NVS Examination

Please see the below pathway to determine if you are eligible to sit for the NVS Examination. If you have questions regarding eligibility, please contact Andrea Powell at andrea@asnweb.org.

Neurovascular Specialist (NVS) examination assesses proficiency in neurovascular ultrasound, including Transcranial Doppler (TCD), Carotid Duplex, and ultrasound physics. It evaluates the knowledge and skills needed to safely perform, interpret, and present neurovascular ultrasound studies.

The exam includes three components: Basics of Ultrasound and Physics, TCD, and Carotid Duplex. It is intended for individuals with training and experience in neurovascular ultrasound. Applicants who have already passed a Physics and Instrumentation exam through ARDMS, CCI, or ARRT (VS) may have the physics component waived.

ASN membership is required to obtain and maintain certification. The NVS exam is independent of the basic neurosonology review course offered at the ASN Annual Meeting and covers additional material.

We do have a few tools to help you study. 

Suggested Reading for Physics:

• Appleton & Lange Review for the Ultrasonography Examination by Carol Krebs, Charles Odwin, and Arthur Fleischer (3rd edition or newer)
• Understanding Ultrasound Physics (3rd or 4th edition) by Sidney K. Edelman
• Ultrasound Physics Review: A review for the ARDMS SPI Exam by Cindy A. Owen and James A. Zagzebski

Suggested Reading for TCD and Carotid:

• Cerebrovascular Ultrasound in Stroke Prevention and Treatment (2nd edition) by Andrei V. Alexandrov
• Examination Review for Ultrasound: SPI Sonographic Principles & Instrumentation by Steven Penny and Traci Fox
• Neurosonology by Charles Tegeler, Camilo Gomez, and Viken Babikian
• Neurovascular Examination: The Rapid Evaluation of Stroke Patients Using Ultrasound Waveform Interpretation by Andrei V. Alexandrov
• Neurovascular Sonography by Wendy Ziai and Christy Cornwell
• Practical Guide to Transcranial Doppler Examinations by Andrei Alexandrov and Mira Katz
• Practice Standards for Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound: Part 1 by Andrei Alexandrov et al
• Vascular Technology: An Illustrated Review by Claudia Rumwell and Michalene McPharlin
• Transcranial Doppler Velocities in a Large, Healthy Population by Charles Tegeler et al

If you need to reschedule your examination, please contact the ASN Executive Office. Rescheduling will incur in a $100 administration fee. Rescheduling is only available ONCE and for one year from the date of your initial exam application.

No refunds will be given for the exam.

Please complete this form. 

Yes. To maintain your NVS credential, you are expected to be a member in good-standing of ASN. 

No. If you have your ARDMS, CCI, ARRT (VS), the physics portion of the exam is waived. You must submit documentation with your application.

Member - $225

Non-member - $275

No, since they had enough CME hours at the time they took the exam initially, they do not need to submit documentation of CME within the last three years. They do, however, need to submit documentation verifying their interpretation of whatever section they are taking (Carotid or TCD).

Yes.

Pertinent CME needs to be something related to neurovascular ultrasound (physics, principles, techniques, clinical applications, quality improvement for lab, lab accreditation, etc) in order to qualify.  This is consistent with the definitions use by IAC-Vascular Testing when evaluating CME for medical directors or medical staff applying for accreditation of their carotid or TCD labs. 

No. A person MUST pass physics AND one additional part of the exam to be considered certified. If the physics portion is waived, they must still pass one additional part of the exam.

It will depend on what portion was related to ultrasound or lab function.  It is often necessary to have them send in a list of the topics (copy of the program) for a meeting to document which are appropriate, if they wish to count CME from a larger meeting.

Yes. They must include a statement in their application materials stating that this is what they plan to do, and their certificate is mailed to them only after we receive their CME documentation from the meeting.

No, we do not require submission of individual case interpretations. Instead, applicants must provide a letter from their supervising physician confirming that they have completed at least 100 interpretations. “Adequate supervision” refers to the standard oversight structure in place within a laboratory that employs appropriately credentialed personnel. Applicants are not required to come from ICAVL-accredited laboratories, nor must their supervisors be ASN-certified.

ASN will accept studies performed by the applicant, provided it is clearly documented that the applicant conducted the test and prepared a preliminary report, which was subsequently reviewed by a credentialed MD at the facility. ASN certification of the reviewing physician is not required. The preliminary report serves as evidence that the applicant independently interpreted their studies. Supervision by a chief technologist is also acceptable, as this reflects standard laboratory practice in which the preliminary report is reviewed and approved by the most experienced staff member before final physician interpretation.

Generally, no. If there seems to be a special circumstance or extenuating situation then this may be considered.

• The IAC Vascular Testing website offers a list of CME resources: http://www.intersocietal.org/vascular/main/cme_resources.htm
• Cedars Sinai (Los Angeles, California) Didactic; online
• GulfCoast Ultrasound Institute Inc. (St. Petersburg, Florida) Didactic and hands-on
• TCD Education, (Seattle, Washington) formerly Swedish Fall- didactic, Spring- hands-on
• Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (Richmond, Virginia) Didactic and hands-on

TCD Only - 240 mins

Carotids Only - 240 mins

Physics & Carotids - 240 mins

Physics & TCD - 240 mins

Physics, Carotids & TCD - 240 mins

The answer depends on your fellowship curriculum. If your fellowship provides you with an opportunity to learn TCD at least for SAH and brain death, and you either performed or interpreted TCDs for these or other indications under supervision and continuously thru fellowship, this would qualify you to register for the exam.

Your fellowship director simply needs to state in the letter that learning TCD is included into your fellowship curriculum. One needs to have an in depth exposure to TCD (exam is tough on physics and hemodynamics).

This is not a board exam, so does not allow one to claim to be a “diplomate”.  It is also not an accreditation process, which is left to IAC-Vascular.  It is a certification exam, so all one can really say is that one is has successfully completed/passed the ASN Neurosonology Certification Exam, is certified in Neurosonology, or has an additional credential in Neurosonology (with specific TCD or carotid if only one or the other).  

All three parts: Basics of Ultrasound and Ultrasound Physics, Carotid Duplex, Transcranial Doppler

- Two parts: Basics of Ultrasound and Ultrasound Physics, Carotid Duplex

- Two parts: Basics of Ultrasound and Ultrasound Physics, Transcranial Doppler