ULTRASOUND-GUIDED REGIONAL ANESTHESIA (UGRA) PORTFOLIO PROGRAM PARTICIPANT INSTRUCTIONS

If interested in purchasing the Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia (UGRA) Portfolio Program, contact ASA Education Staff at educationcenter@asahq.org

STEP 1: Review Approved UGRA Portfolio Program Courses and Requirements.*    

Didactics: 10 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (.docx).

• Physics of Ultrasound—1 hour/1 CME required
• Ultrasound Artifacts, Pitfalls, Complications—1 hour/1 CME required
• Upper Extremity Sonoanatomy—1 hour/1 CME required
• Lower Extremity Sonoanatomy—1 hour/1 CME required
• Clinical Applications—4 hours/4 CME required
• Evidence-Based Medicine in Ultrasound—2 hours/2 CME required

Technical Skills:  6 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ from one or more of the following content categories (.docx).

• Clinical Applications
• Human Scanning
• Sonoanatomy
• Image Acquisition
• Phantom Model Needling
• Cadaver/Anatomy Lab

Above approved course lists are categorized in alphabetical order of submitting organization

STEP 2: Complete the Preliminary Application.

• Search for the appropriate attended courses from list of approved Didactic and Technical Skills sessions
  • While searching, use name of specific session attended from approved course listings
  • After course has been identified, claim appropriate CME credit for content category (Using pencil icon, chose the number of correct corresponding CME in increments of 0.25)
  • Upload CME certificate(s) awarded from the approved meeting or course for each selected session. (The certificate DOES NOT have to specify sessions attended, PDF format only)
  • Ensure all Didactic and Technical Skills content categories have been satisfied, then submit Application for approval
• Wait a maximum of 14 days for the UGRA support staff preliminary application status email.

STEP 3: Review Preliminary Application Status Email Notification from UGRA Support Staff.

• Approved applications: proceed to the exam.
• Denied applications: update the application to address denial reason(s) (applications may be resubmitted as many times as needed to obtain approval).

STEP 4: Take Exam (50 multiple-choice questions).

• Review exam requirements for successful completion.
  • A score of 70% or higher is required to pass.
  • One attempt is permitted per question.
  • One attempt is permitted per exam.
  • There is a maximum of 3 attempts to pass with a seven-day mandatory wait period between each failed attempt.
• Successful exam completion advances to the final application.
• Failure after the third attempt requires a one-year wait period to repurchase and reapply.

STEP 5: Submit Case Logs & Certified Case Letter*

• Enter a minimum of 40 case logs for self‐performed UGRA nerve blocks.
• Submit a certified letter from department chair, practice chair or UGRA practice coordinator.
• Wait a maximum of 14 days for UGRA support staff final application status email.

STEP 6: Review Final Application Email Notification from UGRA Support Staff.    

• Approved applications will have immediate access to the certificate of completion and a portfolio containing submitted application documents to include:
  • Portfolio Certificate
  • Submitted Didactic & Technical Skills Sessions with Certificates
  • Passing Exam Score
  • Submitted Case Log
  • Submitted Case Letter
• Denied with recourse applications will list the reason for denial.
  • Update the final application to address denial reason(s) and resubmit for review.
  • Wait a maximum of 14 days for a final determination email notice confirming approval or denial status.
• Denied without recourse applications will list the reason for denial.

*Applicants with a temporary medical license and enrolled (or have been enrolled from 2010 until present) in a training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) must submit a letter from their program director attesting to and verifying this information to UGRAReviewStaff@ASAHQ.org. The letter must be on appropriate letterhead and include the ACGME program number. Non-North American trained physicians must provide equivalent documentation of permission to practice medicine in the country of principal residence. All documentation must be provided in English. 

Approved applicants would be exempt from Didactic & Technical Skills requirements of the Application and submission of Case Logs sections of the Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia (UGRA) Portfolio Program.