Veterinary Ultrasound CPD: A round up of our imaging and ultrasound courses for 2025
Are you looking for imaging CPD this year? Whether you want to take a short, practical course to improve your ultrasound skills or you want an in-depth certificate in CT, we have a lot of options. Thirteen in fact! There are so many options for veterinary ultrasound CPD, diagnostic imaging courses, and vet nurse ultrasound courses, we’ve decided to create this ‘course round up’ article to help you see what’s what (and where to get more information).
To make it easier, we’ve split the courses into four major categories:
- Postgraduate certificate programmes (longer, modular courses which result in a certificate and postnominals)
- Short, practical courses (1-2 day courses with a large practical element)
- Vet nurse courses (courses suitable for veterinary nurses and paraprofessionals)
- Free veterinary diagnostic imaging webinars (short webinars offered free of charge!)
Postgraduate Certificate Programmes
If you’re looking for an in-depth course that results in a veterinary postgraduate certificate and postnominals you can use to broadcast your new status, our postgraduate certificate programmes are for you.
Postgraduate Certificate in Diagnostic Imaging (GPCert/PgC programme)
This postgraduate certificate programme seamlessly blends practical sessions with online modules, giving delegates a chance to understand the theory of diagnostic imaging modalities as well as practice their skills and techniques in a world-class veterinary training centre. You’ll cover radiology, ultrasonography, echocardiography, CT, and MRI across 13 varied modules. The course starts in September 2025 and runs to July 2026, and delegates then have the option of sitting the assessments to receive the ISVPS General Practitioner Certificate (GPCert). Delegates can also complete an additional module and sit some further assessments to receive the PgC from Harper Adams University, which can be used to apply for RCVS Advanced Practitioner Status.
Find out more about the Postgraduate Certificate in Diagnostic Imaging.
Postgraduate Certificate in Computed Tomography/CT (GPCert programme)
Computed tomography (CT) is becoming more common in small animal practice. That’s why we’re proud to offer this unique certificate programme, allowing vets to gain a world-recognised veterinary postgraduate certificate in CT – the General Pracititoner Certificate from ISVPS. This year’s course starts in October – you’ll learn how to CT the head, neck, thoracic cavity, abdomen, and musculoskeletal system over 12 interactive, online modules delivered in our world-leading learning management platform.
Find out more about the GPCert in Computed Tomography
Advanced Certificate in Small Animal Ultrasound (GPAdvCert programme)
If you’re already a bit of an imaging boffin looking for more veterinary ultrasound CPD, this Advanced Certificate programme might be what you need. It’s suitable for vets with at least 5 years of experience in practice or who have completed a previous certificate and want to extend their skills to an advanced level. A highly practical course, you’ll learn to identify challenging parts of the abdominal cavity, use ultrasound to guide your fine needle aspirates, and explore new and emerging ultrasound techniques such as elastography and 3D ultrasound. Delegates can sit the assessments to receive the ISVPS Advanced Certificate in Small Animal Ultrasound, a globally recognised qualification.
Find out more about the Advanced Certificate in Small Animal Ultrasound.
Practical Veterinary Ultrasound CPD Courses
Short, practical courses are easy ways to top up your CPD hours with highly relevant clinical skills you can apply in practice straight away. These veterinary ultrasound CPD courses run over 1-3 days and cover everything from basic refresher skills to advanced ultrasound for specific situations.
Introduction to Small Animal Ultrasound
This two-day practical course covers basic ultrasound machine set up, and ultrasound of the major abdominal organs and heart. You’ll be in small groups, ensuring excellent access to top tuition from leading diagnostic imaging experts. It’s fantastic ultrasound CPD for those who haven’t much ultrasound experience or who want to refresh the basics ahead of one of our more advanced courses, below. This year the course runs in February, May, August, and October in our Swindon training centre, and March and September in Sheffield.
For more information about the Introduction to Small Animal Ultrasound CPD course, click here.
Next Steps in Abdominal Ultrasound
This is the follow-on from the introductory course for those interested in abdominal ultrasound CPD, and it’s also suitable for delegates who already understand the basics and have some ultrasound experience. You’ll grow your skills in abdominal organ recognition and doppler, and use case-based studies to recognise abnormalities. This course also teaches the basics of ultrasound-guided biopsies. This year, the course is running in May and November in Swindon, and in July in Sheffield. It’s a two-day course, offering 12 hours of ultrasound CPD for vets – not to be missed!
Find out more about the Next Steps in Abdominal Ultrasound CPD course.
Advanced Abdominal Ultrasound
This one-day veterinary ultrasound course is designed for vets who already regularly use ultrasound in practice and want to progress to complex and challenging examinations. Difficult-to-find anatomy like the pancreas, adrenal glands, and lymph nodes will be covered, as will the use of doppler to find blood vessels. You’ll get 6 hours of veterinary ultrasound CPD, lunch, and digital course notes, not to mention access to fantastic teaching by an RCVS and European specialist in diagnostic imaging. Running in September (Sheffield) and Swindon (December), this one is not to be missed if you’re ready to step up your ultrasound game.
Find out more about the Advanced Abdominal Ultrasound Course.
Next Steps in Echocardiography
For those that are interested in veterinary cardiology, this echocardiography course is well worth considering. You’ll learn how to achieve the standard views, the measurements you should be taking, and the basics of doppler and M-mode. This course is highly practical – over two days, you’ll work in a small group (maximum 9) under the tuition of a European diplomat in Cardiology, giving you ample time to practice your echocardiography skills. We’re running this course in March and August in Swindon and in September in Sheffield. Numbers are strictly limited, so book early to guarantee your 12 hours of veterinary ultrasound CPD!
Find out more about the Next Steps in Echocardiography CPD course.
Advanced Echocardiography
If you already have experience of performing echocardiography in practice, this course is a great way to step up to the next level. It’s a highly practical, one-day course (worth 6 CPD hours) that focuses on cardiac measurements, when to use them, and how to interpret them, allowing you to undertake more comprehensive cardiac examinations. In small groups (capped at 9 delegates), you’ll have ample time to practice your skills and teaching from a European specialist in Small Animal Cardiology. This year, it runs in November (Sheffield) and December (Swindon), which means there are only 18 spaces available this year – book now to secure your place!
Find out more about the practical Advanced Echocardiography course.
Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anaesthesia
This ultrasound CPD for vets and experienced veterinary nurses is ideal for those working in general practice or surgical referral settings where a lot of hindlimb surgery is carried out. While it’s not strictly diagnostic imaging CPD, we’ve included it because it’s suitable for vets who have some ultrasound experience but want to gain a specific new skillset. You’ll learn how to scan the hindlimb, the anatomical locations for nerve blocks, and the anaesthetics to use. We’re holding this one-day course in January and September in Swindon.
Find out more about the Ultrasound-guided Regional Anaesthesia course.
Ultrasound for the Emergency Patient
Last, but certainly not least, is this practical, one-day veterinary CPD course covering FAST scans. You’ll learn how to rapidly triage emergency cases using ultrasound, and learn AFAST and TFAST techniques to identify internal bleeding, pneumothorax, acute abdomens, and more. While this is presented as a standalone CPD course, it’s also suitable for those working towards certificates in Emergency Medicine. It’s running in February (Swindon) and October (Sheffield) this year – don’t miss out.
Find out more about the Ultrasound for the Emergency Patient course.
Vet Nurse Courses
Of course, diagnostic imaging can be undertaken by veterinary nurses as well as vets, and we’ve made sure we have plenty of vet nurse CPD for those with an interest in imaging. Our options for 2025 are available below:
Veterinary Nurse Certificate in Diagnostic Imaging (NCert/VPPCert)
For those who want a longer, in-depth CPD course that results in a recognised veterinary nursing certificate, the NCert in Diagnostic Imaging is perfect. Non-qualified veterinary paraprofessionals can also undertake this program to achieve the Veterinary Paraprofessional Certificate (VPPCert). In a combination of face-to-face classes, practical sessions, and interactive online modules, you’ll learn about normal anatomy, radiographic positioning, and safe use of CT, MRI and veterinary ultrasound. This year, the course starts in June, and successful completion of the assessments at the end of the course rewards the veterinary nurse certificate/veterinary paraprofessional certificate and use of postnominals.
Find out more about the Veterinary Nurse Certificate in Diagnostic Imaging.
Ultrasound Triage for the Emergency Patient Short Course
This practical ultrasound CPD for vet nurses covers the principles of emergency triage using ultrasound. It’s a one-day course held in Swindon in August and in Sheffield in June. With a maximum group size of nine, you’ll have excellent access to your course tutor and plenty of time to practice the techniques yourself. At the end of the course, you should be more confident in point-of-care ultrasound, allowing you to triage emergencies using TFAST and AFAST while the vet is already busy.
Find out more about the Ultrasound Triage CPD course for vet nurses.
Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anaesthesia Short Course
Nurses are also welcome on our ultrasound-guided nerve block course. Along with your vet colleagues, you can learn how to use ultrasound to place nerve blocks before hindlimb surgery, for better welfare and anaesthetic recovery. Although not strictly an ultrasound CPD course, it’s perfect for nurses who already have some ultrasound experience or who work in a practice with a high orthopaedic case load or who are on our Surgical Nursing or Nursing Anaesthesia certificates.
Find out more about the Ultrasound-Guided Nerve Block course.
Free CPD: veterinary diagnostic imaging webinars
Sometimes, you don’t need a full ultrasonography CPD course – and that’s OK! These short webinars are offered free of charge to help you meet your CPD requirements and learn new skills. They’re all pre-recorded, so you can access them on demand whenever you have time to do your CPD.
From Trauma to Internal Medicine: Why POCUS is a must-have skill
In this webinar, Dr Sinziana Radulesc Dr Med Vet GPCert(EM&S) PGDip VCP MVetMed DipACVECC DipECVECC MRCVS debunks myths about Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) and shares real-life case examples to help vets and nurses see how these techniques can be used in practice.
POCUS: The Revolutionary Bedside Ultrasound
This webinar is aimed at veterinary nurses, but vets will find it interesting too! Ludivine Boiron, DVM, MSc, DipECVECC, DipACVECC discusses new protocols like Vet BLUE for lungs and Global FAST, which integrate multiple assessments to allow for quick evaluations in emergencies.
Broadening Your Scope: Using Endoscopy for More Than Just Spays
This informative Q+A with Philip Lhermette BSc.(Hons) CBiol. FRSB. BVetMed. FRCVS gives an amazing insight into how your veterinary endoscopy kit can be utilised in practice.
More help choosing your veterinary CPD
If you aren’t sure which of our wonderful CPD courses suits you best, our fantastic team are here to help. We’ve been helping veterinary professionals meet their CPD goals and improve their careers for over 20 years, so our team of experts are happy to talk over what you’re looking for in your CPD this year. Why not book a callback?
We also have some excellent articles in our content hub for vets and nurses planning their CPD. These ones may of particular interest:
