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Overview of ARDMS
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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 interpretation and vascular technology.

ARDMS offers these credentials:

• RDMS^® – Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer^®
• RDCS^® – Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer^®
• RVT^® – Registered Vascular Technologist^®
• RPVI^TM – Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation^TM

Specialty areas within the RDMS credential include abdomen, breast, neurosonology, obstetrics and gynecology, and fetal echocardiography. Specialty areas within the RDCS credential include adult, pediatric and fetal echocardiography. The RVT credential includes and noninvasive vascular technology.

ARDMS has earned the prestigious ANSI-ISO 17024 accreditation for certifying bodies from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Accreditation is granted through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Recognition of ARDMS programs in providing credentials has also earned accreditation with the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The NCCA is the accrediting arm of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA). Established in 1977 as a nonprofit organization, NOCA is a leader in setting quality standards for certifying organizations.

ARDMS has certified more than 60,000 individuals and is the globally recognized standard of excellence in sonography.

ARDMS credentials document personal achievement of recognized professional standards. However, ARDMS does not warrant the day-to-day job performance of individuals. Credentials awarded by ARDMS are widely accepted in the medical community by ultrasound and vascular professional organizations.

ARDMS is governed by a board of directors composed of sonographers, vascular technologists, physicians, research scientists and a public member. The board creates the policies and defines the direction; the EDTFs conduct continuous evaluations of the material contained in our examinations.

The examinations are developed by subject matter experts who sit on Exam Development Task Forces (EDTFs). The EDTFs survey job functions and practices in various specialties and develop test questions based upon a blueprint of job tasks in sonography. EDTFs are comprised 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 are then required to pass two comprehensive examinations to earn a credential: (1) Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) Examination, and (2) at least one corresponding specialty examination.