ICA Stenosis Grading is Straightforward. Standardizing it across every scan is the real challenge.
A 20-hour self-paced masterclass built for one outcome : giving you the confidence to grade and report carotid disease using measurements you trust. Includes 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.
- Hands-On Video Demonstrations: Watch the probe move, the image change, and the criteria applied in real time
- Real Clinical Cases: Cases pulled from real vascular departments.
- Common Mistakes, Flagged in Advance: The most common errors at each step, called out before you make them.
- 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™: Accepted for ARDMS, CCI, and U.S. hospital credentialing. Certificate issued on completion.
- See chapters, accreditation details & clinical cases
Carotid Ultrasound Course & Vertebral Arteries
- 6 commented video lectures (2+ hours)
- 15 e-booklets · 300+ evidence slides
- Real-life video cases & pathology
- 13 clinical quizzes + CME assessment
- Free access to Lesson 1 — no card required
🔒 Secure checkout · 12-month access
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Gain Professional Credibility
Stop having your reports questioned. Master the exact diagnostic criteria used by top U.S. vascular labs — NASCET/ECST grading, IMT assessment, plaque characterization. Prepare confidently for RPVI/RVT board exams with material trusted by 811+ peers worldwide.
Eliminate Diagnostic Uncertainty
A missed carotid stenosis can cause a preventable stroke. This course trains you to identify vulnerable plaques, detect near-occlusions, and confidently diagnose vertebral steal syndrome, the findings that standard training routinely under-addresses.
Diagnostic Confidence
From intima-media thickness measurement to subclavian steal syndrome, every module is built around real clinical scenarios. By the end, you will not just “scan the neck”—you will understand how to approach a complete neurovascular assessment with a structured, clinically grounded framework.
Nothing is real on an ultrasound image unless you can see it in two different scanning planes, preferably from two different acoustic windows.
What Physicians Say
Trusted by 3559+ Healthcare Professionals Worldwide
Full Course Curriculum
From Hemodynamics to Reporting: The Complete Masterclass
Do not settle for simple screening. This Masterclass is engineered to take you from basic probe manipulation to advanced vascular interpretation.
You will gain the deep hemodynamic understanding required to grade stenosis with precision (NASCET/ECST criteria), differentiate between occlusion and near-occlusion, and confidently rule out stroke risk.
In this 20-credit curriculum, you will master:
🎯 Standardized Protocols: Complete step-by-step scanning techniques, from patient positioning to vessel optimization (CCA, ICA, ECA, Vertebrals).
🧠 Advanced Hemodynamics: Understand how to interpret spectral waveforms to detect haemodynamic abnormalities, including indirect signs of distal or intracranial disease from extracranial vessel assessment.
⚠️ Pathology Grading: Apply international diagnostic criteria to characterize plaque morphology (ulcerated vs. stable) and grade stenosis severity accurately.
🛠️ Troubleshooting: How to differentiate real pathology from common artifacts (reverberation, mirror artefact, shadowing) to avoid false positives.
📝 Reporting: How to write clear, defensible reports that surgeons and neurologists trust.
By the end of this course, you will go beyond simply “scanning” the neck and develop a structured approach to neurovascular assessment. You will gain the theoretical foundation and interpretative framework to understand complex pathology—providing a solid toolkit to be applied and refined in clinical practice—and to support RPVI/RVT board preparation.
Course Content
🆓 Free Access — Carotid Ultrasound Introduction
Carotid Ultrasound Anatomy & Course Variation
Image Optimisation & Standardized Scanning Protocol
Carotid Arteries Pathologies — Advanced Grading ★ Core Module
• Stenosis Grading: Morpho-Anatomical Method + Quiz 6
• Stenosis Grading: Haemodynamic Method + Quiz 7
• University of Washington & International Criteria Overview + Quiz 8
• 📹 Video: How to Grade ICA Stenosis — UK Haemodynamic Recommendations
• Near Occlusion & Occlusion of the Extracranial ICA + Quiz 9
• International Guidelines: Extracranial Carotid Imaging + Quiz 10
Vertebral Arteries: Anatomy, Protocol & Pathologies
• 📹 Video: Subclavian Steal Syndrome — Diagnostic Criteria
• Vertebral Arteries Pathology + Quiz 13
• Reporting Extracranial Carotid Artery Findings (Slide 15)
Course Includes
🔒 Secure checkout · 30-day access guarantee
🔒 Secure checkout · 30-day access guarantee
work at:
Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital
What Changes After This Course
From Uncertainty to Clinical Authority
This is not a course that adds theory to your shelf. Every module is built to change
what you actually do the next time you sit in front of a Doppler machine.
| Before the Masterclass | After the Masterclass |
|---|---|
| Uncertain ICA stenosis grade — relying on PSV alone | Grade with 3 validated methods: morpho-anatomical, hemodynamic, and international guidelines criteria |
| PSV elevated — unsure of clinical significance | PSV + EDV — precise hemodynamic grading with full understanding of trickle flow and near-occlusion |
| Plaque visible — can't characterize morphology confidently | Differentiate ulcerated vs. stable, echolucent vs. calcified plaque — with the criteria surgeons and neurologists trust |
| Vertebral artery waveform abnormal — unclear next step | Diagnose subclavian steal syndrome with confidence, supported by dedicated video demonstration |
| Report written informally, inconsistent structure | Structured report aligned with ESVS 2023 — covering patency, IMT, stenosis grade, flow direction, limitations, and conclusions |
| Surgical referral based on instinct | Evidence-based decision: CEA vs. CAS vs. TCAR vs. medical therapy — based on symptomatic status and stenosis severity thresholds |
All of the above — in one accredited Masterclass. 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ included.
Enroll Now — $299 →Why This Course?
Stop Struggling with Vascular Ultrasound Uncertainty
Common Challenges U.S. Clinicians Face
- Limited time to absorb fragmented, inconsistent training material
- Uncertainty grading ICA stenosis — NASCET vs ECST vs haemodynamic method
- Missing subtle findings: near-occlusions, ulcerated plaques, vertebral steal
- Unable to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits for vascular-specific imaging
- Reports questioned by surgeons and neurologists due to inconsistent criteria
Our AMA-Accredited Solution
- Step-by-step scanning protocols structured around real clinical workflows
- Three grading methods taught side by side: morpho-anatomical, haemodynamic, international guidelines
- Dedicated modules on near-occlusion, occlusion, subclavian steal : with real video cases
- 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ valid for ARDMS, CCI, and hospital credentialing
- Reporting module: write defensible, structured reports that surgeons and neurologists trust
A Genuine Differentiator
You Won't Just Learn to Scan.
You'll Learn to Apply the Exact Criteria Used Internationally
Most ultrasound courses teach a single grading method. This Masterclass teaches four international guideline frameworks simultaneously, so you can apply the correct criteria for any patient, any institution, and any country
The course teaches you those consensus criteria — from four independent international bodies.
European Society for Vascular Surgery
2023 Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Atherosclerotic Carotid & Vertebral Artery Disease — the most current international standard.
ESVS · 2023European Society of Cardiology
Guidelines on hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and CV prevention — all referencing cIMT and carotid plaque as key risk reclassification tools.
ESC · Multiple GuidelinesAmerican Heart Association
AHA/ACC recommendations for diagnostic testing in symptomatic and asymptomatic extracranial carotid artery disease — directly applicable to U.S. practice.
Circulation 2011 · AHA/ACCUniversity of Washington Criteria
The original 6-category ICA stenosis grading system based on PSV, EDV, spectral broadening, and waveform morphology — still widely used in U.S. vascular labs.
University of Washington · DUS CriteriaNo other online vascular ultrasound course teaches all four frameworks side by side. This is the clinical depth that sets ABC Vascular apart — and what 811+ enrolled physicians have already applied in practice.
Enroll Now — $299 →Test Your Knowledge
Try a Real Course Question
This question comes directly from Quiz 1 of the Carotid Masterclass. See how you do — then decide if this course is the right next step for your practice.
The full course includes 13 clinical quizzes across 5 lessons — each with detailed explanations, real-life video cases, and 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Enroll Now — $299 →Your Accredited Certificate
A Credential That Opens Doors in Healthcare
Upon completing the course and passing all assessments, you receive a verified certificate of completion — recognized by leading U.S. and international vascular medicine bodies.
- 20 AMA PRA Credits™ valid for all U.S. CME requirements, ARDMS, and CCI recertification.
- EACCME Accreditation: recognized across 40+ countries through the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS).
- Hospital Credentialing: accepted documentation for vascular lab privileges at U.S. institutions.
- RPVI / RVT Board Preparation curriculum aligned with ARDMS and CCI examination standards.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
Carotid Ultrasound Course & Vertebral Arteries
Accredited by EACCME® in agreement with AMA
for CME activity for medical specialists.
Your Course Directors
Built by Vascular Physicians
and Vascular Sonographers.
Designed for Clinical Practice.
ABC Vascular was founded by Dr. Cristiana Vitale and Dr. Fabrizio D’Abate, board-certified vascular physician and Accredited Clinical Vascular Scientist, both authors of the Practical Guide to Ultrasound-Based Assessment of Carotid Atherosclerosis. Their courses are used by sonographers, radiologists, and surgeons in 50+ countries — endorsed by ESVS, EFSUMB, and IRCCS San Raffaele.
Every module is built for real clinical application — not just exam theory — aligned with the latest international diagnostic standards and continuously updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything You Need to Know
Are these CME credits accepted in the United States?
Yes. ABC Vascular courses are accredited by EACCME, which has a mutual recognition agreement with the AMA. Upon completion, your credits are converted to 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ — valid for all U.S. CME and maintenance of certification requirements.
Is this course accepted for ARDMS and CCI recertification?
Yes. The 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are accepted for ARDMS, CCI, and most U.S. hospital credentialing requirements for vascular sonographers and physicians.
How long do I have access to the course?
You receive 12 months of full access from the date of purchase — enough time to complete the curriculum at your own pace and revisit modules as needed for clinical practice.
Is this suitable for sonographers, or only for physicians?
Both. The course is explicitly designed for physicians, vascular sonographers, radiologists, and all healthcare professionals who perform or interpret vascular ultrasound in clinical practice.
Can I try the course before purchasing?
Yes. Lesson 1 (2 topics including a video) is available completely free — no credit card required. Click “View Free Sample Lesson” to access it immediately and evaluate the format and teaching quality before committing.
How do I receive my certificate and AMA credits?
After completing all course materials and passing the final CME assessment (included), your EACCME certificate is issued digitally with your name, date, and credit count. AMA PRA credits are automatically attributed through the EACCME/AMA recognition agreement.
Ready to Advance Your Career?
Earn 20 AMA Credits.
Master Carotid Diagnostics.
Starting Today.
Join 3,554+ physicians and sonographers who have standardized their vascular ultrasound practice with ABC Vascular. Self-paced, accredited, and built for U.S. clinical standards.
