Advance your Medical Sonography Career
in British Columbia (BC), Canada
DISCOVER THE PERFECT
PLACE TO CALL HOME
Medical Sonographers choose to live in British Columbia (BC) for
many reasons — spectacular scenery, unlimited recreational activities,
rewarding career opportunities, and safe, caring communities. You
will find it is the perfect place to advance your Medical Sonography
career AND live the life you’ve always wanted. You owe it to yourself to
consider BC.
ADVANCE YOUR
MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY
CAREER IN BRITISH
COLUMBIA
Interested in matching your lifestyle with
exciting career opportunities? We are here to
help! Health Match BC is a free recruitment
service for health professionals funded by the
Government of British Columbia (BC), Canada.
Our experienced allied health services team will
guide you through the recruitment process and
support you in making a seamless transition to
your new job.
Register online so our allied
health services team can:
•Guide you through the
professional licensing
process.
Choose your
opportunity...
British Columbia offers
a variety of Medical
Sonographer positions
throughout the province.
Choose from a broad
range of positions
within the province’s
eight health employers:
five regional health
employers, one provincial
health services employer,
one denominational
employer, and the First
Nations Health Authority.
•Provide you with information
about communities of interest.
•Match your skills and
interests to job vacancies
in regions of your choice.
•Connect you with prospective
employers and/or regional
health employers.
To find a job in BC, register at healthmatchbc.org
MEDICAL SONOGRAPHERS
Credentials
To work in British Columbia, you must meet the
credential and competency standards set by
Sonography Canada. It is also recommended that
you become a member of the British Columbia
Ultrasonographers’ Society (BCUS).
Sonography Canada has set into place certain
requirements that must be met by potential
registrants who wish to acquire their Canadian
credentials. These requirements include:
Sonography Canada credentials are highly
respected and required by employers of Medical
Sonographers in British Columbia. More information
is available at www.sonographycanada.ca
Language Fluency
Language requirement table
TEST
MINIMUM SCORES
ACCEPTED
TOEFL
Test of English as a
Foreign Language
80
• Documented proof of successful completion of a
Canadian Medical Association (CMA) accredited
diagnostic ultrasound education program or an
equivalent ultrasound education program as
recognized by Sonography Canada.
For more information on assessment and
certification through Sonography Canada, go to www.
sonographycanada.ca
• Successful completion of the Sonography
Canada Clinical Skills Assessment (CCSA).
Canadian Medical Sonographers
• Successful completion of Sonography Canada
approved written examination(s).
• Payment of all required credentialing and registry
fees.
Sonographers applying for Sonography Canada
registration may receive their credentials in the
following specialties:
• CRGS® Canadian Registered Generalist
Sonographer (Core and Generalist)
• CRCS® Canadian Registered Cardiac
Sonographer (Core and Cardiac)
• CRVS® Canadian Registered Vascular
Sonographer (Core and Vascular)
In support of these requirements, Sonography
Canada has established sonography credentialing
examinations that will ensure that Sonography
Canada registrants meet the technical, ethical,
and professional standards that are expected of a
professional medical sonographer.
LABOUR MOBILITY AGREEMENT
If you are a Medical Sonographer currently
registered with a full registration status in a
Canadian jurisdiction, you may be eligible for full
registration under the Agreement on Internal Trade
(AIT) 2009 (Chapter 7); or the Alberta/British
Columbia Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility
Agreement. Under the Labour Mobility Agreement,
no new requirements are required with the
exception of a review of previous discipline history
and other administrative matters.
In accordance with the Agreement on Internal
Trade, if you are a registered and practising Medical
Sonographer in good standing from another
province or territory, you are eligible for registration
in British Columbia. The AIT permits your present
qualifications as a Medical Sonographer in Canada
to be recognized when registering in British
Columbia so you are not obligated to complete any
further assessments for registration.
This information is current as of May 1, 2015 and is subject to change. The latest
information can be found on www.healthmatchbc.org
Education Requirements
Governing Bodies
A Medical Sonographer must have completed a Canadian Medical
Association (CMA) accredited educational program in Medical
Sonography at an approved Canadian educational institution as the
minimal educational requirement for entry-level education in Canada.
British Columbia
Ultrasonographers’ Society
(BCUS) www.bcus.org
As there is no regulatory body
for Medical Sonographers
in British Columbia, the
Society manages the
professional affairs of Medical
Sonographers in the province.
Internationally Educated Medical
Sonographers
To be eligible for registration with Sonography Canada, all internationally
educated Medical Sonographers who are not a graduate of a CMA
accredited diagnostic medical sonography program may apply to qualify
for Sonography Canada credentials through the external candidate
pathway. Each external application is assessed on a case-by-case basis
for eligibility to write the qualifying examinations and challenge the
Canadian Clinical Skills Assessment™ (CCSA).
External candidates applying for the Generalist (CRGS) and/or Cardiac
(CRCS) credential(s) must successfully complete all credentialing
examinations within four years of the date of Sonography Canada’s
approval of the candidate’s external application. A maximum of four
attempts of any of the Core or Cardiac exams or any component of the
Generalist exam is allowed.
External candidates must complete a CCSA for each credential being
applied. For the Generalist and Cardiac credentials, the CCSA(s) must
be completed within two years of notification of successful completion of
the credentialing examinations. For the Vascular (CRVS) credential, the
external candidate must complete the CCSA within two years of the date
of Sonography Canada’s approval of the candidate’s external application.
Provincial Registration
There is no formal regulatory body responsible for Medical Sonographers
in BC. The British Columbia Sonographers’ Society (BCUS) is the
association that represents and oversees the professional affairs of
Medical Sonographers in the province. It is an affiliate of Sonography
Canada.
Sonography Canada
www.sonographycanada.ca
The national association
representing the profession
of Medical Sonography
in Canada. Sonography
Canada is responsible for the
administration of the national
certification examination for
Medical Sonographers in
Canada.
IMMIGRATION
Provincial
Nominee
Program
Once you have started
working in Canada in
a permanent position,
you may be eligible
for the Provincial
Nominee Program
(PNP). This program is
an alternate means of
obtaining permanent
residency in Canada. An
internationally educated
Medical Sonographer who
is eligible for registration
in BC and has a formal
permanent job offer with
an employer in BC, but
is not a Canadian or
permanent resident of
Canada, may be eligible
for the PNP prior to their
arrival in Canada. Further
information is available on
the Government of British
Columbia’s website
www.welcomebc.ca
Coming to Canada
To work in British Columbia as a Medical Sonographer, an internationally
educated Medical Sonographer who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent
resident must have the authorization to work in Canada by way of a work permit.
To apply for a work permit, you will be required to provide evidence that you
have applied to Sonography Canada for certification. For more information on
immigration, please contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada www.cic.gc.ca
When an applicant receives a full-time offer of employment and has obtained
certification to practise as a Medical Sonographer in British Columbia, the
prospective employer will initiate the immigration process. The applicant has
two immigration options: a temporary work permit; and/or apply to the Provincial
Nominee Program (PNP).
Temporary Work Permit
A temporary work permit allows applicants to work in Canada for a specific
employer for up to three years. This permit is renewable. It also allows spouses
to apply for work in Canada. To get a temporary work permit, an applicant needs
to:
• Download an application form from Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(www.cic.gc.ca)
• Complete all of the forms – including the documents from the prospective
employer – and gather all of the required documents
• Submit the application and the required fees to the closest Canadian
embassy, high commission or consulate, or the nearest Citizenship and
Immigration Canada visa office.
Please note: if an incomplete work permit application is submitted, the
application will be returned.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada will then:
• Mail a letter confirming that the application has been received. The
applicant will also be given a Medical Report Application form that needs to
be completed by a designated medical practitioner. (A list of practitioners
will be sent with the form.)
• Mail a letter informing the applicant of the outcome of the work permit
application. Successful work permit applicants are provided with a letter of
introduction and instructions on the next steps to be taken.
Applications for temporary work permits take approximately six to eight
months to be processed.
GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS
The North
Fraser Valley
From the rugged Haida Gwaii/
Queen Charlotte Islands to the
majestic Rocky Mountain foothills,
northern BC is the perfect place
for outdoor enthusiasts. There are
countless walking and hiking trails
with spectacular views.
To the east of Vancouver lies the
sunny Fraser Valley. It is known
for its abundant farmlands and
scenic valley views. It is just a short
drive from Vancouver and offers a
wide range of recreational activities
including year-round golfing,
horseback riding, and fishing.
• Industries: forestry, fishing,
mining, oil and gas,
manufacturing and distribution.
• Industries: construction,
agriculture, forestry, retail trade.
• Approximately 40% of the
population live in rural
communities.
• One in four people who live in
the Fraser Valley work in Metro
Vancouver.
• The North has proportionally
more residents under the age
of 15 than any other region
in BC.
• 60% of British Columbians
live in the Fraser Valley or
Vancouver and the Coast, yet
the regions cover less than 5%
of BC’s total land mass.
Vancouver and
the Coast
Snow-capped mountains dominate
the vibrant Vancouver skyline;
city sidewalks lead to picturesque
sandy beaches. It’s no wonder this
cosmopolitan city is ranked as one
of the best places to live in the
world.
• Industries: finance, insurance,
real estate, professional
services, scientific services,
technical services, film.
• Hosted the 2010 Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games.
• Approximately 40% of Metro
Vancouver’s population was
born outside of Canada.
THE NORTH
FRASER VALLEY
VANCOUVER AND THE COAST
THE INTERIOR
VANCOUVER ISLAND
Pacific
Ocean
The Interior
Vancouver Island
BC’s interior offers a variety of spectacular
landscapes and outdoor activities. Enjoy the open
ranches and rolling hills of the Cariboo region,
the orchards and world-class vineyards of the
Okanagan, and the majestic lakes and mountains
of the Canadian Rockies.
Stroll along the beach, savour the view, and live the
island life. Vancouver Island is home to Victoria, the
capital of BC.
• Industries: forestry, fishing, mining, agriculture.
• Renowned for its international award-winning
wineries and vineyards.
• During the summer, the Okanagan area
experiences some of the hottest temperatures
in all of Canada.
• Industries: public administration, health and
social assistance, accommodation and food.
• Vancouver Island is the largest island on the
west coast of North America.
• Contrasting environments including rainforests,
mountains, marshes, meadows, rivers, lakes,
and oceans make Vancouver Island a habitat
for various forms of wildlife.
RESOURCES
British Columbia Health Employers
BC Health Employers serving distinct geographical
regions are:
Fraser Health
Interior Health
Island Health
Northern Health
Vancouver Coastal Health
www.fraserhealth.ca
www.interiorhealth.ca
www.viha.ca
www.northernhealth.ca
www.vch.ca
First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is the first
province-wide health authority of its kind in Canada.
www.fnha.ca
Provincial Health Services is responsible for
coordinating specialized province-wide health services
such as the BC Cancer Agency, BC Children’s Hospital,
and BC Transplant.
www.phsa.ca
Providence Health Care is one of the largest faithbased health care organizations in Canada, operating
16 facilities in Vancouver.
www.providencehealthcare.org
Useful Websites
Career Trek
A Government of British Columbia website
featuring careers in BC.
www.careertrekbc.ca
Career Compass
Career Compass is the BC government’s interactive
online resource that helps youth identify and
explore potential career options.
www.workbc.ca/CareerCompass
British Columbia Institute of Technology
British Columbia’s largest post-secondary
institution offering education in Diagnostic
Medical Sonography.
www.bcit.ca
British Columbia Ultrasonographers’ Society
As there is no regulatory body for Medical
Sonographers in British Columbia, the Society
manages the professional affairs of Medical
Sonographers in the province.
www.bcus.org
American Registry for Diagnostic
Medical Sonography
Their mission is to promote quality care and
patient safety through the certification and
continuing competency of ultrasound professionals.
www.ardms.org
Sonography Canada
The national association representing the profession
of Medical Sonography in Canada. Sonography
Canada is responsible for the administration of
the national certification examination for Medical
Sonographers in Canada.
www.sonographycanada.ca
Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
promotes, advances, and educates its members
and the medical community in the science of
Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
www.sdms.org
Welcome BC
Use WelcomeBC.ca to discover the exciting
opportunities to live, work or study in British
Columbia. Learn about BC and find out how to
settle into your new life. Take the steps you need
to qualify and findwork in BC.
www.welcomebc.ca
healthmatchbc.org
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