Competencies and Standards

National Competency Profiles

The National Competency Profiles (NCP) list the competencies that are expected at entry-to-practice of the three certification categories. Its primary purpose is to set standards for education and certification.

Accreditation Canada has adopted the NCP for use in accrediting sonography education programs. In addition to meeting other requirements, accredited programs must develop curricula and learning activities that ensure their graduates possess all the competencies listed in the relevant section of the NCP.

The NCP establishes a minimum educational standard; programs are free to include additional competencies to meet local and regional needs, at their discretion. In order to provide sonographer certification, Sonography Canada evaluates the competency level of applicants for registration utilizing both clinical and knowledge-based assessments. The blueprints for these assessments are derived from the NCP.

Since they provide information about the job tasks that sonographers may be expected to perform, the NCP will also be of use to many other stakeholders in the profession: employers, physicians, practicing sonographers, students, government agencies, and the general public.

The current certification examinations are based on blueprints derived from version 6.1, which began in January 2022.

Beginning January 2027, the certification exams will be based on NCP 7.0; exam blueprints for version 7.0 are currently in development.

For comparison between NCP 6.1 and 7.0, please take a look at the following crosswalk.

For additional information or documents don’t hesitate to get in touch with examinfo@sonographycanada.ca.