Mammography

The Canadian Association of Radiologists operates the accreditation program for mammography facilities in Canada.

The Committee on Physics of Mammography Certification of the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM) accredits those who are qualified to perform the physics component of this program.

Health Canada has published the Canadian Mammography Quality Guidelines. It states that all Medical Physicists conducting surveys of mammography facilities and providing oversight of the facility quality assurance program:

“must be accredited in Medical Physics of Mammography by the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM) or its equivalent, or any relevant provincial/territorial licence.”

If you like to obtain an electronic copy (PDF document) of the guidelines, pleased visit the mammography publications section of the Health Canada web site.

If you like to obtain a printed copy, please contact:

Health Canada
Address Locator 0900C2
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9
1-866-225-0709

List of Physicists Certified in Mammography

Eligibility

 

Individuals who wish to be certified to perform the physics component of the CAR Mammography Accreditation Program must have one the following credentials:

1. Certification in diagnostic radiological physics by one of:

  • Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM)
  • American Board of Radiology (ABR)
  • American Board of Medical Physics (ABMP)

OR

2. A degree in Physics or related subject from a recognized university. Notwithstanding, other applicants may be considered in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Committee on Physics of Mammography Certification but with the approval of the College Board.

Committee

Atiyah Yahya, PhD, FCCPM, P.Eng., FCOMP (Chair)
Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta

Idris Elbakri, PhD, MCCPM
CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Gordon Mawdsley, BSc, FCCPM
Sunnybrook & Women’s College, Toronto, Ontario

Alain Gauvin, MSc, MBA, MCCPM, DABR, DABMP, CIIP
McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec

Rasika Rajapakshe, PhD, FCCPM, HCISPP
BC Cancer Agency, Kelowna, British Columbia

Elena Tonkopi, MSc, MCCPM, DABR
Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Alexandre Bourque , MSc, FCCPM (CCPM Deputy Chief Examiner)
CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre, Greenfield Park, Québec

Application Process

Applications for certification should be sent to: info@ccpm.ca

The application should include:

  • a) An up-to-date curriculum vitae; and
  • b) Evidence to show competence on evaluation of a mammographic facility, including:
    • (i) An example of all the raw data collected and films obtained at the time of a mammography unit inspection; and
    • (ii) The final report of the inspection outlined in (i).

It is recommended (but not mandatory) that the first inspection be done under the supervision of a certified Mammography Physicist.

 

Certification Requirements

 

  1. Applicants for the Mammography examination shall possess a degree in Physics or a related subject from a recognized university.  Notwithstanding, other applicants may be considered in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Committee, but with the approval of the College Board.
  2. Applicants must have completed at least 15 hours of continuing education on relevant matters in mammography during the 3 years preceding the application date for certification by the CCPM.
  3. Applicants for the Certification examination shall possess a minimum of one year full time equivalent spent in surveying medical imaging systems.  The applicant must have surveyed at least 2 mammography facilities and a total of at least 6 mammographic units during this period.  No more than one survey of a specific unit within a period of 60 days can be counted towards the total mammography unit survey requirement.  This experience must be completed by the date of the application for examination.
  4. Applicants shall be required to submit a letter of reference demonstrating that the candidate’s practice is satisfactory in terms of technical competence, professionalism and ethics, from a certified medical physicist, or from a Member or Fellow of the College.
  5. The applicant shall abide by the College Code of Ethics.
  6. The applicant shall provide a satisfactory mammography survey report realized under the supervision of a mammography certified physicists (or under the supervision of some other individual of adequate knowledge, as determined by the Committee), submitted together with pertinent documentation.

More information can be found in the CCPM Regulations.

Register

 

Go to

Exam Schedule and Fees

 

Go to