CPoCUS Tracks

Family Medicine CORE

This track is for managing patients in the primary care setting

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Train

Read the CORE curriculum

Learn with diagrams and how-to videos

This curriculum describes the proper technique to safely and effective use point of care ultrasound for heart, lung, abdomen, and first trimester obstetrics pathologies in the family medicine setting. It includes protocols for image generation, image identification, and clinical integration. All examination questions are based on the curriculum.

SECTION 1

POCUS
Basics

5 modules with diagrams

SECTION 2

Advanced skills for certification

6 modules with videos

Sign up for a course

The following CORE courses are offered by independent organizations

(listed alphabetically A-Z)

Certain courses are accredited and meet
CPoCUS quality and training criteria

Note: CPoCUS does not determine course fees or cancellation policies

EDE Bootcamp

Three-day hands-on workshops and exams designed to provide certification in point of care ultrasound.

See AC CORE courses

EDE1/EDU1

Two-day courses. Cours de deux jours.

See AC CORE courses

EM POCUS

Three-day hands-on workshops and exams designed to provide certification in point of care ultrasound.

See AC CORE courses

ePoCUS Essentials

Introductory courses and IP certification courses providing POCUS instruction on CORE indications.

See AC CORE courses

Montreal PoCUS

Introductory courses providing POCUS instruction on CORE indications.

See AC CORE courses

MTL-SONO

Two-day introductory point-of-care ultrasound training taught by top experts in POCUS education to residents and medical students from across Canada.

See AC CORE courses

MUSE ECHO

One-night per week IP certification courses for gradual learning in small groups, or one-day introductory courses, or one-day exam-only courses. All levels welcome. Cours d'un ou deux jours avec apprentissage en petits groupes. Tous les niveaux sont les bienvenus.

See AC CORE courses

PoCUSEast

Three-day courses for point of care ultrasound training.

See AC CORE courses

Prairie POCUS

Four-day hands-on workshop with integrated CPoCUS exams designed for participants to obtain full IP certification at the end of the course.

See AC CORE courses

RIPP

Four-day courses at the rural clinician’s facility for those that cannot find coverage when away at an ultrasound course or have no one to supervise the scans required for certification.

See AC CORE courses

SONO Manitoba

Three-day hands-on workshops and exams designed to provide certification in point of care ultrasound.

See AC CORE courses

Try eLearning

Combine the online curriculum with online testing

Available in French or English for CORE tracks

Used by Canadian universities

Online curriculum

Didactic Material

Didactic material is divided into modules

Instructional Videos

Videos are aligned with didactic material

Videos show scanning on live models with guidance for image generation, interpretation, and clinical integration.

Online Testing

Quizzes

Quizzes are aligned with modules and customized by course directors.

Final Exam

A final exam can be created from a combination of quizzes.

CERTIFY

How to get certified
as an Independent Practitioner (IP)

IP candidate completes a CPoCUS-accredited CORE introductory course

IP candidate completes logged scan requirements supervised by a CORE IP examiner

IP candidate passes three examinations with a CORE IP examiner

CORE IP examiner submits an IP request for the IP candidate

IP candidate pays one-time certificate fee to finalize IP certification

IP candidate receives IP number and CORE IP certificate

Brief overview of certification examinations

You must be a CPoCUS member to attempt any examination

All examination questions are based on the curriculum

Written examination assesses knowledge base.

The Written exam is conducted on a computer (one examiner supervises many candidates).

Pass score of 85%.

The Written exam is an online, multiple choice, closed book examination with 20-80 questions. If the candidate fails the first attempt, they receive a report detailing incorrect answers. Candidates may re-write the examination the next day.

Visual examination assesses image interpretation and ability to integrate POCUS findings into clinical care.

The Visual exam is conducted on a computer (one examiner supervises one candidate).

Pass score of 85%.

The Visual exam uses an online interactive video presentation. The examiner asks the candidate to interpret images and videos, and incorporate findings into case scenarios.

Practical examination assesses image generation.

The Practical exam is conducted on a standardized patient (one examiner supervises one candidate).

Pass score of 100%.

The Practical exam is an in-person scanning examination. The examiner uses a detailed checklist of essential techniques to assess the candidate. 

The candidate should perform the techniques without hesitation and without prompting from the examiner. 

Maintain

Keep up to date with MOC

Maintenance of Competency (MOC) helps refresh and expand your POCUS skills

Online quizzes available in French and English

Test your POCUS skills in these tracks:

Acute Care CORE
Family Medicine CORE
Resuscitation
Diagnostic

How to complete MOC modules online

Login, select a MOC module in Members sections

Read Curriculum

Take Quiz (score ≥ 85%)

Download Certificate of Completion

Earn CME credits with MOC

Earn up to 48 credits by reviewing the CORE curriculum
and passing the CORE MOC quizzes

Get certified by CPoCUS

Become a Member

Take advantage of the benefits below and more!

Access CORE Curriculum

Achieve FM CORE IP certification

Certify others as FM CORE IP

Access Maintenance of Competency (MOC) Program

Earn CME credits from MOC program

Earn CME credits from courses

Become a CORE Master Instructor