RETURN TO CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES

Updated October 2023

The following guidelines have been developed as a pathway for any Sonographer who wishes to re-enter the ASAR Register and who has been absent from the Registry for three years or more.

 

 

Clinical experience equivalent to six months full-time during the last three years

For those Sonographers who have been deactivated from the Register for three years or more (e.g. on travel, working overseas or working in a public hospital) and want to return to the ASAR Register, AND can show six months equivalent full-time clinical practice during the last three-year period (i.e. experience gained overseas) and can provide suitable evidence of their clinical practice during this time (e.g. letter from employer, VAT form), then re-entry on to the register is permitted.

The Reactivation Form together with required documentation and fee must be submitted to ASAR.

Clinical experience less than six months full-time equivalent during the last three years

For those Sonographers who have been deactivated from the Register for three years or more but do not have more than six-months full-time clinical experience and want to return to the ASAR Register OR for new applicants who are otherwise eligible for Category 1A/1B AND cannot show at least six months full-time equivalent clinical experience in the last three years, the Sonographer must undergo clinical assessment to gain re-entry/entry on to the Register.

This clinical assessment should be performed within the prospective workplace, with supervision from an AMS or medical practitioner with extensive experience in the field of general ultrasound. The assessment should be successfully completed within three months of gaining employment and applying to the Register.

During this assessment period, the Sonographer will be listed on the Register as a Provisional Student Sonographer.

Step 1: Clinical assessment process - 3 month transition period

• The Return to Clinical Practice Supervisor Consent Form must be completed and returned to ASAR prior to the Sonographer commencing their Clinical Assessment.
• Once submitted, download the corresponding Return to Clinical Practice Supervisor Assessment Form (see forms here), which needs to be completed and returned to ASAR within this three-month timeframe to enable entry on to the Register.
• Clinical supervisors are encouraged to refer to ASAR's Return to Clinical Practice Competency Checklist (within the Assessment Form) to assist in assessing the clinical skills of the Sonographer.
• Once the 3 month transition period has lapsed and a successful clinical assessment has occured, the Sonographer will be placed on the Register as an Accredited Medical Sonographer (AMS).

If notice of successful completion of the clinical assessment is not submitted to ASAR within three months of gaining employment and applying to the Register, the Sonographer must follow the RCP guidelines for Sonographers who have been inactive in clinical ultrasound practice for five years or more.

Inactive in clinical ultrasound practice for five years or more

For those Sonographers who have been deactivated from the Register for five years or more or inactive in clinical ultrasound practice for five years or more but otherwise eligible for AMS status (i.e. hold an accredited qualification), the Sonographer must enrol in an ASAR-approved Return to Clinical Practice program followed by a clinical assessment.

The Sonographer must successfully complete both the Return to Clinical Practice program and the clinical assessment process to gain re-entry on to the Register as an AMS. This whole process should be performed within the prospective work place by the supervisor (if possible) and be successfully completed within 12 months of gaining employment and applying to the Register.

During this period, the Sonographer will be listed on the Register as a Provisional Student Sonographer.

Step 1: Complete an ASAR-approved Return to Clinical Practice program

Step 2: Clinical assessment process - 3 month transition period

• The Return to Clinical Practice Supervisor Consent Form must be completed and returned to ASAR prior to the Sonographer commencing their Clinical Assessment.
• Once submitted, download the corresponding Return to Clinical Practice Supervisor Assessment Form (see forms here), which needs to be completed and returned to ASAR within the maximum twelve-month timeframe to enable entry on to the Register.
• Clinical supervisors are encouraged to refer to ASAR's Return to Clinical Practice Competency Checklist (within the Assessment Form) to assist in assessing the clinical skills of the Sonographer.
• A Sonographer who succcesfully completes both a Return to Clinical program and clinical assessment will then be placed on the Register as an Accredited Medical Sonographer (AMS).

During this assessment period (minimum 3 months, maximum 12 months), the Sonographer will be listed on the Register as a Provisional Student Sonographer.

Removal from the Register

If notice of successful completion of a RCP program and successful clinical assessment are not submitted to ASAR within 12 months of application, the Sonographer’s name will be removed from the Register and Medicare Australia will be notified. In this case, the Sonographer may return to the Register via category 2A, by enrolling in an ASAR accredited program.