All Practice Exams

100+ Free Sonography Canada Vascular Practice Questions

Pass your Sonography Canada Vascular Sonographer Examination (CRVS) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately
100+ Questions
100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More Sonography Canada Certification Exams

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Sonography Canada Vascular Exam

180 questions

The Vascular Sonographer Examination has 180 multiple-choice questions

Sonography Canada Vascular 6.1 Examination Blueprint

180 minutes

Total time allowed for the Vascular Sonographer Examination

Sonography Canada Vascular 6.1 Examination Blueprint

4 components

Cerebrovascular, Peripheral Venous, Peripheral Arterial and Abdominal Vascular

Sonography Canada Vascular 6.1 Examination Blueprint

50 questions

Cerebrovascular is the largest component of the Vascular exam

Sonography Canada Vascular Examination Blueprint

CRVS

Credential earned: Canadian Registered Vascular Sonographer

Sonography Canada - Credentials

CAD $600

Vascular (NCP 6.1) exam fee plus a $150 application fee

Sonography Canada Certification Fees 2026-2027

4 attempts

Maximum attempts allowed per certification examination

Sonography Canada Candidate Guide

January 2027

NCP 7.0 takes effect, retiring the standalone Core exam

Sonography Canada - Entry-to-Practice Exams

The Sonography Canada Vascular Sonographer Examination is the written exam for the Canadian Registered Vascular Sonographer (CRVS) credential. It has 180 multiple-choice questions in 180 minutes, split across Cerebrovascular (50 questions), Peripheral Venous, Peripheral Arterial and Abdominal Vascular components, with many image- and video-based items. There is no fixed pass mark; the cut-score is set using the Modified Angoff method and there is no penalty for wrong answers. The NCP 6.1 fee is CAD $600 plus a $150 application fee, rising to $1,050 under NCP 7.0 from January 2027. This 100-question bank provides original practice across all four vascular components, including velocity criteria, Doppler physics, scanning protocols and artifacts.

Sample Sonography Canada Vascular Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Sonography Canada Vascular exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Using widely applied carotid duplex criteria, an internal carotid artery (ICA) is graded as 50-69% stenosis when the peak systolic velocity (PSV) falls in which range?
A.Less than 125 cm/s
B.125 to 230 cm/s
C.Greater than 230 cm/s
D.Greater than 400 cm/s
Explanation: By the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound consensus criteria, an ICA PSV of 125 to 230 cm/s corresponds to 50-69% stenosis. Below 125 cm/s is considered less than 50%, and above 230 cm/s indicates 70% or greater stenosis.
2Which ICA/CCA peak systolic velocity ratio is most consistent with a 70% or greater internal carotid artery stenosis?
A.Less than 2.0
B.2.0 to 4.0
C.Greater than 4.0
D.Exactly 1.0
Explanation: An ICA/CCA PSV ratio greater than 4.0 supports a 70% or greater stenosis. A ratio of 2.0 to 4.0 corresponds to 50-69%, and a ratio below 2.0 is associated with less than 50% narrowing.
3On a normal extracranial carotid duplex, which vessel typically shows a low-resistance waveform with continuous forward flow throughout diastole?
A.External carotid artery
B.Internal carotid artery
C.Subclavian artery
D.Vertebral artery in subclavian steal
Explanation: The internal carotid artery supplies the low-resistance vascular bed of the brain, so its waveform shows a high level of continuous antegrade diastolic flow. The external carotid supplies higher-resistance facial structures and has lower diastolic flow.
4A temporal tap maneuver is most useful for distinguishing which two vessels during carotid duplex?
A.ICA from vertebral artery
B.ECA from ICA
C.CCA from subclavian artery
D.Right CCA from left CCA
Explanation: Tapping the superficial temporal artery transmits oscillations into the external carotid artery (ECA), which gives rise to it, helping differentiate the ECA from the internal carotid artery (ICA) when their waveforms are ambiguous.
5Retrograde (reversed) flow in the vertebral artery on the same side as a proximal subclavian artery stenosis is the classic finding of which condition?
A.Carotid body tumor
B.Subclavian steal syndrome
C.Takayasu aortitis
D.Internal carotid dissection
Explanation: In subclavian steal, a stenosis or occlusion proximal to the vertebral artery origin causes blood to be 'stolen' from the vertebrobasilar system, reversing flow in the ipsilateral vertebral artery to supply the arm.
6When measuring ICA peak systolic velocity, the Doppler angle should be kept at or below what value to maintain accuracy?
A.30 degrees
B.45 degrees
C.60 degrees
D.90 degrees
Explanation: Doppler velocity measurements are made with the angle of insonation at 60 degrees or less. Above 60 degrees the cosine term changes rapidly with small angle errors, producing large velocity inaccuracies.
7A heavily calcified carotid plaque casts an acoustic shadow that obscures the lumen. What is the most appropriate sonographic response?
A.Increase the Doppler angle above 70 degrees
B.Angle the beam or use an alternate window to interrogate beyond the shadow
C.Report the segment as occluded
D.Switch to a higher frequency to penetrate calcium
Explanation: Calcific shadowing is overcome by changing the angle of approach or using a different acoustic window (for example, more posterior or anterior) to insonate the lumen distal to the calcium. This recovers velocity data without misclassifying the vessel.
8A 'string sign' or trickle of slow flow in a markedly narrowed internal carotid artery is clinically important because it distinguishes which two entities?
A.Near-total occlusion versus complete occlusion
B.Plaque versus thrombus
C.Dissection versus aneurysm
D.ECA versus ICA
Explanation: Detecting a thread-like residual flow channel (string sign) separates a near-occlusion, which may still be surgically treatable, from a complete occlusion, which usually is not. Low-PRF, power Doppler and slow-flow settings help reveal it.
9Spectral broadening with loss of the clear systolic window on a carotid waveform most directly indicates:
A.Improved laminar flow
B.Turbulent or disturbed flow
C.A normal venous signal
D.Mirror-image artifact
Explanation: Spectral broadening means a wider range of velocities is present within the sample, filling in the spectral window. It reflects turbulent or disturbed flow, commonly seen at or just beyond a stenosis.
10The carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is most appropriately measured on which vessel wall and segment?
A.Near wall of the ICA bulb
B.Far wall of the distal common carotid artery
C.Near wall of the ECA
D.Far wall of the vertebral artery
Explanation: CIMT is measured on the far wall of the distal common carotid artery (typically the 1 cm proximal to the bulb), where the double-line pattern is most reproducible and free of bifurcation turbulence.

About the Sonography Canada Vascular Exam

The Sonography Canada Vascular Sonographer Examination is the knowledge-based written exam leading to the Canadian Registered Vascular Sonographer (CRVS) credential, which denotes a sonographer who images the abdominal vessels, peripheral arteries and veins, and extracranial/intracranial vessels and performs physiologic vascular assessments. It consists of 180 multiple-choice questions answered in 180 minutes, distributed across four components: Cerebrovascular (50 questions), Peripheral Venous, Peripheral Arterial and Abdominal Vascular. The exam is computer-based and delivered by live remote proctoring or in secure test centres, and many items include ultrasound images or video clips. Under NCP 6.1, the CRVS credential also requires passing the Core Sonographic Skills Examination and the Canadian Clinical Skills Assessment (CCSA). From January 2027 (NCP 7.0), the standalone Core exam is retired and core content is integrated into the Vascular examination.

Assessment

180 multiple-choice questions across four components: Cerebrovascular (50 questions), Peripheral Venous, Peripheral Arterial and Abdominal Vascular. Many items include ultrasound images or video clips.

Time Limit

180 minutes (3 hours). Candidates work at their own pace and may answer, skip, flag and revise questions before submitting.

Passing Score

No fixed percentage. The passing cut-score is set with the Modified Angoff standard-setting method and maintained across forms by equating; there is no penalty for incorrect answers.

Exam Fee

Vascular (NCP 6.1): CAD $600 plus a non-refundable $150 application fee. Vascular (NCP 7.0), effective January 2027: CAD $1,050 plus the application fee. (Sonography Canada (delivered through Meazure Learning / Yardstick Assessment Strategies; remote proctoring by ProctorU))

Sonography Canada Vascular Exam Content Outline

28%

Cerebrovascular

Official exam: 50 of 180 questions. Carotid and vertebral duplex, ICA/CCA ratios and velocity thresholds for stenosis grading, plaque morphology, subclavian steal, dissection and transcranial Doppler. Practice here covers extracranial anatomy, stenosis criteria and waveform interpretation.

24%

Peripheral Arterial

Lower- and upper-extremity arterial duplex, ankle-brachial index and segmental pressures, triphasic/monophasic waveforms, peak systolic velocity ratios for stenosis, bypass graft surveillance, pseudoaneurysm and AV fistula evaluation.

24%

Peripheral Venous

Lower- and upper-extremity venous duplex for acute and chronic DVT, compression and augmentation, reflux and chronic venous insufficiency with valve-closure timing, venous anatomy, and differentiation of acute versus chronic thrombus.

24%

Abdominal Vascular

Aorta and abdominal aortic aneurysm, renal artery duplex and renal-aortic ratio, mesenteric arteries, portal and hepatic venous flow, dialysis access (fistula/graft) and transplant renal and hepatic vasculature, plus relevant Doppler physics.

How to Pass the Sonography Canada Vascular Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: No fixed percentage. The passing cut-score is set with the Modified Angoff standard-setting method and maintained across forms by equating; there is no penalty for incorrect answers.
  • Assessment: 180 multiple-choice questions across four components: Cerebrovascular (50 questions), Peripheral Venous, Peripheral Arterial and Abdominal Vascular. Many items include ultrasound images or video clips.
  • Time limit: 180 minutes (3 hours). Candidates work at their own pace and may answer, skip, flag and revise questions before submitting.
  • Exam fee: Vascular (NCP 6.1): CAD $600 plus a non-refundable $150 application fee. Vascular (NCP 7.0), effective January 2027: CAD $1,050 plus the application fee.

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Sonography Canada Vascular Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master ICA stenosis velocity criteria cold: know the common thresholds (for example PSV above 125 cm/s and ICA/CCA ratio above 2.0 for 50% or more, PSV above 230 cm/s for 70% or more) because cerebrovascular is the single largest component at 50 questions.
2Practise reading Doppler waveforms by name: triphasic versus monophasic peripheral arterial signals, tardus-parvus distal to a stenosis, and the to-and-fro and yin-yang patterns of a pseudoaneurysm.
3For venous, drill the compression and augmentation maneuvers and the difference between acute and chronic thrombus, and know that reflux is defined by valve-closure time greater than about 0.5 seconds in superficial veins and 1.0 second in deep veins.
4Build a small table of abdominal vascular thresholds: AAA defined at 3.0 cm or more, renal-aortic ratio above 3.5 for significant renal artery stenosis, and elevated resistive index in transplant dysfunction.
5Review ultrasound and Doppler physics, including the Doppler equation, aliasing and the Nyquist limit, angle correction at 60 degrees or less, and common artifacts, because physics and instrumentation underlie every component.
6Use the official Vascular 6.1 blueprint and the National Competency Profile appendices to confirm which structures and competencies are examinable, and practise image- and video-based interpretation since many items include clips.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Sonography Canada Vascular Sonographer Examination?

The Vascular Sonographer Examination has 180 multiple-choice questions answered in 180 minutes, distributed across four components: Cerebrovascular (50 questions), Peripheral Venous, Peripheral Arterial and Abdominal Vascular.

What credential does this exam lead to?

It leads to the Canadian Registered Vascular Sonographer (CRVS) credential, which denotes a sonographer who images abdominal vessels, peripheral arteries and veins, and extracranial/intracranial vessels and performs physiologic vascular assessments.

Is there a fixed passing score?

No. Sonography Canada uses the Modified Angoff method to set a cut-score for each exam, then equating to keep the standard consistent across forms, so easier forms have higher cut-scores. There is no penalty for incorrect answers.

How much does the Vascular exam cost?

Under NCP 6.1 the Vascular examination fee is CAD $600 plus a non-refundable $150 application fee. From January 2027, under NCP 7.0, the Vascular examination fee rises to CAD $1,050 plus the application fee.

What else is required for the CRVS credential besides this exam?

Under NCP 6.1, candidates must also pass the Core Sonographic Skills Examination and complete the Canadian Clinical Skills Assessment (CCSA). From January 2027, NCP 7.0 removes the standalone Core exam and integrates core content into the Vascular examination.

Are these official Sonography Canada practice questions?

No. These are original OpenExamPrep questions modelled on the Vascular 6.1 blueprint and competencies. Sonography Canada provides its own official blueprints, practice exams and reference materials separately.