Applications Open: iUSCAN Clinical Trial Certification

iUSCAN is excited to announce that applications are now open for Clinical Trial IUS Certification Cohort 2, our next step in building the future of intestinal ultrasound for clinical trials across North America.

Following the success of our inaugural 2026 cohort, which certified the first 25 gastroenterologists in North America in standardized clinical trial intestinal ultrasound, we are thrilled to expand this opportunity to the next group of providers committed to excellence in IUS.

This program is designed to create a rigorous, standardized pathway for gastroenterologists performing intestinal ultrasound in clinical trials. The course is free for all iUSCAN members who are accepted and will take place live at DDW 2026, combining focused eLearning preparation with an intensive hands-on certification experience.

Applications are Due: August 1, 2026

Apply here:
Clinical Trial IUS Certification Cohort 2 Application

What the Certification Includes

Participants begin with a brief eLearning module reviewing the standardized clinical trial IUS protocol, followed by a structured live certification course.

Before the formal examination, learners receive:

• A focused protocol review 

• A 1-hour warm-up session 

• Expert coaching and real-time feedback 

• Small-group instruction in a 2 coach : 3 learner ratio 

This preparation ensures participants feel confident and ready for the formal certification process.

The Certification Exam

Each learner must complete two formal certification examinations, with every exam independently graded by two certified examiners using iUSCAN’s innovative clinical trial grading rubric .

The examination includes:

• A 15-minute warm-up to become familiar with bowel anatomy 

• 30 minutes to record 15 cine loops across: 

  • Sigmoid colon 

  • Descending colon 

  • Transverse colon 

  • Ascending colon 

  • Terminal ileum 

For each bowel segment, learners must capture:

• Longitudinal views 

• Cross-sectional views 

• Color Doppler assessment 

Each segment is graded on image optimization, depth, focus, gain, annotation, cine quality, Doppler quality, and systematic examination. The final score is calculated out of 100, with a passing score of ≥70% required for certification .

After scanning, participants receive:

• 10 minutes of grading 

• Direct examiner feedback 

• Performance review and coaching 

If a learner does not pass both exams, they are offered the opportunity for a third examination attempt.

This process ensures certification reflects true competency and reproducibility for clinical trial performance.

Beyond Individual Certification: Site Accreditation

Clinical trial certification is the first step in a broader iUSCAN ecosystem.

Certified providers can help their institutions pursue iUSCAN Clinical Trial Site Accreditation, ensuring centers are fully prepared to perform high-quality IUS for multicenter clinical trials.

To qualify, sites must include:

• At least 2 iUSCAN-certified providers 

• Submission of a DICOM test scan to iUSCAN 

• A virtual assessment of technical capabilities and ultrasound equipment 

Accredited institutions—and certified providers—will be listed in the official iUSCAN directory .

Coming Soon: Central Reader Certification

Launching in the second half of 2026, iUSCAN will also offer a free Central Reader Training and Certification Program for providers who complete Clinical Trial IUS Certification.

This fully online program will include:

• Fundamentals of central reading 

• Practice case review 

• Calibration against expert consensus reads 

• Final certification through demonstrated reading accuracy 

This creates a complete pathway from bedside acquisition to expert clinical trial interpretation—building the future of intestinal ultrasound research infrastructure.

We are proud to continue advancing standardized, scalable, and high-quality IUS integration into clinical trials.

We look forward to welcoming Cohort 2 and continuing to grow the next generation of certified intestinal ultrasound leaders across North America.