Neurovascular Specialist (NVS) Examination

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SUBMIT A QUESTION

REFUND POLICY

No refunds will be given for the exam.

RESCHEDULING POLICY

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

EXAM OVERVIEW AND PREPARATION

The American Society of Neuroimaging (ASN) “Neurovascular Specialist” examination (NVS) will require an individual’s ability to apply the knowledge, concepts, and principles of neurovascular technology in the fields of Transcranial Doppler (TCD) and Carotid Duplex ultrasound. This includes the analytical skills and tasks performed that constitute the basis of safe and effective patient care. It is also designed to assess the candidate’s ability to apply the understanding of biomedical and clinical sciences that are considered essential for the practice of neurovascular ultrasound.

The NVS examination is offered to assess proficiency in neurovascular ultrasound and will include three components: Basics of Ultrasound and Ultrasound Physics, Transcranial Doppler, and Carotid Duplex. It is intended for individuals who have training and experience in neurovascular ultrasound. Individuals who apply should have a basic foundation in the principles, physics, technique, and clinical implications of neurovascular technology in order to acquire, understand, and present the data to a supervising physician.

As an incentive for individuals who have already completed their “Physics and Instrumentation” examination from the ARDMS, CCI, or ARRT (VS), the “Basics of Ultrasound and Ultrasound Physics” component of the NVS examination will be waived.

The NVS proficiency examination is not based on the review course in basic neurosonology given at the ASN Annual Meeting. The course does not cover the entire content of this examination. 

NVS Exam Suggested Reading for Physics:

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

NVS Exam Suggested Reading for TCD and Carotid Ultrasound:

Cerebrovascular Ultrasound in Stroke Prevention and Treatment (2^nd 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
Ultrasound Diagnosis of Cerebrovascular Disease: Doppler sonography of the extra- and intracranial arteries duplex scanning by Gerhard-Michael von Reutern

ELIGIBILITY

Please see the below pathway to determine if you are eligible to sit for the NVS Examination:

CME/CEU RESOURCES

• Wake Forest School of Medicine (Winston-Salem, NC)
• Swedish Medical Center/Pacific Vascular (Seattle, WA)
• Cedars Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA)
• Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute Inc. (St. Petersburg, FL)

MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION

Upon successful completion of the examination, all Neurovascular Specialists will be required to maintain an ASN membership to keep the certification active. Those certified must also acquire 30 CME credits specific to the field of neurovascular ultrasound every three years.