Prerequisite 2 & 3B Letter Template

Prerequisite 2 and Prerequisite 3B

The revision of prerequisites 2 and 3B took effect on January 1, 2007, allowing individuals applying under those prerequisites to submit an application without a clinical verification (CV) form as long as it is within the stated parameters. This recent change applies only to students who graduated after January 1, 2007. Instead of submitting the CV form, applicants will need to submit a mandatory formatted letter from their individual program director along with the application. Please note that an original letter per student is required.

To make the process of submitting this mandatory letter easier for both program directors and applicants, ARDMS has developed a mandatory template letter for prerequisite 2 and for prequisite 3B. It is mandatory that applications received from individuals applying under prerequisites 2 or 3B include a properly filled-out program director letter using the mandatory letter.Applications received by ARDMS without the mandatory letter will be denied, the $60 processing fee, per application, will be retained and the applicant will have to reapply.

The New Prerequisite 2

Under prerequisite 2, graduates of a program accredited by an agency recognized by the following organizations that specifically conduct programmatic accreditation for diagnostic medical sonography, diagnostic cardiac sonography, and/or vascular technology, can apply to ARDMS upon successful completion of the program (graduation):

- Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
- United States Department of Education (USDOE)
- Canadian Medical Association (CMA)

Once the mandatory template letter is completed correctly, it is valid for one year from the date of graduation and waives the CV form requirement for any listed specialties for that year. Applicants must also submit an official transcript or diploma.If a student graduated prior to January 1, 2007, they must:

- Have an official transcript or diploma and

-Submit an acceptable successful completion letter (following application book guidelines) and

-Submit valid CV forms for all applied for specialty areas

The New Prerequisite 3B

Individuals with a bachelor�s degree in sonography or vascular technology can apply under prerequisite 3B, provided that the applicant has completed 12 months of full-time clinical ultrasound or vascular experience within the program. Starting January 1, 2007, the CV form will not be required by applicants applying under prerequisite 3B if the application is submitted and received in the ARDMS office within one year prior to successful completion of the program, provided that the applicant has completed 12 months of full-time clinical experience, within the program, at the time that the application is submitted.ARDMS only accepts the mandatory template letter for processing of ALL prerequisite 3B letters (prior to graduation); regardless of what exams they are applying for. If a student is applying after graduation they need a new letter verifying successful completion of the program and CV forms for any applied for specialty areas. The 3B letter states it is only good through date of graduation, therefore may not even be used for physics after graduation.

Please note: If the Bachelor�s Degree Sonography/VT program is also CAAHEP accredited and the students have graduated, then the prerequisite 3B students should apply under prerequisite 2 and use the mandatory template letter.

About the Decision

Based on current trends in ultrasound education, the ARDMS Certification Committee made the recommendation to make exceptions to both prerequisite 2 and 3B thereby allowing those applicants to submit an application without the CV form, if applied for within the set parameters. The ARDMS Board of Directors agreed with this recommendation and approved the changes.

About ARDMS Prerequisites

ARDMS currently offers four prerequisites with eight total options under which to apply. An applicant for ARDMS examinations must select a prerequisite under which he or she wants to apply. Each prerequisite requires (1) the appropriate educational background, (2) necessary clinical ultrasound or vascular experience and (3) required documentation that must be submitted with the application. All three components of the applied-for prerequisite must be met before an application can be approved and an applicant can be allowed to examine.

About the Current Clinical Verification Process

Currently, applicants for all specialty examinations must submit an original CV form with their application materials. The CV form serves to substantiate the clinical experience required to apply for each specialty examination. An applicant for ARDMS examinations must meet all of the requirements listed on the clinical verification form, and the form must be completed, dated and signed by an ARDMS-registered sonographer or vascular technologist in the applied-for specialty area upon completion of the clinical experience. The changes to prerequisites 2 and 3B make exception (within the stated parameters) to the current requirement that all applicants submit a CV form.