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 A summary of the requirements for the certification of a CPAS, or Certified PACS Associate are listed here. The focus is on general technical and clinical understanding. This certification is achieved by passing the 2 exams listed below.
- CPAS-Technical: tests an individuals knowledge of general technical skills.
- CPAS-Clinical: tests an individuals knowledge of general clinical skills.
Click here to take an exam.
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 Click here for a detailed list of requirements.
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| A. Technical Requirements |
- Computer basics:
1.1 Hardware
1.2 Software
1.3 CPU
1.4 Memory
1.5 Disk technology
1.6 IP / MAC Addresses
1.7 Exchange media
- Operating system basics
2.1 Unix
2.2 Windows
2.3 DOS prompts
- Database basics
3.1 Hierarchical, relational, object databases
3.2 Basic SQL knowledge
- Data representations:
4.1 Binary data format
4.2 Bits, bytes
4.3 Hexadecimal
4.4 Signed/unsigned data
4.5 Floating point
4.6 Monochrome, RGB
- Networking technology:
5.1 WAN/LAN, T1, ISDN, DSL
5.2 Internet (http, url, domains)
5.3 ISO model
5.4 Ethernet, TCP/IP
5.5 Packet switching, circuit switching
5.6 Throughput, bandwidth, level of service parameters
- Basic Security Concepts:
6.1 System security in general
6.2 Authentication
6.3 Authorization
6.4 Confidentiality
6.5 Integrity
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| B. Clinical Requirements |
- Basic medical terminology
- Basic human anatomy
- Radiology Imaging basics:
3.1 Principles of different modalities (CR, DR, XR, XA, RF, US, MR, NM, CT)
3.2 Basic operational procedural knowledge of computer radiology equipment
3.3 Image characteristics for each modality
3.4 Positioning and viewing techniques and terminology
3.5 QA / QC
3.6 Collimation versus shuttering
- Typical process flow ("Completing the exam cycle"):
4.1 Physician order
4.2 Performance of exam
4.3 Results reporting (dictation & speech recognition)
4.4 Remote system access for image viewing
- How to handle prior exams & outside exams:
5.1 Film & digitization
5.2 Import CD's
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