SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Postgraduate Diploma: Diagnostic Ultrasound

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
16357	Postgraduate Diploma: Diagnostic Ultrasound
ORIGINATOR
University of Natal
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
Was CHE until Last Date for Achievement			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma	Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services		Curative Health
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	128	Level 7	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 2663/05	2006-07-01	2009-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2010-06-30		2013-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
72954	Postgraduate Diploma: Diagnostic Ultrasound	Level 7	NQF Level 08	128	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

This programme will allow Health Professionals to become proficient in performing Diagnostic Ultrasound examinations on patients and to interpret the studies correctly. Students will attain a standard of practice as to be considered as competent and safe sonographers. There is a severe skills shortage in Diagnostic Ultrasound in the S African health care profession. This training will significantly improve career pathways and employability.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

National Diploma in Radiology
Bachelor in Medicine and surgery

Recognition of prior learning:
Recognition of prior learning will be subject to university and faculty policy.
An understanding of basic human anatomy
An understanding of basic physics

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Demonstrate competency in the performance of ultrasound examinations;

Demonstrate competency in the interpretation of ultrasound examinations;

Demonstrate an understanding of modern ultrasound technology and ultrasound physics;

Demonstrate competency in ultrasound image quality assessment, safety and quality control;

Demonstrate competency in research methodology, data collection, data analysis.

Demonstrate competency in writing clear, well structured reports to referring doctors.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Contextual assessment on written assignments for each module.
Assessment of "hands on" ultrasound technique at the end of each module
Final assessment at the end of the course by a written examination and two practical ultrasound exams.

Integrated assessment appropriately incorporated to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved:

(a) One written assignment for each module. This will be a small reseach project or case report from daily ultrasound work. The topic will be discussed with the mentor beforehand
(b) Practical assessment - This will involve assessment of the student's competency by scanning a patient with a clinical problem covered in that module.
(c) Final assessment - Written multiple choice paper covering the knowledge base of all modules.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

(a) The modular nature allows for part time learning over 12 or 24 months
(b) It is feasible to integrate this course into the MMed Radiology degree
(c) The student can enter the course at module 2 if the student has passed part 1 of the FCRad Radiology Degree
(d) It is unlikely that the modules can be completed in less than 12 months

MODERATION OPTIONS

Examining bodies: Natal Technikon, University of Natal, Peninsula Technikon. Sonographers affiliated to SA Societies of Radiographers, Specialist Radiologists and Obstetricians who are Fellows of the College of Medicine of S Africa.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Until the HEQC establishes a registration system for assessors in the HET Band, the University of Natal assumes that on the basis of its rigorous selection criteria for the appointment of academic staff (who also have opportunities for staff development in assessment), staffs are competent to assess students on the modules they teach. This assessment is quality assured via a university system of internal moderation and external examination. External examiners are appointed for their teaching and disciplinary expertise and subject to the approval of Faculty Boards. The University of Natal ruling is that 66 % of all assessments at exit level, i.e. leading to qualifications are externally examined.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.

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PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

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