DMST 014 - Musculoskeletal (MSK) Ultrasound – Shoulder (Lab)
Course Description
Musculoskeletal (MSK) shoulder ultrasounds are one of the most requested and most backlogged scans in Canada. The healthcare industry needs qualified professionals who can do this in-demand work and alleviate patient care delays. Are you a diagnostic medical sonographer or ultrasound technologist looking to upgrade your sonography skillset with hands-on training in the Musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound technique to perform shoulder exams? Apply the knowledge you learned in DMST-013 Musculoskeletal (MSK) Ultrasound – Shoulder (Theory) in this 62-hour practical training course.
This hands-on, in-person training course, validated by Sonography Canada, will teach you how to perform a shoulder ultrasound exam. The course includes 28 hours of instructor-led training and peer-to-peer practice sessions at our newly remodeled sonography lab on SAIT campus. In addition to the in-person training, you'll also complete self-paced homework assignments. Following the training, there is a 30-hour worksite practicum sponsored by your employer, during which you'll have up to six months to complete 30 shoulder scans under the supervision of your preceptor. This practicum will provide you with experience in identifying abnormal shoulders and pathology, while also helping you improve the efficiency of your scans. Our industry-experienced instructors will be available throughout the course, including the practicum component, to support you and respond to your questions via email.
Note: Registration for this course closes seven days before the course start date. You’ll need to meet eligibility requirements and upload supporting documentation before you can register. See Student Eligibility and How to Register sections below for more information.
This course is ideal if you:
- are a registered working sonographer looking to gain advanced skills in MSK ultrasound to enhance your qualifications and scope of practice
- are seeking to progress or specialize within the medical imaging field
- are working in orthopedic or rehabilitation settings and are looking to refine your skills and improve diagnostic accuracy for shoulder injuries and conditions
- have completed either SAIT's DMST-013 course or The Burwin Institute's Musculoskeletal Ultrasound course and need to focus on practical skills
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you’ll be able to:
- perform an ultrasound and correctly identify the common pathology of a:
- normal proximal long-head biceps tendon and a normal rotator cuff interval
- normal subscapularis tendon
- normal supraspinatus
- normal subacromial/subdeltoid
- normal infraspinatus tendon
- normal AC joint
- normal posterior shoulder
- complete an ultrasound of a normal shoulder following the Standard Protocol
- demonstrate the ability to consistently perform an ultrasound of an abnormal shoulder.
You’ll demonstrate your skill and knowledge acquisition through three scanning quizzes, a final scanning exam and the completion and submission of the practicum logbook and images. All coursework must be completed as per the course schedule provided. For an optimal learning and job-ready experience, you’ll need to bring your motivation and organizational skills, be punctual and attend all classes.
Earn a SAIT micro-credential
This course qualifies for the SAITMicro badge. Students who successfully complete this course with a final grade of A- (80%) or higher will earn a micro-credential and receive a shareable digital badge. Learn more.
To request a course outline, contact ConEdAdvising@sait.ca.
Funding Opportunities
Learn more about how to pay for or reduce your education/training costs with available awards, bursaries, loan options and grants, including the Canada Alberta Job Grant.
To register for this course, you must provide evidence of the following education/training, professional membership, work experience and employer/sponsor practicum letter requirements:
- successful completion of SAIT Continuing Education course, DMST 013 - Musculoskeletal (MSK) Ultrasound – Shoulder (Theory)
OR - successful completion within the past five years of The Burwin Institute’s Musculoskeletal Ultrasound course and invigilated exam
AND - proof that you're a current credentialed member in good standing with Sonography Canada
AND - proof that you have at least two years of full-time work experience as a sonographer in a clinic or hospital setting
AND - can secure a 30-hour worksite practicum with a current employer (clinic) who will enable the access to at least 30 patients on which to complete shoulder scans under the supervision of a preceptor. We will require a sponsor letter from the employer as per the DMST-014 Practicum Requirements package.
DMST-013 Musculoskeletal (MSK) Ultrasound – Shoulder (Theory) is a mandatory prerequisite for this course.
We will also accept successful completion (within the past five years) of The Burwin Institute’s Musculoskeletal Ultrasound course and invigilated exam to satisfy the prerequisite.
Delivery formats: For your convenience, this course is delivered in a blended format, combining access to online learning with in-person, classroom/lab learning and a worksite practicum component. Learn more about our delivery formats.
Course completion: Upon completion of this non-credit course, you’ll be able to print a proof of completion document from your Continuing Education student account. You’ll also receive an electronic copy of your official SAIT transcript. There is also the opportunity to earn a SAITMicro digital badge if you have met the earning criteria.
Admission is based on a first-qualified, first-registered basis. Registration closes seven days before the course start date. Payment in full is required upon registration by Visa or Mastercard.
To self-serve register online:
- Set up your Con Ed student account.
- Click on the DMST-014 course section you want to take and follow the prompts in the online shopping cart process to upload your proof documentation. It'll take 24-48 hours to verify and approve your submission. Once approved, you'll be notified by email to complete your online registration for DMST-014.