Program Overview

Overview

The Echocardiography Training Programme (ETP) has been designed to meet the requirements of the National School of Healthcare Science and Health Education England. This Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Echocardiography is available to the healthcare science workforce through competitive national recruitment.

What You'll Learn

This course will provide students with a systematic understanding of the theoretical principles that underpin cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography) investigations in a clinical setting.

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

• Introduction to Clinical Echocardiography (30 credits)
• Ultrasound Imaging for Echocardiography Practitioners (30 credits)

How You'll Learn

Delivery and teaching methods

This part-time course is delivered by blended learning and has been designed to complement working commitments. The course extends over nine months and consists of a formal taught component, directed by self-study and supervised clinical practice.

You will learn through a mixture of:

• lectures
• workshops
• practical sessions
• independent study
• group work
• case studies
• presentations
• problem-solving exercises

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Computer assessment
• Essay
• Oral examination
• Written examination

Your Future

On successful completion of the ETP, you will qualify as an accredited echocardiographer.

You will be able to work in various settings including NHS hospitals, GP practices, private sector, in both the UK and worldwide.

Quality and Ranking

• 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• Global Top 140 University – QS World University Rankings 2026
• Global Top 160 University - Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025
• Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024
• Top 95 for Life Sciences and Medicine - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• Top 95 for Medicine - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

Professional Accreditation and Recognition

This course is accredited by the National School of Healthcare Science

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Facilities

Students will have access to a range of facilities in our faculty and our clinical skills facility, including:

• echocardiography simulators
• clinical echo machines
• classroom-based teaching

Students on the ETP will learn about and become familiar with echocardiography, using up-to-date simulation equipment and real-world echocardiography machines.

We run workshops within the clinical skills labs where we discuss how to get the different echo views and put this into practice with guided hands-on experience from experienced BSE accredited echocardiographers. The curriculum also includes how to perform and report normal and abnormal echo measurements and write an effective report.