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How to be certified as a UGC Field Technician |
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Ultrasound Guidelines Council |
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UGC certification serves to identify professionals who are skilled in collecting high-quality ultrasound images on live animals under field conditions. |
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Equipment UCG Field Technician Certifications are linked to specific types of equipment. Commonly used approved ultrasound machines include: · Aloka 500 (old) · Aloka 500 (new) · Aquila · Classic Approved frame grabbers include: · CX100 · PXC200 · USB · VCE Approved image capturing systems include: · BIA · Black Box · Black Box Pro · CPEC · CUP Box · Scanning Partner Equipment may be purchased from a variety of vendors, including UGC Accredited Labs. Persons considering purchasing ultrasound equipment are encouraged to check with UGC Accredited Labs for advice. |
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Training Training and experience in the operation and maintenance of ultrasound equipment is critical to obtaining high-quality images, and to successfully gaining UGC Field certification. Each of the UGC Accredited Labs offer professional training. |
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Proficiency Testing To become UGC Field certified, ultrasound technicians must pass proficiency testing (often referred to as UGC Field Certification). UGC Field Certification Programs are usually hosted by UGC Labs or universities and include: · A written exam · Collecting ultrasound images of the rump, rib, and intramuscular fat (IMF). Twenty animals, varying in age, gender, and condition are used. Each technician collects images on each animal two times.
UGC Reference Field Technicians collect images on the same animals. The images collected are interpreted by UGC reference lab technicians to yield estimates of ribeye area, rib fat, rump fat, and IMF. Each image is also scored for image quality. Data from the Reference Field Technicians are used as the standards for each trait. Technicians are evaluated based on several statistics: · Image quality · Correlation · Absolute bias · Standard error of prediction · Standard error of repeatability
Check the Resources page for example study materials, and explanations of the statistics used by UGC to evaluate image quality and technician proficiency.
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Expectations of UGC Field Technicians Ultrasound technicians who pass the proficiency testing are UGC Certified subject to the following commitments: · Use only UGC approved systems for collecting images to be used in genetic evaluations for beef cattle. A “system” is a combination of machine, frame grabber, settings, and lab software. Click here for a listing of current approved systems. · Participate in UGC sponsored continuing education (see below). · Only submit images to labs that they have personally collected — i.e., not submit under their name images collected by others. · Allow UGC to collect image quality information from UGC labs for the purpose of conducting image quality evaluations.
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Certification Renewal All UGC Field Technician certifications are for 2-year terms. From the date that certification is granted by UGC, the certification expires on December 31 of the year 2 years after that date. For example, if a technician earns certification on June 30 of 2009, the term of that certification expires on December 31 of 2011. Technicians who have passed two consecutive Field Certifications (e.g., 2007 & 2009) may be re-certified without proficiency testing by meeting each of the following requirements: · Scanning at least 1,000 cattle per year through UGC Certified Labs. · Meeting the UGC continuing education requirements (see above). · Maintaining a high standard of image quality — (note that all images submitted to UGC Certified Labs are graded for image quality).
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Continuing Education Like most professional organizations, members are expected to continue learning in order to best serve their customers. The UGC Board of Directors is responsible for providing continuing education opportunities for UGC Field Technicians. The UGC Board recently implemented a new continuing education program for field technicians. Click here to read an outline of the new program. Click here to view upcoming education events.
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