Departmental accreditation

BSE departmental accreditation is a recognised benchmark of quality and demonstrates that an echo department meets realistic quality standards. Accreditation is suitable for all echo departments, not just those that are large or highly specialised.

What is departmental accreditation?

Departmental accreditation now covers five areas:

echo quality
transthoracic echo (TTE)
transoesophageal echo (TOE)
stress echo
training
emergency echo (developed with the Intensive Care Society)

Since all departments that are of sufficient quality for accreditation will be actively involved in training, echo quality, TTE and training accreditations are prerequisites for the other accreditations.

Departmental accreditation incorporates the BSE Echo Quality Framework (EQF). Although echo quality and departmental accreditation are separate, accredited departments are expected to demonstrate ongoing participation in echo quality accreditation and achieve a minimum of amber in all areas.

Fees

There is a fixed fee of £500 whether you apply for one or more areas of departmental accreditation. This fee is payable at both five and ten year accreditation.

Departments who wish to pursue echo quality accreditation only have to pay a fixed fee of £250.

Process

Please complete the eligibility check to start the departmental or echo quality accreditation process. This doesn't commit you to applying and you won't need to pay anything at this stage.

Eligibility check