Ultrasound Special Skills Module

Our Special Skills Modules (SSMs) involve theoretical and practical training that enables healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom to deliver specialist care in an area of sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH).

The practical elements of SSM training are supervised by a Principal Trainer at a training centre, and are captured within a logbook that is submitted to us for review.

By completing the Ultrasound SSM, you will demonstrate your ability to deliver high-quality specialist care in this area, and will be awarded a Faculty Certificate.

We also offer an SSM in Abortion Care, Menopause Care and Vasectomy.

Who can apply for the Ultrasound SSM?

The Ultrasound SSM is for healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom who work regularly in the field of SRH – such as doctors and nurses.

The essential entry requirements are:

Fully registered with the GMC or NMC
Working in SRH, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, primary care or any other speciality related to women’s health care

The desirable entry requirements are:

Holding a relevant post-registration qualification in contraception or sexual health (e.g. DFSRH)

How do I apply for the Ultrasound SSM?

You will need to secure a Principal Trainer before you apply. See the Principal Trainer tab below for how to do this.

You will also need to have a MyFSRH account. Find out how to create a MyFSRH account.

You can apply through our website as follows:

1. Log in to your MyFSRH account and access the FSRH Training Hub
2. Scroll to the FSRH Training Hub and click on 'Browse courses'
3. Click on 'FSRH Special Skills Module' and then 'Go to course'
4. On the FSRH Special Skills Modules page, scroll down to the 'Apply for an SSM' banner
5. Open the banner and click on the 'Apply now' button
6. Complete the SSM application form and pay for your chosen SSM

Once you have applied, we will let you know by email within 10 working days whether you have been accepted.

If you are not accepted, you will receive an email and a refund on your payment.

If you are accepted, you will be sent your logbook and trainee number by email. Once you receive these, you can begin your SSM training.

You must provide your GMC or NMC number when applying for an SSM. If you are providing your GMC number, you must have a current licence to practice medicine in the UK.

What does Ultrasound SSM training involve?

The SSM includes theoretical and practical assessments. These are met by the completion of an FSRH-recognised theory course, and by the submission of an SSM logbook that captures the practical training elements that are supervised by a Principal Trainer.

Training is undertaken not for any set period, but until the Principal Trainer is satisfied that you have demonstrated the necessary skills, knowledge and competency levels.

Please see the Theory Course and Logbook tabs below for more information.

Theory Course

Attendance at a theory course is mandatory, and it must either have been taken up to two years before starting the practical training, or within six months of starting. The course may take two or three days.

The theory course should include the following:

Physics, instrumentation, and safety
Ultrasound systems and probes:

instrumentation
control panel

Conduct of ultrasound scanning
Consent
Chaperone
Confidentiality
Infection control
Examination technique:

probe movements
image orientation
pelvic anatomy

Normal pregnancy development in the first trimester
Diagnosis of extrauterine pregnancy
Effect of contraceptive hormones and menopause on the endometrium
Recognition of ovarian cysts
Appearance of IUD/IUS in utero
Organisation of Ultrasound service in Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare settings
Subdermal implant location

If you are a course organiser who would like us to endorse your theory course for one of our SSMs, check out our course endorsement process .

Logbook

The logbook outlines all the practical training elements that you will need to complete. You will receive an electronic version of the logbook when you are accepted on to the SSM. At the end of the logbook is a Certificate Checklist that lists each of the items that you need to submit to complete the SSM.

You can either print out the logbook and scan in each page when it is ready for submission, or you can complete the pages of the logbook electronically and scan in the pages of evidence to support your logbook submission.

Once completed, the logbook will need to be emailed as an attachment to the Education Development Officer for Specialist Training, Rhian Jones, at rjones@fsrh.org.

Principal Trainers

Principal Trainers supervise the entire training process for the SSM. They are responsible for the initial, interim and summative assessments, and the final SSM logbook sign off.

They are also responsible for delegating additional trainers for the assessments that require secondary trainer approval. It is their duty to ensure that these secondary trainers are sufficiently competent and able to train you.

How can I find an Ultrasound SSM Principal Trainer?

You will need to contact a registered Principal Trainer from the below list to ask if they could be your Principal Trainer for this SSM:

List of Ultrasound SSM Principal Trainers

The coverage of Principal Trainers across the UK is limited in some areas. Additionally, some Principal Trainers may have waiting lists of trainees, so it is highly recommended to contact several Principal Trainers prior to applying.

Training may require you to travel to a Principal Trainer if one is not available locally. Please take the time, distance and costs associated with this travel into account before agreeing on where to do your training with your Principal Trainer.

If there are no Principal Trainers who are available, or within a reasonable travel distance, you will need to ask a suitable person - who is conveniently located for you - to apply to become a Principal Trainer.

For more information on how to determine a suitable person and how they can apply to become a Principal Trainer, click on ‘How do I apply to become an Ultrasound SSM Principal Trainer?’ below.

How do I become an Ultrasound SSM Principal Trainer?

Principal Trainers need both training and clinical skills to provide effective training and supervision of the practical elements of the Ultrasound SSM.

To become a Principal Trainer, you will need to meet these requirements:

Meet one of the following criteria:

Faculty-instructing doctor
Hospital training consultant
GP Trainer or equivalent
Nurse or midwifery trainer

If no training certification held, training has been part of their job plan for a minimum period of 2 years (provided by their manager, in writing)
Completing a minimum of 200 scans per year

If you would like to apply to be an Ultrasound SSM Principal Trainer, please complete the below application form:

Apply to be an Ultrasound SSM Principal Trainer

This form will be sent to the Education and Training team and will be reviewed by the Module Guardian. You will then be contacted by the Education and Training team, and you may be asked to provide further information and evidence to support your application.

Principal Trainers must re-register every five years following the same process as above.

Fees & Costs

The SSM requires payment of a £50.00 registration fee. This is payable online when you apply via the FSRH Training Hub. Find out how to create a MyFSRH account to access the FSRH Training Hub.

You may also need to pay a fee to your Principal Trainer, which will need to be agreed with them.

FAQs

Browse the Ultrasound SSM FAQs here.

If you cannot find an answer to your question after checking the Ultrasound SSM FAQs page, please email the Education Development Officer for Specialist Training, Rhian Jones, at rjones@fsrh.org.