Ultrasound Masters in the UK: How CASE accreditation affects you as a foreign-trained sonographer .

How to get a Masters in ultrasound in the UK with a foreign PGD qualification, is another popularly asked question among internationally-trained sonographers already practicing in the UK, and I'm here to get you the answers in the simplest format there is.

In this three-part series, I'll explain it all to you in ways no one has ever done.

One of the first phrases you tend to encounter when considering undertaking a masters in ultrasound in the UK is whether your internationally obtained PGD ultrasound qualification is CASE accredited or CASE equivalent.

At present, some universities seem to offer MSc admissions to only people with CASE accredited PGD ultrasound qualifications, while some universities offer admission to professionals with both CASE accredited qualifications and CASE-equivalent qualifications.

Now, in case you're wondering what 'CASE' is, don't sweat it, I'm here to explain it to you in clear terms.

This post is the first of a three-part series, and in this post I'll be explaining what CASE accreditation and CASE equivalence is. And to aid with understanding it better, I'll be explaining it using a Nigerian context.

Understanding CASE accreditation and CASE equivalence in a Nigerian context

CASE is the acronym for Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographers in the UK. What they are, is the organisation in the UK responsible for the accreditation of Sonography courses delivered solely in the UK.

Most people don't know this, but It is important to note that while CASE works with UK universities to accredit their sonography courses, not all universities in the UK (that offer sonography courses) are currently shown on the register as CASE accredited. University of East London for instance, offers an MSK sonography course, but they are not currently shown on the register/directory as CASE accredited. See 2023-2024 CASE directory here

So in the Nigerian context, CASE would be somewhat equivalent to the National Universities Commission (NUC), who function to accredit and regulate University education in Nigeria. The difference is that with CASE, it is only specific to sonography programs within their UK universities.

Now, that brings us to what a CASE-equivalent qualification is?

Back to our NUC comparison, if a foreigner choses to work in Nigeria based on his school qualifications and expertise, and his qualifications were obtained from another country, then there's no way he would possess an NUC accredited qualification, because NUC is not responsible for accrediting the Universities in the country he graduated from.

What he would be expected to posses would be an equivalent to an NUC accredited certificate, that is, NUC equivalent. Meaning that although he was taught in another school outside Nigeria, the fundamentals of the content, curriculum and assessment criteria of his qualification are very similar to a Nigerian qualification, and they are up to a threshold globally accepted standard.

In the same vein, if you obtained your PGD ultrasound from outside the UK, like from Nigeria, then what you possess is a CASE-equivalent qualification, because even though you didn't get your ultrasound degree in the UK, the content, curriculum and assessment criteria embedded in your ultrasound training are very similar to UK and up to a threshold globally accepted standard. This is why you can currently get an ultrasound job directly from Nigeria.

Also, you can get proof of equivalence from UK ENIC (formerly known as UK NARIC).

See post on the 5 essential documents you need to get as soon as you get a sonography job in the UK.

It therefore follows that there is really no legitimate basis for requiring an internationally trained sonographer practicing in the UK for a CASE accredited qualification, much like there is no basis for asking a foreign worker in Nigeria for an NUC accredited qualification. What either party would possess would be an equivalent qualification to what's obtainable in each country.

So, it is arguably unfair that as a Nigerian-trained or internationally-trained sonographer, while you are able to work in the UK as a sonographer and even train or mentor UK sonography students, some UK universities refuse you the opportunity to grow academically and professionally because they don't admit candidates without a CASE accredited qualification.

So you're essentially working as a sonographer in the same capacity as your colleague who trained in the UK, but they can advance professionally to get a Masters degree, and you can't, according to these universities.

Furthermore, some NHS Trusts and hospitals are beginning to insist that only CASE accredited qualification holders can apply as sonographers with them. This has a discriminatory undertone to it, as it essentially marginalises internationally-trained UK sonographers, despite their valuable contributions to the NHS and the UK medical sector as a whole.

These issues are unfortunately few of the many challenges that Nigerian-trained sonographers, and indeed some other foreign-trained sonographers working in the UK have to be faced with. Hopefully the relevant authorities step in to stop this before it gets out of hand.

See how sonography in Nigeria differs from sonography in the UK

That notwithstanding, some UK universities are a lot more diverse and inclusive, and will accept for you to undertake an ultrasound masters with them. This will of course be subject to meeting set eligibility criteria which you would typically have no problems meeting, especially if you're an already practicing sonographer in the UK.

In my next post, the second part of this series, I have outlined the different UK schools that offer MSc admission with your CASE-equivalent qualification, and how it benefits you if you already have a PGD from Nigeria and want to undertake an ultrasound MSc in UK. Check it out here

In the third part of this series, I have detailed a step by step guide on how you can apply to a UK University for your MSc in ultrasound, the different documents you need to secure a Master's placement in the University and some tips on how to navigate a difficult application process. Check it out here.

This would therefore be your cue to subscribe to my blog as you may never see me again, and you can get more of these informative posts directly into your inbox as soon as they drop from the oven!

Hopefully you now have a better understanding of what CASE accreditation and CASE equivalence is, and you are better equipped to contribute to this discourse if it ever comes up around you.

Have you seen 5 things I wish I knew before working in the UK as a Nigerian sonographer?

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