Certificate in Breast Imaging – Diagnostic (CBID)

Medical radiation technologists (MRTs) who perform breast imaging procedures have a special role in the healthcare of the public. MRTs must be highly competent practitioners excelling in their ability to produce quality images and to manage the patient with care and expertise in a highly technical environment.

Purpose of the Program

The Certificate in Breast Imaging – Diagnostic (CBID) program is designed to provide knowledge and clinical competence recognized by a credential that will be sought after by technologists and encouraged and advocated for by employers.

Program Overview

PLEASE NOTE that registration into a course that is applicable to a certificate program does not register you for the certificate program. It is the candidate’s responsibility to register and pay for the certificate program after the prerequisites are met (this allows you access to the clinical logbook) and to be aware of this certificate program’s policies and procedures as per the program handbook. In the event of a discrepancy, the information in the program handbook will apply.

A passing mark of 75% or higher on the pre-requisite exam is required for registration. Enrollment into the certificate (which allows access to and review of the clinical component) will only be made available to eligible candidates who completed the exam with the minimum exam grade. Note that a separate fee applies to the certificate registration. Candidates must register individually for any outstanding didactic courses.

The following is an overview of the Certificate in Breast Imaging – Diagnostic program. For detailed information, download the Program Handbook.

There are two components of the CBI – Diagnostic program: didactic and clinical*.

*The clinical component is only available to candidates registered in the certificate program (i.e register into the “CBID”).

Remember: All competencies in the SCC must be completed *after* your registration into the certificate program.

Prerequisite Requirements

Didactic Component

Clinical Component

Program Updates

Certificate in Breast Imaging Updates

Prerequisite Requirements

For Certificate in Breast Imaging – Diagnostic There are three prerequisite requirements to the CBID:

Breast Imaging 1 & Breast Imaging 2 (full-length courses or challenges)
Bring your Position Upfront: Breast Positioning Virtual Lecture (new in 2022)

To be eligible to use any course towards the Certificate Program, 75% or higher is required on the final evaluation (exam or quiz).

Experience Requirement

Starting January 2023:

NEW: As of 2023, there is no prerequisite experience requirement to the CBI programs. There is an experience requirement that must be tracked while completing the program. The clinical component is a practicum in breast imaging that requires the candidate to be practicing in breast imaging under the supervision of an eligible clinical advisor. During this, the candidate must:

Complete the Summary of Clinical Competence (SCC):
- All mandatory clinical competencies outlined in the SCC must be completed.
- NEW: To ensure consistency in clinical experience, the candidate must practice breast imaging for at least 16 weeks (or 80 full time shifts) within an 18-month block within the five-year timeframe of the certificate program. This clinical experience may only be acquired as a certified medical radiation technologist practicing in breast imaging. This Verification of Experience is part of the SCC, and it is signed by your supervisor/manager before or during the completion of your clinical competencies.
- This replaces the previous (2020) experience requirement that the candidate required a minimum of 1750 hours as a practicing mammography technologist over the 3 years preceding entry into the CBID program.

Breast Imaging 1 and Breast Imaging 2 Courses

Reminder: As of January 2021, Mammography 1 and Mammography 2 are not accepted as pre-requisites for the CBI programs. The new Breast Imaging courses provide comprehensive coverage of current mammography practice, adjunctive imaging modalities, and address advances in technology, including breast tomosynthesis.

CBID Program Timeline

The CBID program must be completed within five years of successful completion of the first eligible Breast Imaging course.
Successful completion of all prerequisites is required for eligibility to register into the certificate program. The CBI program must be completed within 5 years of successful completion of the Breast Imaging 1 course. Once registered in the certificate program, the candidate may begin working on their SCC. The SCC must be completed within three years of the first clinical entry.
NOTE: Imaging Breast Pathology (IBP) is not required at the time of program registration. Candidates registered into the CBID must complete this full-length course prior to their program end date. Only courses completed within the five-year timeline will be accepted.

Continue to check this page and other CAMRT news for updates.

Contact specialtycertificates@camrt.ca for more information.

Internationally educated medical radiation technologists (IEMRTs)

Documentation required from IEMRTs* (submit via email, please):

Notarized copy of diploma /degree/certificate from entry-level education program.
Original letter from entry-level education program verifying length of program to include both didactic and clinical components.
IEMRT Attestation Letter

*Required documentation not received within 30 days of program registration will result in a program cancellation/partial refund.
CAMRT strongly recommends candidates obtain required documentation prior to program registration and send by email within the required timeframe.
Candidates may only begin working on the Summary of Clinical Competence upon approval of received documentation from CAMRT.

Clinical Advisor

The clinical component requires the candidate to identify a clinical advisor. The clinical advisor must:

The Clinical Advisor (CA) must:

Be a medical radiation technologist practicing in diagnostic breast imaging
Have a minimum of five years’ experience in diagnostic breast imaging
Not be currently registered in either CBIS or CBID Certificate Programs
Perform the assessment on the candidate for performance of procedures/related competencies or delegate assessment to another breast imaging technologist
- note if the CA is not a specific subject matter expert in Breast Ultrasound and Breast MRI, Delegated Assessors are required.

Verify that others identified to assess candidates are competent in their practice

A clinical advisor with a CBI is preferred but not mandatory.

Documentation requirements for Clinical Advisors outside of Canada:

The following must be submitted within 30 days of program registration* via email:

A notarized copy of the clinical advisor’s credentials (degree, diploma, or certificate)
Clinical Advisor Verification of Experience**
Clinical Advisor (CA) Check List

*Required documentation not received within 30 days of program registration will result in a program cancellation/partial refund.
**Including those who have a CBI, CBIS or CBID credential.
CAMRT strongly recommends candidates obtain required documentation prior to program registration and send by email within the required timeframe. Candidates may only begin working on the Summary of Clinical Competence upon approval of received documentation from CAMRT.

Credential

Candidates who successfully complete the didactic and clinical components as per the CBID program requirements will receive a Certificate in Breast Imaging – Diagnostic and can use the CBID credential.

The Committee strongly advocates for continued competence through continuing professional development.

Certificate Program Handbook

The Certificate in Breast Imaging – Diagnostic Program Handbook

For more information on this Certificate Program: specialtycertificates@camrt.ca.