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Midwife Sonography Certificate

Midwives Sonography Certificate – 2026 Update

We are currently reviewing the Midwives Sonography Certificate program to ensure it continues to meet the evolving needs of midwifery practice and the communities you serve. As part of this review, the 2026 application cycle will not proceed as previously scheduled.

We recognize this may affect your certification planning, and we appreciate your patience as we work through this process thoughtfully. Updates will be posted here as they become available. Please check back in Q3 2026 for an update.

In order to earn the Midwife Sonography Certificate, you must apply, and meet the eligibility requirements and then complete both parts of the examination process:  

  • Part One: Midwife Sonography Computer-based Examination
  • Part Two: Practical Examination (You may begin acquiring this practical experience before passing the Computer-based examination. This experience can be completed up to 2 years before passing the Computer-based examination and/or up to 2 years after passing the Computer-based examination. Documentation of the cases must be received in the office within 2 years after passing the Computer-based examination.)

The Midwife Sonography written examination which is Computer-based is only offered during select times of the year. Once the eligibility requirements have been met and your application has been approved, you can take the Computer-based examination. The Midwife Sonography Certificate is earned upon successfully completing Part One and Part Two of the certification process.

Note: If both parts of the certification process are not successfully completed within the allotted time frame, any passing scores will be rescinded and you will need to restart the application process.

Note: Any incomplete Practical examination submissions will not be accepted and Candidates will be charged a processing fee ($25) for re-submitting the required eight forms, if the initial submission was incomplete.

The Midwife Sonography Computer-based examination is two hours long and contains 100 multiple-choice questions.

As a windowed examination, scores for the Midwife Sonography Computer-based examination will be available approximately 60 days following the close of the administration via MY ARDMS.

For more information, review the “Scoring” tab.

Periodically we conduct a Midwife Sonography Job Task Analysis (JTA) and update the Midwife Sonography examination to reflect the frequency and importance of tasks being performed by midwives.​

The Midwife Sonography Certification assessment is powered by ARDMS. ARDMS functions under policies intended to demonstrate impartiality, high ethical standards and validity of its certification assessments. ARDMS does not restrict Applications or Candidates from becoming a Registrant based on limiting conditions, such as membership of an association or professional society of any organization. ARDMS will not unfairly impede or inhibit access to its certification to Applicants, Candidates or Registrants who meet our stated policies regarding qualification requirements, renewal requirements and/or passing ARDMS’ psychometrically sound certification assessments.

Maintenance of Certification (MOC) improves patient care by ensuring continuous lifelong learning and professional development throughout your sonography career. MOC gives your employers, patients and co-workers confidence in the ongoing value of your Midwife Sonography Certificate.

Requirements:

1.  Submit an annual certificate renewal fee of $55* due by 12/31 which includes the following attestations:

  • Compliant with all ARDMS compliance policies;
  • Hold an active Certified Midwife (CM) or Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) credential offered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB); and

2.  Complete certificate maintenance Option 1 or Option 2 by the deadline date of 12/31 of the fifth year of your five-year cycle.**

Option 1: Continuing Education

  • Obtain 15 CEUs/CMEs/CPDs in OB/GYN ultrasound practice from an ARDMS-accepted sponsor​ within your five-year cycle.
  • Attest to having completed a minimum of 50 ultrasound scans within your five-year cycle.

Option 2:  Reexamination

Register and pay for the current Midwife Sonography Certificate Examinations (both the Computer-based examination and the Practical examination) no sooner than the fourth year of your current five-year cycle.

  • Both examination components must be successfully completed by 12/31 of the fifth year of your five-year cycle.
  • Criteria for successful completion of both examinations will be the same as those in effect for first-time applicants at the time the examination is taken.

*NOTE: If one holds another ARDMS/APCA certification, the annual fee will be the higher fee.  For example, if one holds the ARDMS OB/GYN credential, the fee to renew both would be the higher fee of $105.​

**Your five-year cycle begins the day you attain the Midwife Sonography Certificate and any time that remains in that year plus the next five years. For example, if you earn the certificate on 12/10/2022, your five-year cycle will be 12/10/2022 – 12/31/2027. Your five-year cycle after that will be 1/1/2028 – 12/31/2032​.

Reinstatement (Renewal Non-Payment)
If you do not pay your Midwife Sonography Certificate renewal fee by the December 31, 2023 deadline, you are no longer an Active Certificant. The reinstatement process allows you to reinstate your Active Status to prevent your certificate from being permanently revoked. You have two opportunities to reinstate your certificate:

​ ​1st Reinstatement Opportunity ​Final Reinstatement Opportunity
​Deadline ​February 28, 2026 ​August 1, 2026
​Fees ​Renewal Fee + $100 USD Reinstatement Fee ​Renewal Fee + $200 USD Reinstatement Fee

You have until February 28, 2026 to pay the ARDMS renewal fee plus a $100 USD reinstatement fee and attest online. If you miss the February 28 deadline, you have one final opportunity to reinstate by paying the annual renew fee plus a $200 reinstatement fee and attesting online by the August 1, 2026 deadline.

Attestation
During online payment of your renewal fee, you will attest, or certify, that you are in compliance with all ARDMS rules and compliance policies and are in good standing with ARDMS.  The following is the attestation specific to someone holds just the Midwife Sonography Certificate.

Attestation: By paying the annual renewal fee, he/she attests that:

(a) have an active Certified Midwife (CM) or Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) credential offered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), and

(b) have completed –or will have completed, by the end of the appropriate five-year cycle –the required certification maintenance activities (continuing education or reexamination).

(c) has remained compliant with the ARDMS Compliance Policies. The Compliance Policies outline violation standards that provide grounds for investigation and possible sanctions and include the following:

  • Engaged in fraud in connection with obtaining or renewing certification;
  • Engaged in misrepresentation of one’s certification status;
  • Been the subject of disciplinary action by a state licensing board/national professional association/accrediting body;
  • Been convicted of a crime or had a finding of guilty entered against them, granted probation before judgement, etc.;
  • Engaged in clinical duties while impaired due to chemical, drug or alcohol abuse;
  • Cheated or assisted others in cheating during the assessment process;
  • Failure to cooperate with the ARDMS investigation of any of the above violations.

* Notice regarding previously unreported violations of the ARDMS Compliance Policies: If you have a previously unreported violation of the ARDMS Compliance Policies to report, you must report the violation to the ARDMS Compliance Department before paying your annual renewal fee through your MY ARDMS Portal. After reporting the violation, you may continue with the renewal process however review of the violation matter you have reported will continue separately in accordance with the ARDMS Compliance Policies.

The Practical examination is completed by submitting documentation that demonstrates successful completion of cases. These cases can be completed up to 2 years before passing the Computer-based examination and/or up to 2 years after passing the Computer-based examination. Additionally, if you do not complete the Practical examination within six months of the Computer-based examination, then you will have to obtain and submit 5 new ARDMS-approved CMEs/CEUs/CPDs or education hours in OB/GYN ultrasound.

The documentation must reflect one of the following

Option 1: Successful performance completion of eight cases across defined domains through direct practical assessments.

OR

Option 2: Successful performance completion of eight cases across defined domains through a combination of direct practical assessments and simulation*. 3 of the 8 cases can be through simulation*.

Required Documentation must be submitted via MY ARDMS and it must be received within 2 years after passing the Computer-based examination. 

Original signed and completed Midwife Sonography Practical Assessment Form for each of the following domains:

FIRST TRIMESTER

One case must be transabdominal and one case must be transvaginal/endovaginal.

Case 1: Choose one case to complete:

Case 2: Choose one case to complete: 

SECOND/THIRD TRIMESTER

Cases 3-6: All four cases in this section must be completed:

GYN
Cases 7-8: Please complete two of the cases from the three sections below. One case must be transabdominal and one case must be transvaginal/endovaginal:

INTRAUTERINE DEVICE (IUD) LOCALIZATION 

POSITION AND ENDOMETRIAL THICKNESS

NUMBER AND MEASUREMENT OF OVARIAN FOLLICLE

Note: Any incomplete Practical examination submissions will not be accepted and candidates will be charged a processing fee ($25) for re-submitting the required eight forms, if the initial submission was incomplete.

*Simulation: Must be performed on an approved simulator, capable of realistically replicating a real, live patient encounter.  Proof of successful completion of the simulated encounter can be documented by having the simulated scan signed-off by an evaluator described above or by a simulation center director/manager who is authorized and trained to verify proficiency with OB/GYN simulators.

The Computer-based examination test result is reported as a PASS or FAIL. In addition, your performance on the Computer-based examination will be reported as a scaled score, which ranges from 300 to 700. A scaled score of at least 555 is required to pass all ARDMS examinations. Please note that you cannot interpret your scaled score as a percent of questions answered correctly.  Learn more about scaled scoring​.

The Computer-based examination results and a full score report will be posted to your secure MY ARDMS approximately two months (60 days) after the close of the Computer-based examination window. An email will be sent notifying you when score results are posted. The results of your examination are limited to the following:

  • Pass*
  • Fail
  • Cancelled – Candidate cancelled scheduled examination appointment time.
  • Absent – Candidate arrived late for a scheduled appointment, did not show up for a scheduled appointment or was denied at check-in due to a violation of a stated policy.
  • Expired – Candidate did not schedule or take the examination within the assigned eligibility period

Candidates receiving a passing score on all required examinations and meeting all other requirements will be awarded a certificate. For information on the scoring methods, visit Notification of Results and Scoring.

If you fail the image (case) submission, you will receive feedback on the images that were rated inadequate. Candidates who do not pass are invited to re-apply.

*Pass status is not indicative of earning the specialty/credential. To obtain a Status Verification letter please log into your MY ARDMS account. ​​

Proof of successful completion of the simulated encounter can be documented by having the simulated scan signed-off by an evaluator described above or by a simulation center director/manager who is authorized and trained to verify proficiency with OB/GYN simulators. The evaluator of the practical assessment must be an ARDMS registered sonographer with OB credentials and/or a physician with OB/GYN and ultrasound expertise.

Once the Candidate has successfully demonstrated and completed all required cases either through real patient scans or a combination of simulation, the documentation is then submitted to ARDMS as a completed package. In the event that a Candidate cannot obtain required practical assessments through live and/or simulation, the Candidate should contact ARDMS to obtain information on the possibility of remote practical assessment or acquiring and submitting images for independent assessment of required cases.

The evaluator of the practical assessment must be an ARDMS registered sonographer with OB credentials and/or a physician with OB/GYN and ultrasound expertise.

The documentation submitted for the practical examination shall be reviewed by the ARDMS Application Specialists.

All submissions must be in conformance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). All patient identifiers must be removed.

As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principles should be adhered to by using the lowest ultrasound exposure possible to gain diagnostic information. All ultrasound examinations should be medically indicated. In addition, ALARA principles should be followed when adjusting controls that affect the acoustic output power to the fetus. When acquiring fetal heart rates, M-mode must be used instead of Doppler.​

Examination results cannot be reviewed until the scores are released, 60 days after the close of the examination administration.​

You can request a score verification for a $35 USD fee, payable by check, money order or credit card. Score verification ensures that the computer counted the correct and incorrect answers appropriately, but it does not review the questions and answers.

You must submit the completed Exam Score Verification Form within 30 days of having taken the examination in question. The Exam Score Verification Form will be returned if incomplete, unsigned or unpaid.

When deciding whether to have your score verified, please consider that ARDMS examinations are scored electronically with a high degree of accuracy, and it is unlikely that verification will alter your original score.

Statistics

ARDMS examinations are constructed to assess the knowledge and skills involved in tasks performed by midwives, sonographers, vascular technologists and physicians.

The Midwife Sonography examination is a new examination in 2017. Please find below pass rates for the Midwife (midwifery) Sonography​ examination administration.

2021:
First-time takers: 67%
Overall: 75%

2021:
First-time takers: 69%
Overall: 72%

2020:
First-time takers: 86%
Overall: 86%

2019:
First-time takers: 90%
Overall: 86%

2018:
First-time takers: 86%
Overall: 86%

2017:
First-time takers: 79%