Does  Examination Security Really Matter?

The ARDMS mission is to promote quality care and patient safety through the certification and continuing competency of sonography professionals.

Examination security is vital to the ARDMS mission.  Accurate measurement of the critical knowledge and entry-level competence for the practice of ultrasound is what validates the ARDMS credential and the certified sonography professional.  “Earning” certification by cheating, or even the perception that such a thing is possible, weakens the value of the credential for everyone.

For more information listen to the
ARDMS Examination Security Podcast.
Also, be sure to view the ARDMS Examination Security and Records Retention informaiton. 

Did I witness an ARDMS Examination Security Breach?

Below you will find some examples regarding potential breaches of examination security. Remember that examination security breaches can also occur outside of the testing center (via the internet, review courses, etc).

You may have witnessed or may know of:

• Someone taking the test for someone else.
• An individual taking notes or other materials into the test site (which is not permitted).
• Someone removing materials from the test site.
• A review course that claims to have ARDMS “live” items or that offers to pay for them.
• Posting of items or descriptions of examination content in a public forum, such as a blog post.
• Other behaviors that may give some people an unfair advantage on the test.

What can and can't I share about ARDMS examinations? 

Examination information that is listed on ARDMS.org such as examination length, question type and content outlines is public and always ok to share with colleagues or students.  Please contact ARDMS if you are unsure whether discussing ARDMS examination information violates examination security. 

The CAN List: The following types of Information and questions are OK to share and do not violate ARDMS examination security:

Information you can share:

• It was cold in the testing center; be sure to bring a jacket.
• The exam consisted of multiple choice questions, with some image and video questions.
• The ARDMS content outline was very helpful when I was studying for the examination.
• I had some issues with some of the questions, but overall it was a straightforward examination.

Questions you can ask:

• What are you allowed to bring with you to the testing center?
• How was the examination?
• Were you able to take bathroom breaks?

The CAN’T List: The following types of Information and questions should never be shared and violate ARDMS examination security:

Information you can’t share:

• There were a lot of questions on {specific topic}. You should spend more time studying that.
• I feel that question {repeat question} wasn’t worded well, it should be…
• Be sure to study {specific topic} there are a lot of questions on that.
• I will show what images were shown on the examination to help you study.

Questions you can’t ask:

• What areas of the examination should have been covered more in class?
• How many questions related to {specific topic}?
• How did you answer {specific question}?
• What images were on the examination?
• Based on your experience, do you think I should study more of {specific topic} instead of {specific topic}?
• I was torn between answers A and B for {specific question}. How did you answer it?

The above noted conduct may constitute a direct violation of ARDMS Grounds For Discipline Section 1.1.3 which provides grounds for sanctions for Applicants, Candidates and Registrants who subvert or attempt to subvert the ARDMS examination process.

How Do I Report an Examination Security Concern?

Examination Security concerns may be submitted in writing to the ARDMS office:

By Mail
ARDMS
Attention: Examination Security
51 Monroe Street, Plaza East One
Rockville, MD  20850-2400

By E-mail
ExamSecurity@ardms.org.

Examination Security concerns can also be reported to Pearson VUE, the ARDMS test vendor, by clicking here.

Please note that the ARDMS will initiate a formal investigation into reported concerns.  During this investigation, you may be asked to write and sign formal statement. If the ARDMS takes legal action against the individuals involved in the security breach, you may be asked to provide information for the opposing counsel in a deposition or to testify before a judge or jury.

If you want to submit a concern anonymously, you may do so, however, please be sure to include as much information as you can about your situation because we will not be able to contact you for additional details.  For example, if describing an incident at a test center, please state the location and time of the event and as many specific details about the event as possible. 

If you have any additional questions regarding examination security, please e-mail your questions to ExamSecurity@ardms.org or contact the ARDMS office at (800) 541-9754 and ask to speak with the Senior Program Support Analyst.