Endoscopy

Endoscopy Training

Continuing Education Course Overview

AIMS Education offers an Endoscopy Continuing Education (CE) Course designed to prepare participants for the Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER) certification exam. This program focuses on the critical role of endoscope reprocessing in healthcare settings, emphasizing patient safety and adherence to industry standards, guidelines, and regulations.

Endoscope reprocessors are essential members of the healthcare team, responsible for ensuring that endoscopic instruments are properly pre-cleaned, tested, decontaminated, inspected, disinfected and/or sterilized, transported, and stored according to manufacturers’ instructions for use.

This course provides comprehensive instruction in endoscopy practices, including an overview of endoscopic procedures, instrumentation, and operating room techniques. Participants will also explore the human factors that influence endoscope reprocessing, as well as system management, regulatory requirements, and industry standards that govern safe and effective practice.

As a continuing education course, participants are enrolled as non-matriculated students. This course does not award academic credit and is not eligible for federal financial aid.

Course Content

The Endoscopy Continuing Education Course provides a comprehensive foundation in endoscope reprocessing and endoscopic procedures. Students are introduced to the endoscopy environment, including the structure, function, and applications of flexible, rigid, and semi-rigid endoscopes, as well as common endoscopic procedures and operating room techniques such as instrumentation, positioning, and equipment use.

The curriculum emphasizes the complete reprocessing workflow, including cleaning, transporting, testing, inspection, disinfection, sterilization, and proper storage. Students learn both manual and automated processes, including automated endoscope reprocessing (AER), along with key principles such as rinsing, drying, and system maintenance. Quality assurance, record keeping, and compliance with safety standards are also covered.

Additional instruction focuses on infection prevention, Spaulding Classification, and high-level disinfection, as well as industry regulations, OSHA guidelines, and risk management. Students also review medical terminology, body systems, and the identification of common endoscopes and their uses. Human factors, patient safety, and professional responsibilities are incorporated throughout the course, with a focus on preparing participants for safe practice and the CER certification exam.

Course Length

The didactic portion of the Endoscopy course consists of 72 hours of online, synchronous lectures delivered over 8 weeks. Classes meet 9 hours per week in the evenings. There are no on-campus classes.

The clinical internship includes 300 clinical hours, completed over 3 months.

Endoscopy CE Course with Clinical Internship

• Total Duration: 5 months
• Total Hours: 372 hours
  • 72 hours of online, synchronous lectures
  • 300 clinical hours

Endoscopy Course Format

The Endoscopy Continuing Education course is delivered in a fully online, synchronous format for the didactic portion. Classes are held in the evening and led by an instructor in real time. There are no on-campus lecture sessions.

The program also includes a clinical internship component, where students complete hands-on training in a healthcare setting. Clinical schedules are individualized to accommodate each participant.

Both the online instruction and clinical experience are required components of the course.

Clinical Experience

The Endoscopy Continuing Education course includes a clinical internship designed to provide hands-on experience in a healthcare setting. The internship consists of 300 clinical hours, completed over approximately 3 months.

Clinical schedules are individualized for each participant to accommodate availability while ensuring completion of required training hours. During the internship, students are expected to demonstrate competency in endoscope reprocessing practices and adhere to established safety standards and protocols.

Successful completion of the clinical component is required as part of the overall course and supports eligibility requirements for the Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER) certification.

Course Goals/Objectives

Upon successful completion of the Endoscopy Continuing Education course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles and clinical applications of endoscopes and endoscopy
• Identify common endoscopes, their structure, and uses across procedures
• Explain endoscope reprocessing workflows, including cleaning, testing, transporting, and storage
• Demonstrate knowledge of inspection, disinfection, and sterilization processes, including AER
• Apply quality assurance practices, documentation, and record keeping
• Understand risk management, OSHA guidelines, and safety standards in the operating room
• Describe Spaulding Classification and high-level disinfection processes
• Demonstrate safe patient handling, positioning, and infection prevention practices
• Recognize regulatory requirements and industry standards governing endoscopy
• Apply medical terminology and knowledge of body systems relevant to endoscopic procedures
• Understand human factors that impact performance and patient safety
• Prepare for the Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER) certification exam

Certification Exam

The Endoscopy Continuing Education course is designed to prepare participants for the Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER) certification exam. The CER credential recognizes individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge and skills required to safely and effectively perform endoscope reprocessing in accordance with industry standards, guidelines, regulations, and manufacturers’ instructions for use.

To earn CER certification, candidates must complete 3 months of hands-on work experience and successfully pass a certification examination that evaluates their understanding of endoscope care, handling, and infection prevention practices.

Certification requirements and eligibility are determined by the certifying organization. CER certification holders are required to maintain their credential through ongoing continuing education.