

MTL-SONO
- Montreal, QC
- Introductory courses
We bring together residents and students from medical schools across Canada for two days of introductory point-of-care ultrasound training by some of the top experts in POCUS education.
TBD

MUSE ECHO
- Montreal, QC
- Introductory courses
- IP certification courses
All levels welcome for longitudinal IP certification courses with gradual learning in small groups, or one-day intro courses, or exam-only courses. Cours d'un ou deux jours avec apprentissage en petits groupes. Tous les niveaux sont les bienvenus.
Oct 25-Dec 6, 2023*
*8 nights in 8 weeks


NEEP
- Nanaimo, BC
- IP certification courses
Four-day IP certification courses as part of Nanaimo Emergency Education Program three-month fellowship.

Nickel POCUS
- Sudbury, ON
- IP certification courses
Three-day IP certification courses for point of care ultrasound training.
TBD

PoCUSEast
- Halifax, NS
- IP certification courses
Three-day courses for point of care ultrasound training.
April 20-22, 2024
June 22-24, 2024

Prairie POCUS
- Canada
- Introductory courses
- IP certification courses
Four-day hands-on workshop with integrated CPoCUS exams designed for participants to obtain full IP certification at the end of the course.
(2023)
Nov 30-Dec 3
(2024)
Jan 11-14
Jan 17
Jan 18-21
Jan 25-28
Feb 1-4
Feb 8-11
Feb 24
Feb 29-Mar 3
Mar 7-10
Mar 21-24
Apr 11-14
Apr 17-20
Apr 25-28
May 2-5
(2024, cont'd)
May 16-19
May 25
May 20-June 2
June 13-16
June 22
June 27-30
July 11-14
Sept 5-8
Sept 12-15
Sept 19-22
Oct 3-6
Oct 17-20
Nov 21-24
Dec 5-8
Dec 14
Dec 17-20

RIPP
- Canada
- IP certification courses
RIPP offers four-day courses at the rural clinician’s facility for those that cannot find coverage when away at an ultrasound course or have no one to supervise the scans required for certification.
TBD

SONO Manitoba
(University of Manitoba)
- Winnipeg, MB
- IP certification courses
Three-day hands-on workshops and exams designed to provide certification in point of care ultrasound.
Feb 21-23, 2024
Try eLearning
eLearning combines the online curriculum with online testing
Used by Canadian universities
Available in French or English for CORE tracks
Online curriculum
Didactic Material
Didactic material is divided into modules
- Ultrasound controls
- Physics of ultrasound
- Probe movements
- Probe types
- System care
- Sub-xiphoid cardiac view
- Aorta
- Abdomen
- First-trimester obstetrics
- Pleural effusion
- Pneumothorax
Instructional Videos
Videos are aligned with didactic material
Videos show scanning on live models with guidance for image generation, interpretation, and clinical integration.
Online Testing
Quizzes
Quizzes are aligned with modules and customized by course directors.
Final Exam
A final exam can be created from a combination of quizzes.
CERTIFY
How to get certified
as an Independent Practitioner (IP)
IP candidate completes a CPoCUS-accredited CORE introductory course
IP candidate completes logged scan requirements supervised by a CORE IP examiner
IP candidate passes three examinations with a CORE IP examiner
CORE IP examiner submits an IP request for the IP candidate
IP candidate pays one-time certificate fee to finalize IP certification
IP candidate receives IP number and CORE IP certificate
Brief overview of certification examinations

Written examination to assess knowledge base.
The Written Exam is conducted on a computer with a pass score of 85% (one examiner, many candidates).
You must join CPoCUS prior to writing the Written exam.
The Written Exam is an online, multiple choice, closed book examination with 20-80 questions. If you fail the first attempt, you will receive a report detailing which questions you answered incorrectly. You may re-write the exam the next day.

Visual examination to assess image interpretation skills and the ability to integrate POCUS findings into clinical care.
The Visual Exam is conducted on a computer with a pass score of 85% (one examiner, one candidate).
These exams take place with a CPoCUS instructor using an interactive video presentation. Candidates are shown images and video clips and are asked to interpret images and incorporate findings into case scenarios.

Practical examination to assess image generation skills.
The Practical Exam is conducted on a standardized patient with a pass score of 100% (one examiner, one candidate).
The examiner uses a detailed checklist of the essential skills required of all IP candidates.Â
An IP candidate’s training should be sufficient to allow them to pass the Practical exam without any hesitation in performing skills and without any prompting from the examiner.Â
Maintain
Keep up to date with MOC
Maintenance of Competency (MOC) helps refresh and expand your POCUS skills
Online quizzes available in French and English
Test your POCUS skills in these tracks:
Acute Care CORE
Family Medicine CORE
Resuscitation
Diagnostic
How to complete MOC modules online
Login, select a MOC module in Members sections
Read Curriculum
Take Quiz (score ≥ 85%)
Download Certificate of Completion
Earn CME credits with MOC
Earn up to 48 credits by reviewing the CORE curriculum
and passing the CORE MOC quizzes
Get certified by CPoCUS
Become a Member
Take advantage of the benefits below and more!