ARDMS

Disclosure of Violations

ARDMS Applicants, Candidates and Registrants are required to report their involvement in any incident that constitutes violation of ARDMS Discipline Policies within fourteen (14) business days of the violation incident.

ARDMS rules indicate that ARDMS may take action against an Applicant, Candidate, or Registrant found to have violated ARDMS Discipline Policies.  Sanctions may include (but are not limited to) reprimand, censure, suspension of eligibility/certification, revocation of eligibility/certification, and certification probation.

First-Time Applicants must disclose information regarding all previous violations of ARDMS Discipline Policies to the ARDMS with their initial application for examination. All future violations must then be reported to the ARDMS within fourteen (14) business days of the violation incident.

Criminal Case/Discipline Sanction Completion Status

First Time Applicants – In order to move forward with the application process all violation matters disclosed by First-Time Applicants must be closed. This means that all conditions of sentencing/sanction must be completed (including all probation and fines) and that the case has been completely closed or the disciplinary sanction has been lifted in order for the Applicant to proceed with the certification process. Applicants disclosing legal/disciplinary matters deemed to be open will not be able to proceed with the application process. Accordingly the ineligible application will be withdrawn and a refund will be processed, minus the $100 USD mandatory application processing fee and $150 USD non-refundable Initial Legal Review Fee.

Candidates/Registrants – ARDMS Candidates/Registrants will be unable to proceed with the ARDMS examination and certification process until such time as the violation matter is closed. This means that all conditions of sentencing/sanction have been completed (including all probation and fines) and that the case has been completely closed or the disciplinary sanction has been lifted, documentation reflecting successful completion of all sentencing/sanction requirements have been received by the ARDMS and all violation matters have been reviewed in their entirety by the appropriate ARDMS Discipline Committee. All Candidates/Registrants disclosing a violation of, or found to have violated, ARDMS Discipline Policies are required to submit the $150 USD non-refundable Initial Legal Review Fee (see 'Discipline Fees' section).   

Re-applicants

Re-applicants who have previously disclosed a violation of ARDMS Discipline Policies, been deemed eligible to test/retain certification and have not engaged in any additional conduct constituting a violation are not required to resubmit documentation regarding the previously disclosed violations or the $150 USD non-refundable Initial Legal Review Fee.

Re-applicants must still provide an answer of "Yes" to the appropriate violation question noted in the online application at which time a background check will be conducted. Upon confirming that there have not been any additional violations of ARDMS Discipline Policies, ARDMS will release the application for standard processing.

Documentation Requirements

Upon disclosing a violation of ARDMS Discipline Policies all ARDMS Applicants, Candidates, and Registrants are required to submit official documentation from the presiding court system or disciplinary body.  The official documentation must verify the following and be accompanied by a personally written detailed description of the circumstances leading to the violation:

Legal/Criminal Matter

Documentation from the presiding court system reflecting the following information:

• What the initial charges were; and
• What the final judgment was (guilty, no contest, etc); and
• What the sentencing requirements were and for how long (example: probation for 24 months, fine, etc); and
• Verification that the case is closed, meaning that all requirements of sentencing have been completed.

Disciplinary Action

Documentation from the issuing disciplinary body reflecting the following information:

• The circumstances or conduct identified by the disciplinary body as grounds for sanction; and
• The conditions and length of sanction (example: suspension of license for 24 months, fine, etc); and
• Verification that all terms of sanction have been completed and that the sanction has been lifted.

You must provide documentation that either verifies that all sentencing requirements were completed in full or a letter from the presiding court system/disciplinary body verifying that this case is closed and all of the requirements have been satisfied. If this documentation outlined above is not available as the documentation has been archived by the presiding court system/disciplinary body, you must provide an official letter on letterhead from the presiding court system/disciplinary body verifying this information.

Discipline Fees

Applicants, Candidates and Registrants disclosing an initial or subsequent violation of ARDMS Discipline Policies will be assessed a $150 USD non-refundable Initial Legal Review Fee. 

Additional fees may be assessed, depending on the level of review required to issue a final determination:

• Telephonic Hearing - $100 USD*
• In-Person Hearing - $500 USD*
• Appeal Hearing - $500 USD*
• Reinstatement Hearing - $300-$600 USD*.

*Note: All fees are non-refundable without exception.

Processing Time

Review of applications disclosing a new violation may take up to thirty (30) days to be completed.  In the event that the violation matter is referred for a discipline hearing, the application will be held further pending the outcome of the hearing.  Hearings are scheduled quarterly.

Please note that ARDMS staff cannot comment on or make predictions regarding possible discipline review/hearing outcomes without exception.