ASAR Information
Preamble
This document aims to provide information about the Australasian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR) for sonographers and the wider medical ultrasound community. Sonographers wishing to apply for admission on to the Register are encouraged to read this document before applying.
- Background
- Accreditation Philosophy
- ASAR’s Mission
- ASAR’s Goals
- Requirements for Admission to the Register of Accredited Medical Sonographers
- Requirements for Admission to the Register of Accredited Student Sonographers
- Australian Orthoptic Board
- Temporary Residents/Overseas Qualifications
- Temporary Residents with ASAR accredited qualifications
- Continuation Of Accreditation
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- Voluntary Deactivation and Reactivation
- Removal From The Register, and Returning
- Appeals
Background
The ASAR was established on 22 October 1994 following a recommendation of the now disbanded Ultrasonographers’ Qualification Accreditation Working Party of the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine. ASAR’s brief is to accredit and re-accredit on a regular basis, ultrasound programs offered by various institutions, and to establish the criteria against which those programs and any other future Australian and New Zealand programs are to be judged. In addition a register of accredited and student sonographers is maintained and their continuing professional development (CPD) activities monitored and recorded.
The first meeting of the ASAR was held on 10 December 1994 and its mission statement was published in April 1995. ASAR was initially established with financial grants from the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM), Australian Institute of Radiography (AIR), the Australian Sonographers Association (ASA). Funding from Australian universities represented on the ASAR Council has also supported ASAR.
Where a medical practitioner has a sonographer perform an ultrasound examination on their behalf and receives a Medicare benefit for that service, the sonographer must be on the Register of Accredited Sonographers or Student Sonographers as administered by the ASAR Ltd (ASAR).
The Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care has supported ASAR in the implementation of these changes.
Accreditation Philosophy
ASAR’s accreditation philosophy is based on principles of co-operation, continuous quality improvement and outcome evaluation. The Registry recognises that there are several educational programs/qualifications in medical sonography available in Australia and New Zealand. The Registry is cognisant of the fact that each program has developed a unique structure in response to local demands, constraints and conditions. It recognises that this diversity is an important feature of sonographer education in Australia and New Zealand as it allows broader access to education than would be possible with a very prescriptive and rigid model.
The ASAR accreditation model was developed following review of the Competency Based Standards Report in Medical Radiation Technology -Sonography (ASUM, 1992), and consultation with the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, Association of Cardiac Technology in Victoria, British Medical Ultrasound Society, New Zealand Medical Radiation Technologists Board, Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, United Kingdom Association of Sonographers, experts within the field of education and within the profession.
Sonographer accreditation will also introduce a significant element of quality assurance in the provision of medical ultrasound services, create demographic data relating to the profession of sonography and provide advice to institutions developing ultrasound programs.
ASAR’s Mission
The ASAR is dedicated to the promotion of high standards of sonography in Australasia, by facilitating the setting of a uniform, minimum level of sonography education and acknowledging the professional standing of those individuals who reach this standard.
ASAR’s Goals
- to accredit sonography training and education programs within Australasia
- to maintain a Register of accredited sonographers who have satisfied the requirements of the Registry
- to maintain a Register of student sonographers who are currently participating in an accredited program of study.
- to establish minimum standards of Continuing Professional Development and to monitor the CPD requirements for sonographers to remain on the Register.
Requirements for Admission to the Register of Accredited Medical Sonographers
To be eligible for admission on to the Register of Accredited Medical Sonographers, an applicant must fit into one of the following four categories:
Category 1A – Accredited Qualification
Be an Australian/New Zealand Citizen or a Permanent Resident of Australia
and
is a holder of an ASAR accredited qualification in medical ultrasound.
A current list of accredited qualifications is available from the ASAR web site at http://www.asar.com.au/qualifications.html.
Applicants with/greater than 40% of their clinical experience offshore during the course of their study will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Note: If the qualification was obtained more than 3 years ago, applicants need to have been active for an equivalent of 1 year part-time/6 months full-time in clinical ultrasound practice in the last 3 years. If otherwise, applicants need to comply with ASAR’s return to clinical practice policy. Please refer to our ASS Application form under Provisional Student Category or contact the ASAR secretariat for more information.
Category 1B – AIR Certificate of Proficiency in Ultrasound
Be an Australian/New Zealand Citizen or a Permanent Resident of Australia or hold a valid Australian working visa. (Renewal each year for applicants with a valid working visa is dependent upon presenting ASAR with proof of valid work visa for that year.)
and
is a holder of an AIR Certificate of Proficiency in Ultrasound.
Note: If the AIR certificate was obtained more than 3 years ago, applicants need to have been active for an equivalent of 1 year part-time/6 months full-time in clinical ultrasound practice in the last 3 years. If otherwise, applicants need to comply with ASAR’s return to clinical practice policy. Please refer to our ASS Application form under Provisional Student Category or contact the ASAR secretariat for more information.
This category is suitable for applicants who
- hold temporary visa and wish to obtain employment in Australia
- hold overseas qualifications and wish to obtain employment in Australia
- are temporary residents and have obtained an ASAR accredited qualification and wish to obtain employment in Australia
Category 1C- (Trans-Tasman agreement)
Be an Australian/New Zealand Citizen or a Permanent Resident of Australia
and
hold a certificate of registration from the Medical Radiation Technologists Board, New Zealand.
Note: If the certificate of registration was obtained more than 3 years ago, applicants need to have been active for an equivalent of 1 year part-time/6 months full-time in clinical ultrasound practice in the last 3 years. If otherwise, applicants need to comply with ASAR’s return to clinical practice policy. Please refer to our ASS Application form under Provisional Student Category or contact the ASAR secretariat for more information.
Category 3 – Five years or greater clinical experience
Be an Australian/New Zealand Citizen or a Permanent Resident of Australia
and
is a sonographer who at 1st November 2001 has 5 years or greater clinical experience in ultrasound within Australia/New Zealand and can demonstrate this with suitable evidence.
Note: Applicants need to have been active for an equivalent of 1 year part-time/6 months full-time in clinical ultrasound practice in the last 3 years. If otherwise, applicants need to comply with ASAR’s return to clinical practice policy. Please refer to our ASS Application form under Provisional Student Category or contact the ASAR secretariat for more information.
Requirements for Admission to the Register of Accredited Student Sonographers
To be eligible for admission on to the Register of Accredited Student Sonographers, an applicant must fit into one of the following categories:
Category 2A – Accredited Student Sonographer
To be eligible for admission on to the Register of Accredited Student Sonographers, the applicant must meet the following criteria:
Be an Australian/New Zealand Citizen OR a Permanent Resident of Australia or hold a valid visa to work/study in Australia
and
be a student participating in an ASAR accredited program of study in medical ultrasound.
A current list of accredited programs is available from the ASAR web site at http://www.asar.com.au/programs.html.
Category 2C – Conditional Student Sonographer
This category of accreditation is for applicants who intend to undertake an ASAR accredited program within one year. These applicants will be granted entry on to the register on the condition that they supply ASAR with an employer’s letter* stating that the applicant will enrol in an ASAR accredited program within one year of registering with ASAR. A current list of accredited programs is available from the ASAR web site at http://www.asar.com.au/programs.html.
To be eligible for this admission, the applicant must meet the following criteria:
Be an Australian/New Zealand Citizen or a Permanent Resident of Australia or hold a valid visa to work/study in Australia
and
provide ASAR with an employer’s letter* stating that the applicant will enrol in an ASAR accredited program within one year of registering with ASAR.
Note*: This letter is only applicable for initial application to ASAR and is valid for one year. Failure to enrol in an ASAR accredited program within the specified timeframe will result in removal of that person from the Register.
Category 2P – Provisional Student Sonographer
This category of accreditation is for sonographers who wish to return to clinical practice following a period of inactivity. These applicants will be granted entry on to the register provided they successfully comply with ASAR’s Return to Clinical Practice Policy and Guidelines within the specified timeframe. On completion, sonographers will be placed in their appropriate AMS categories (subject to the sonographer fulfilling the ASAR Regulations for Accreditation). (Failure to comply with ASAR’s Return to Clinical Practice Policy within the specified time will result in removal of that member from the Register).
To be eligible for admission, a sonographer must meet the following criteria:
Be eligible for admission on to the ASAR Register through one of the AMS Categories
and
successfully comply with ASAR’s Return to Clinical Practice Policy within the specified timeframe.
The Return to Clinical Practice Policy and Guidelines is specified in the RCP Policy and Guidelines page or contact the ASAR Secretariat on 02-88501144.
Australian Orthoptic Board
As per the agreement between ASAR and AOB, ASAR accepts AOB registered members as appropriate for ASAR accreditation. AOB members need to contact the AOB office for more information to apply for ASAR accreditation, or check their website on www.australianorthopticboard.org.au
Temporary Residents/Overseas Qualifications
ASAR is not responsible for assessing overseas-qualified sonographers for immigration purposes. Sonographers in this situation must contact the Australian Institute of Radiography (AIR). If the applicant is successful in the AIR assessment, granting of accreditation by ASAR is usually a simple matter of sending the AIR statement to the ASAR Secretariat together with the completed ASAR application form and prescribed fee.
Temporary Residents With ASAR Accredited Qualifications
If you are an overseas resident and have graduated with an ASAR accredited post graduate qualification in ultrasound and you want to work in Australia, then you require a valid work visa and you must follow the application process for overseas applicants (AIR Assessment) as outlined for temporary residents/overseas qualifications. If all requirements for application are met, then you qualify for accredited status, i.e. as an Accredited Medical Sonographer (AMS) on the ASAR Register.
Continuation Of Accreditation
In order to remain on the Register, an accredited sonographer must satisfy the ASAR CPD requirements and pay the prescribed annual fee. Student sonographers, apart from paying the prescribed annual fee should provide evidence of their student status every year when they renew their ASAR accreditation.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) provides the mechanism by which the accredited sonographer may expand his or her knowledge base and skills to keep abreast of the rapidly changing face of diagnostic medical ultrasound.
To fulfil the CPD requirements an accredited sonographer must accumulate 40 CPD credits in each triennium (three-year period). The accredited sonographer’s first triennium begins in the January of the year following their name being entered on to the Register. CPD Credits can be accumulated immediately following entry on to the Register. Credits earned in excess of the 40 points do not roll over into the next triennium.
For ASUM members, all ASAR CPD requirements may be met through participation in ASUM’s MOSIPP program. Members selecting this CPD program must conform to its rules and regulations, and it is the individual’s responsibility to ensure that their records are current. ASUM provides information to ASAR on an annual basis detailing the performance of individuals participating in the MOSIPP program. Members selecting the ASUM MOSIPP program must complete a form (available from ASUM) authorising this transfer of information. For further information on the MOSIPP program, contact ASUM.
For AIR members all ASAR CPD requirements may be met through participation in the AIR CPD program. Members selecting this CPD program must conform to its rules and regulations, and it is the individual’s responsibility to ensure that their records are current. When entering points within this program, individuals should label their records as “U” to denote ultrasound related activities. Only those points with a “U” classification are declared to ASAR. The AIR provides information to ASAR on an annual basis indicating the performance of individuals participating in the AIR CPD program. For further information on the AIR CPD program, contact AIR.
More detailed information about the ASAR CPD regulations is provided on the ASAR website at <http://www.asar.com.au/cpd.html>.
Voluntary Deactivation and Reactivation
Sonographers may request to be voluntarily deactivated from the Register by completing the prescribed form. To reactivate their registration, they must pay a prescribed fee to have their name placed back on to the Register.
If the period of voluntary deactivation is less than 12 months, the CPD triennium will continue unchanged. In this case, sonographers need to maintain a log of CPD credits while they are deactivated. However, if the period is greater than 12 months, a new CPD triennium will commence following reinstatement to the Register. Accrued activities will not be credited to the new triennium.
If the period of deactivation is 3 years or more, sonographers will need to comply with ASAR’s Return to Clinical Practice Policy in order to return to the Register.
Deactivation will begin on the date that the Registry receives request for deactivation from the sonographer. Similarly, subsequent reinstatement/reactivation will occur on the date that the Registry receives the application for reactivation. Medicare Australia will be notified when an individual’s name gets deactivated and reactivated on the ASAR Register. Deactivations and Reactivations cannot be back-dated. It is the individual sonographer’s responsibility to notify the Registry accordingly.
Deactivation and Reactivation forms are available from the ASAR website at <http://www.asar.com.au/forms.html>.
Removal From The Register
If a Sonographer does not comply with all of the requirements for continuation on the Register, the sonographer’s name will be removed. A reminder letter will be sent after the due date for either fee payment or CPD default. If the Registry receives no correspondence within the specified timeframe, the sonographer’s name will be removed from the Register and Medicare Australia notified accordingly.
Return To The Register Following CPD Default Removal
A completed ASAR application form and fee of AUD $150 including GST must be forwarded to the ASAR secretariat. Once received and approved by ASAR council the applicant will be placed on the register under the following conditions:
- for the following three years, the sonographer must pay an annual fee of AUD $150 including GST to remain on the register
- the sonographer must participate in the ASAR CPD program and submit 30 CPD credits to ASAR within each 12-month period for a total of 36 months. A CPD audit will be conducted at the end of each 12-month period. The first 12-month period will begin on the date that ASAR council returns the sonographer to the register.
Following the final CPD audit, successful completion of this 36-month period will result in the sonographer being returned to regular accredited sonographer status.
If at any point in this 36-month period the sonographer does not comply with the outlined CPD and/or fee requirements, the sonographer’s name will be removed from the register and Medicare Australia will be notified of the removal. In this case, the sonographer may return to the register via category 2 by enrolling in an ASAR accredited qualification. Alternatively, the sonographer may return to the register following successful completion of an ASAR accredited re-entry program.
Return to the Register Following Removal Due to Non Payment of Fees
A completed ASAR application form and fee of AUD $200 including GST must be forwarded to the ASAR secretariat. Once received and approved by ASAR council the applicant will be placed on the register. The CPD triennium will be reset depending on the period of removal: if the period of removal is less than 12 months the current CPD triennium will continue unchanged; if the period of deactivation is greater than 12 months a new CPD triennium will commence following reinstatement to the register.
Forms for Reactivation are available from the ASAR website at <http://www.asar.com.au/forms.html>.
Appeals
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Registry may, within thirty days after the receipt of communication of that decision, lodge the appeal form with the Registry, accompanied by an application fee as prescribed in the form. Upon receipt of the appeal form accompanied by the prescribed fee, the Registry will refer the appeal to a Tribunal consisting of one academic Councillor of the ASAR, one professional body Councillor and one impartial expert adviser, who will determine the outcome of the appeal as soon as practicable thereafter. At the conduct of any appeal, the appellant
- may appear before the Tribunal in person
- may appoint a representative to appear on his/her behalf
- may make such oral or written submissions, as he or she thinks fit.
A decision of the Tribunal shall be in writing and shall set out the reasons for the decision. If a decision is in favour of the appellant, the application fee lodged with the notice of appeal shall be refunded to the applicant. A decision by the Tribunal shall be final and binding on both the Registry and the appellant.