Becoming a UK sonographer from Nigeria.

I have been asked this question multiple times, mostly by my Radiography colleagues in Nigeria who are planning to relocate to the UK. So this post provides some summarised insight on how to become a UK sonographer from Nigeria.

In a nutshell, to transition from Radiographer to Sonographer, you need a Postgraduate certificate (PGC), Post graduate diploma (PGD) or Masters in Medical ultrasound. The PGD is the more popular route. There are two ways you could consider going about this;

1. Getting your PGD from the Institute of Radiography in Nigeria, a division of the Radiographers registration board of Nigeria (RRBN).

To practice ultrasound in UK, your Bsc. radiography degree alone won't suffice. Some people tell me they've got extensive pre-certified clinical experience in ultrasound, well that won't suffice either. You have to get the appropriate qualification for the role.

In Nigeria, the Institute of Radiography, a subsidiary of RRBN, offers a detailed and comprehensive Post graduate diploma in Medical ultrasound programme, which will equip you with the tools and skills required to succeed as a sonographer anywhere in the world.

It is with this PGD ultrasound qualification from Nigeria that I, and most of our Nigerian colleagues have landed our sonography roles in the UK. With this, and your HCPC registration sorted, you're right about where you need to be to start applying for ultrasound jobs in the UK.

You might also like to know the "5 things I Wish I knew before working in the UK as a Nigerian Sonographer"

2. Getting your ultrasound qualification in the UK (relatively longer route).

Two related ways to achieve this include;

a. If you're a practicing radiographer in Nigeria and you've got an interest in subspecialising in ultrasound in the future, but don't have the resources to get your qualification in Nigeria, then you can consider the relatively longer route of pursuing that goal whilst in the UK.

To do this, you'd have to get your HCPC registration sorted, and apply for Radiography jobs (X-ray, CT, MRI). If successful, you'd be sponsored to the UK to work as a radiographer.

Whilst here as a radiographer, you can then start scouting for ultrasound trainee positions either in your NHS Trust or outside your Trust. These trainee positions are usually sponsored by the Trust and are therefore usually very limited and competitive, but definitely not impossible to get.

b. Due to the limited and competitive nature of these trainee positions, it may take a while to land one and you may not commence your training as soon as you desire.

So, if you're keen on starting your ultrasound training and can't wait too long to land a trainee post, you can consider the alternative route of sponsoring yourself in school while you continue working as a radiographer.

There are two downsides to this though, the first being that this is a really expensive route to take. In AECC University college for instance, the current fee for PgDip in Medical ultrasound for International students is about £13,000. In University of Leeds the current PGD ultrasound fee for International students is £20,667, and for University of Salford its somewhere around £6000.

You might be thinking, since I am already in the UK, why would I have to pay international fees? Well, the way it works here is that normally, if you aren't settled in the UK (with Indefinite leave to remain), and haven't been resident in the UK for at least 3 years continuously, then you are considered an international student and would be charged as such where applicable.

Find out: The 5 important things the Nigerian Radiographer/Sonographer must get as soon as you land a job in the UK.

The second downside is that because some of the courses you'll be undertaking have clinical elements, you will have to secure a clinical placement site and mentor before being admitted to study the course.

If you're lucky enough, your Trust will be happy to accept for you to use them as your clinical placement site. Otherwise, you'd have to source for this outside your Trust, and this can be quite challenging sometimes.

If you're able to secure this and sponsor yourself then in 1-2years, you should be beginning your career as a UK sonographer.

Hopefully this is helpful to someone who is considering work as a UK sonographer.

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