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http://www.ARDMS.org

The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography® (ARDMS®), incorporated in June 1975, is an independent, nonprofit organization that administers examinations and awards credentials in the areas of diagnostic medical sonography, diagnostic cardiac sonography, vascular technology, and physician vascular interpretation.

• RDMS® Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer®

• RDCS® Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer®

• RVT® Registered Vascular Technologist®

• RPVI™ Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation

Specialty areas within the sonographer credentials include abdomen, breast, neurosonology, obstetrics and gynecology, and fetal echocardiography (RDMS); adult, pediatric and fetal echocardiography (RDCS); and noninvasive vascular technology (RVT), and vascular ultrasound interpretation (RPVI).

ARDMS is the only sonography certification organization to be accredited by the International Organization of Standards (ANSI-IS0 17024). In addition, ARDMS practices and credentials are also accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). ARDMS has certified more than 53,000 [1] individuals and has become a recognized standard for diagnostic medical sonography credentialing by many facilities’ accreditation programs. ARDMS credentials serve to document personal achievement of recognized professional standards. Credentials awarded by ARDMS are widely accepted in the medical community by sonographic and vascular professional organizations, including:

• American College of Radiology

• American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine [2]

• American Society of Echocardiography

• Canadian Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

• Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography [3]

• Society for Vascular Ultrasound

ARDMS is governed by a board of directors composed of sonographers, vascular technologists, physicians and a public member. The board creates the policies, defines the direction and conducts continuous evaluations of ARDMS programs.

The examinations are developed and are overseen by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who compose ARDMS Exam Development Task EDTFs). The EDTFs survey job functions and practices in various specialties and develop test questions based upon a blueprint of job tasks in sonography. EDTF members or SMEs consist of sonographers, vascular technologists, physicians, and scientists. The members of each EDTF are knowledgeable in the subject area of the particular examination.

The only means of obtaining an ARDMS credential is by examination. Required examination prerequisites must be met before an applicant can take an ARDMS examination. Applicants for the RDMS, RDCS and RVT credentials are required to pass two comprehensive examinations to earn a credential: (1) a physical principles and instrumentation examination, and (2) at least one corresponding specialty examination. Applicants for the RPVI credential must successfully complete a single four (4) hour examination, which contains distinct content on physical principles and a variety of relevant clinical areas of practice. As an emerging global organization, ARDMS examinations are also being delivered in Africa, and Hong Kong. Future sites for ARDMS examination delivery will be focused in South Korea, India, China and South America.

Contact information for the ARDMS offices is noted below.

AMERICAN REGISTRY FOR DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY

51MONROESTREET,PLAZAEAST1

ROCKVILLE,MARYLAND20850-2400

PHONE:(301)738-8401•TOLL-FREE:(800)541-9754

FAX:(301)738-0312/0313

WEBSITE: http://WWW.ARDMS.ORG