The Canadian Association of Registered Diagnostic Ultrasound Professionals (CARDUP) is committed to meeting the requirements of both the public and employers within the Canadian healthcare system for the delivery of high-quality diagnostic medical ultrasound care services. Canadian employers recognize the benefits that CARDUP-registered sonographers bring to the employer’s capability to deliver cost-effective and highly-skilled services.
Registration with CARDUP requires that sonographers have met the established standards for entry level practice as set by the National Competency Profiles (NCP) for the profession of diagnostic ultrasound in Canada. CARDUP credentials are highly respected and provide assurance to employers across Canada that CARDUP registrants are clinically competent, meet Canadian standards for entry level practice, and are prepared to work effectively in the Canadian healthcare system. Canadian employers are also assured that CARDUP registrants will observe the Code of Ethics for the profession of diagnostic medical ultrasound.
Upon satisfying the requirements for registration candidates may join CARDUP and receive credentials in one or more of the following specialties:
(Core and Generalist)
(Core and Cardiac)
(Core and Vascular)
To maintain the integrity and validity of the CARDUP credentialing process, practicing ultrasound professionals and those externally-trained to the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) accredited education programs must meet the same requirements as new graduates from the accredited programs.
CARDUP has established rigorous qualifications that all candidates must meet in order to obtain CARDUP registrant status and hold Canadian credentials specific to their discipline. CARDUP registrant candidates, both new graduates from CMA accredited programs and practicing sonographers externally-trained to these programs, must meet the following educational, clinical, and knowledge-based requirements to qualify successfully for CARDUP registration:
Registrants must be graduates from formal diagnostic medical ultrasound education programs that are accredited by the CMA or meet similar standards to those of the CMA accredited programs. Sonographers who received their education outside the CMA accredited programs are considered to be externally-trained candidates. Documented proof of graduation from an acceptable diagnostic medical ultrasound education program must be presented.
Currently, through CARDUP, the Canadian Core and Generalist written examinations for the Generalist Specialty are available to candidates. For the remainder of 2010, either successful completion of the Canadian examinations or the ARDMS equivalent certification examinations (SPI, Abdominal and Obstetrics / Gynaecology) are acceptable for CARDUP registration purposes. Beginning in January 2011, only the CARDUP Core and Generalist examinations will be acceptable for CARDUP registration with the Generalist credential.
The CARDUP written examinations for the cardiac and vascular specialties will be phased into place similarly to replace the equivalent ARDMS certification examinations. Announcements regarding CARDUP examinations for these specialties will be forthcoming. In the interim, the ARDMS certification exams for the cardiac and vascular specialties will continue to be accepted by CARDUP for registration purposes.
Please see the CARDUP Credentialing Examinations webpage for further information.
For candidates who obtained their diagnostic medical education external to the CMA accredited programs, further information about test centres offering the CARDUP Clinical Skills Assessment may be obtained by linking to Clinical Skills Testing Centres.
For specific information about CARDUP registration requirements for various candidate categories, please follow the following links:
Recent Ultrasound Program Graduate (from CMA accredited education programs)
Note: For the remainder of this year, there will be a choice of examination routes to CARDUP registration with the Generalist credential for recent graduates from CMA accredited diagnostic medical ultrasound programs.
Category A registration: Upon completion of their educational program and their CCSA, new graduates may choose to write the CARDUP Core and Generalist examinations, and upon successfully passing, register with CARDUP.
Category B registration: New graduates may still opt to write the ARDMS physics, abdominal and obstetrics / gynaecology examinations. Upon passing, they may register with CARDUP by submitting their ARDMS credentials along with proof of graduation from a CMA accredited diagnostic ultrasound educational program and completion of their CCSA. This category will only be available until January 1, 2011 for CRGS credentials. CRCS & CRVS credentials will still be available with this category of registration until further notice
Graduates in 2009 from accredited programs that did not incorporate the CARDUP Clinical Skills Assessment (CCSA) may apply for CARDUP registration under Category B with proof of graduation and ARDMS credentials. This opportunity will only be available until December 31, 2010.
Practicing and Externally-Trained Ultrasound Professionals (trained outside the CMA accredited programs)
Current Registrants applying for an Additional Credential
Information for new immigrants to Canada wishing to continue their career as a diagnostic medical ultrasound professional is available by linking to Diagnostic Medical Sonography Bridging Program. For general information for new immigrants in Alberta, please see, Directions for Immigrants in Trades and Professional Careers.
If you are planning to re-enter the diagnostic medical ultrasound profession after a period of absence, please see the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Refresher & Upgrading Program for further information.
To maintain registry status, registrants with CARDUP must fulfill specific continuing medical education (CME) requirements on a triennium basis to stay current with new techniques and developments within the field of diagnostic medical ultrasound. Registrants must show proof of their CME activities through the submission to CARDUP of earned CME certificates. Registration must be renewed on an annual basis and upon expiry of a triennium; registrants must have satisfied their CME requirements to continue their registry renewal and initiate a new CME triennium.
For further information about triennium and CME requirements, please see Maintenance of Registry Status.
To complete an online renewal of your current registration, please see Renewing Registrant.
For further information, please see the Renewal Policy for CARDUP registrants.
For information regarding refunds, please see the CARDUP Registry Fee Refund Policy.
Should you require further information not available on this webpage or in the linked information, please do not hesitate to contact CARDUP by emailing info@cardup.org.