Congenital accreditation is available to all BSE members regardless of occupation. The process tests knowledge of echocardiographers evaluating patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and is endorsed by the British Congenital Cardiology Association (BCCA).
There are two routes to obtain BSE CHD accreditation; exam and logbook requirements differ depending on whether a candidate already holds BSE Level 2 Transthoracic (TTE) accreditation or EACVI TTE accreditation.
The 2 part examination comprises a written paper and a practical assessment. The written paper has MCQ true/false questions and 10 case questions. The practical examination includes the logbook, a viva session to include 5 case studies, and a practical demonstration of competence in sequential segmental analysis. Candidates working in a level 2 or 3 centre are encouraged to liaise with their local surgical level 1 centre to allow sufficient exposure to a wide range of cases.
Further details of the requirements to successfully complete accreditation can be found in the accreditation pack. Accreditation is valid for 5 years.