Registration options for all Ultrasound Practitioners It comes as a surprise to many to learn that there is currently NO State Registration of medical Sonographers in the United Kingdom. Historically, when the Commission for Professions Supplementary to Medicine - CPSM was first established, Neither Ultrasound nor Sonographers existed. As Ultrasound developed it was performed initially predominantly be Radiologists and then gradually Radiographers were asked to take on an ever increasing role, until eventually the autonomous Sonographer was born and an examination established by the College of Radiographers as a professional qualification, the Diploma in Medical ultrasound (DMU). Now, many Ultrasound Departments are run with little or no Radiological input, with Sonographers performing the scan, establishing the diagnosis and formulating the medical report.  Despite this development, until recently the only way into the profession was to be a practicing Radiographer, Midwife, MLSO or some other Healthcare Professional, and it was considered sufficient that those individuals be licensed through their own Professional registration schemes

Several years ago, the Diploma in Medical Ultrasound was superseded by a Post Graduate qualification, the Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) in Medical Ultrasound. Entry to this examination is not restricted by previous profession, with the result that more and more non-registered Sonographers are qualifying and seeking employment.

The absence of State Registration also means that it is perfectly legal to practice Ultrasound with NO qualification at all - and inevitably this put patients at risk.

Despite considerable pressure from Ultrasound bodies such as the British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS) and other staff groups, the idea of State Registration for Sonographers is still not being officially endorsed.

SONOGRAPHERS Medical fully supports the idea of State Registration. 100%. No quibble. It is in the public interest and in the interest of every competent Sonographer in the Country.

Until it is established, we recommend that all Sonographers who can, register with an alternative Professional registration scheme. Whilst this has little impact on public safety, it does at least show, on the part of the Sonographer, a willingness to undergo peer review.  And for those that can't, there is a Voluntary Register produced jointly by The British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS) and the Society & College of Radiographers (SCOR) on which practitioners can add their details, To search the register click here

You can download an Application form for the Voluntary register below:
Voluntary Register for Ultrasound Practitioners

In a similat fashion, we recommend that Locums apply for membership with The British Medical Ultrasound Society BMUS and/or the Society  for Vascular Technologists of United kingdom & Northern Ireland SVT.