ENTRY PROGRAM

Basic Echocardiography

6 weeks

Small groups

Melbourne, VIC

You train hands-on with the same ultrasound equipment used in Heartscope's cardiology clinics.

Course overview

How you'll learn

Connecting theory with supervised practice

You'll complete 17 sessions and 68 hours of supervised practical training, alongside online study.

Hands-on from the first session

Practise cardiac scanning on clinical ultrasound equipment, with supervision at our Melbourne training centre.

Direct educator feedback

Our Chief Cardiac Sonographer teaches every cohort and provides individual feedback on your scanning technique.

Learning between sessions

You'll have access to the Scope Institute learning portal for online lessons and course materials.

Who this course is for

Science graduates entering cardiac imaging

Sonographers from another modality adding cardiac

Nurses and allied health professionals with a relevant completed degree

Career changers holding a completed science or related health degree

Entry requirements

Completed undergraduate degree

You must have completed an undergraduate degree in science or a related health field before enrolment.

Basic computer skills

You should be comfortable using a computer to access online lessons and course materials.

In-person attendance

You'll need to attend all 17 half-day practical sessions at our Melbourne training centre. These sessions can't be completed online.

Bring an adult volunteer

You must be able to bring a suitable adult volunteer who agrees to be scanned for training at every practical session.

No prior echo experience

No previous echocardiography or ultrasound experience is required.

Course curriculum

You'll learn each part of a standard echocardiogram, then bring it together through guided practice.

Optimise the image

Use system controls including depth, gain, focus, sector width, frequency and presets to improve technically usable images during course exercises.

Acquire the standard views

Practise parasternal long and short axis, apical four, five, two and three chamber, subcostal and suprasternal views under supervision.

Apply 2D, M-mode and Doppler

Select the appropriate modality, align it correctly, and perform the measurements that depend on it.

Identify cardiac anatomy

Recognise cardiac anatomy and physiology as they appear in each imaging window, and identify structures omitted from a study

Position and manage the patient

Apply patient positioning and breathing techniques, including approaches for technically difficult subjects.

Understand haemodynamics and quantification

Understand the principles of haemodynamics, chamber quantification and Doppler assessment and how they are applied in a structured basic echocardiography study.

Course outcomes

On successful completion, you'll be able to perform a standard echocardiogram on a normal adult in under an hour, with supervision.



You'll develop a consistent routine for scanning and checking image quality.



After successful completion, you can apply for Part 1: Applied Echocardiography.



You'll receive a Scope Institute certificate recording the training you've completed.

Frequently asked questions