title: [Regarding Authorized Qualifications in Sonography].
abstract: Today, I will talk about the profession "Ultrasound Technologist." The written examination to gain this license includes clinical questions (35 questions including those using photographs; 70 minutes to answer) and basic questions related to ultrasound for medical use (35 questions including those requiring calculation; 70 minutes to answer). The answer to each question is selected from 5 alternatives. The questions used in the examination are not officially disclosed. The minimum score needed to pass the examination is 60 points for both the test with clinical questions and that with basic questions. My practice to prepare for the basic questions related to ultrasound for medical use involved attempting to answer a collection of questions while understanding physical phenomena by watching animations on the related Internet homepage. I wrote down how to approach the questions (including those requiring calculation), together with comments and answers to each of them. Basic questions about ultrasound for medical use differ little from year to year because there are few questions reflecting highlights or specific topics prevailing in a given year. So, to prepare for basic questions, I think it is important to become familiar with the trends of questions and how to answer them through repeating mock tests many times. Preparing for clinical questions is very difficult. Although many collections of clinical questions are available at bookstores, I have the impression that most of the questions in these collections have already been used in past examinations, and there is now a tendency for more precise clinical questions targeting specific areas to be adopted for the examination. The questions adopted in the past are becoming outdated, while the techniques of ultrasonography are continuing to advance. So, clinical questions are being increasingly adopted that cover recent topics in this field. In any event, knowledge covering extensive areas is needed to prepare for the clinical questions. For those who desire to attain the license "ultrasound technologist" despite insufficient clinical experience, the only possible approach may be to read through collections of questions and reference books.
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaneko
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000592:standards*; D002568:Certification / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D014463:Ultrasonography