Winter 2008
2008 Application Books
ARDMS 2008 application books are now available.
Prerequisite 5 Announcement
ARDMS announces the new prerequisite 5.
New! Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) Examination
Overview of the SPI Examination.
Helpful Guidelines for Requesting School Reports
Review the Do's and Don'ts of submitting school reports to ARDMS.
Ultrasound Careers Website
ARDMS.org merges with Ultrasoundjobs.com.
2008 Application Process
The 2008 application and informational booklet for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography is now available! Be sure to review and print the 2008 online application and give yourself plenty of time to examine all the application requirements.
To obtain a copy of the ARDMS Information and Examination Application Booklet, visit www.ARDMS.org, click on "
Application Resources" and select "Application Booklet." When you’re ready, all you have to do is click on "
Apply Online." Visit the Application Resources page of the ARDMS website for helpful links and required documentation, along with updated prerequisite charts.
Helpful Online Application Links for Your Students:
ATTENTION: EDUCATORS
ARDMS is currently preparing for for our annual education mailing.
If you are currently receiving issues of Notes for Educators, then you are on our mailing list and do not need to send a request. If you would like to be added to the distribution list and would like to receive the 2008 Application Booklet in the mail, please send an e-mail to communications@ardms.org by February 15, 2008 with subject line: Educator List. Include your full name, title, institution name, program name, address, and phone number.
To ensure that ARDMS is able to receive and process your students’ applications in an efficient and timely manner, please note the following "Do's" and "Don’ts" regarding application documentation:
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DO submit the appropriate Clinical Verification form with the application for the specialty examination.
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DO submit a separate Clinical Verification form for each specialty being applied for.
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DO submit all necessary supporting documentation with the application, including letters, transcript(s), diploma(s), continuing medical education credits and clinical verification form(s).
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DON’T submit a list of the graduating students; all students must submit their own individual letter verifying completion of the program with their application.
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DON’T submit photocopied completion letters. Please be sure that your students send the original letter verifying completion of the program.
Please note that failure to follow these guidelines will result in delayed and/or refunded applications. Thank you for your continued assistance and support in this matter.
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Prerequisite 5 Announcement
ARDMS has added a new prerequisite 5 to the 2008 online and printed application books that will allow individuals with the following current credentials to apply for ARDMS examinations under a new experiential-based prerequisite:
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Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) - RCS or RVS
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American Registry of Radiologic Technologist (ARRT) - Vascular Sonography, Sonography or Breast
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Australian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM) -DMU credentials to apply.
Applicants who choose to apply under the new prerequisite 5 must hold an active certification and provide a copy of an active certification identification card or license. Additionally, original signed and completed Clinical Verification (CV) forms for each appropriate specialty area(s) are required.
For a copy of the revised and complete prerequisite checklist, please visit www.ARDMS.org/prereqchart. CV forms are available online at
www.ARDMS.org/cv or can be found in the back of the printed copy of the 2008 application booklet on pages 31-39.
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New! Overview of the Sonography
Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) Examination
In Spring 2009 the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) will introduce the new Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examination. The SPI examination will serve to meet the fundamental physical principles and instrumentation requirements for the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS), Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS), and Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) credentials.
Sonography professionals wanting to earn an ARDMS credential will be required to pass both the SPI and corresponding specialty examinations. Once the SPI examination is passed, applicants may go onto earn multiple credentials without having to repeat any physical principles and instrumentation requirements[1]. ARDMS will begin accepting applications for the SPI examination in early 2009 and will begin administering the examination in the Spring of the same year.
ARDMS Examination Pathways Beginning in Spring 2009
Once the designated credential is earned, it cannot be switched. The SPI examination will test basic physical principles and instrumentation knowledge required for all sonography professionals and students. The 2009 versions of the specialty examinations will include some physics and instrumentation content and questions that are relevant to that specialty. The content outline for the
SPI examination is available on the ARDMS website. Content outlines for the 2009 versions of the specialty examinations will be posted on the ARDMS website in March 2008. Once the SPI examination is released, active ARDMS Registrants wanting to earn a new credential (RDMS, RDCS, and RVT) will need to pass both the SPI and corresponding specialty examinations.
Those seeking additional specialties within an existing credential will only need to take the specialty examination. ARDMS policy does not permit a "grandfather clause " for active ARDMS Registrants or for those who previously passed the specialty-specific Ultrasound, Cardiovascular, or Vascular Physical Principles and Instrumentation examinations.
ARDMS is pleased to announce that students in a sonography/vascular technology related program who can document successful completion of a physics program by the Program Director will be permitted to apply for and take the SPI examination prior to graduation1. Students may begin applying for the SPI examination in 2009. Additional details, including specific prerequisite information and the date applications will begin to be accepted, will be posted on
www.ARDMS.org.
New applicants, candidates, and Registrants working towards earning ARDMS credentials may wish to focus on taking multiple specialty examinations over the next year. Upon the release of the SPI examination in Spring 2009, those who have taken and passed specialty examinations and the new SPI examination will have the unique opportunity of earning multiple credentials. New applicants and candidates who are required to earn a credential prior to the release of the SPI examination in Spring 2009 will need to follow the current examination pathways (the credential-specific physical principles and instrumentation and the corresponding specialty
examinations).
Finally, candidates still in the process of earning a credential as of Spring 2009 will automatically be converted to the new streamlined pathway.
ARDMS will share more detailed information regarding the SPI examination with Registrants, educators, students, and the sonography community over the coming months through postings on the ARDMS website (www.ARDMS.org), e-mails, newsletters, and press releases. If you wish to receive e-mail notifications about the latest SPI updates, please…(contact capture mechanism to come).
[1] Within ARDMS application guidelines.
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Helpful Guidelines for Requesting School Reports
The ARDMS has developed a list of guidelines and requirements when submitting for school reports. Listed below are guidelines for requesting School Reports. This information is also available online in the Educator Resources section at
www.ARDMS.org.
The Request for School Report Form MUST:
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Start on the first available line (line 23)
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List official/formal and full names only
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Have the date of birth stated numerically, MM/DD/YYYY
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Have at least one (not all) of the following identifiers for each student listed:
The Request for School Report Form MUST NOT:
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Be sent via fax or regular mail
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Include nicknames
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Have the month written out in the date of birth (example: March 1, 2008)
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Have dashes between the SSN/CIN
Please note: If you are requesting data for more than one class, you must send a separate School Report Request Form for each class.
ARDMS is pleased to offer you this report at no charge. If you do not submit the form correctly, however, it will delay your request. If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to schoolreport@ardms.org.
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Ultrasound Careers Website
The Ultrasound Careers website was started for the sonography community in order to provide quick, informative information relating to employment opportunities by providing links, organizations, schools and testimonials from other Sonography professionals.
Recently, ARDMS merged the Ultrasound Careers website with the new ARDMS site. By combining the two sites ARDMS makes finding information easier and more accessible for all visitors to the website.
Please visit the new careers section of the site by going to the ARDMS homepage and click on the Jobs in Sonography link, located under Quick Links.
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Notes for Educators. Copyright. 2008. American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography. The ideas and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of ARDMS.
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