American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography

The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), incorporated in June 1975, is a certifying body that administers examinations and awards credentials in the area of diagnostic sonography.

Credentials awarded by ARDMS include:
*RDMS Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer:specialty areas: abdomen, breast, neurosonology, obstetrics and gynecology, and fetal echocardiography

*RDCS Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer:specialty areas: adult, pediatric and fetal echocardiography

*RVT Registered Vascular Technologist :specialty area: noninvasive vascular technology

*RPVI Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation:specialty area: vascular ultrasound interpretation

ARDMS is the only sonography certification organization to be accredited by the International Organization for Standardization (ANSI-ISO 17024, see: "ARDMS receives ANSI-ISO accreditation" [" [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-165818796.html ARDMS receives ANSI-ISO accreditation.(NEWS WATCH)(American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, American National Standards Institute, International Organization for Standardization )(Brief article)] ".] ) In addition, ARDMS practices and credentials are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). ARDMS has certified more than 55,000 [ [http://www.ardms.org/aboutardms/overview.htm] About ARDMS] ] individuals and has become a recognized standard for diagnostic medical sonography credentialing by many facilities’ accreditation programs. [http://www.icavl.org/icavl/index.htm] ARDMS credentials serve to document personal achievement of recognized professional standards. Credentials awarded by ARDMS are widely accepted in the medical community by sonographic and vascular professional organizations, including:

*American College of Radiology
*American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine [ [http://www.aium.org/ AIUM Home] ]
*American Society of Echocardiography
*Canadian Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
*Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography [ [http://www.sdms.org/ SDMS Home Page] ]
*Society for Vascular Ultrasound

ARDMS is governed by a board of directors composed of sonographers, vascular technologists, physicians and a public member. The board creates the policies, defines the direction and conducts continuous evaluations of ARDMS programs.

The examinations are developed and are overseen by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who compose ARDMS Exam Development Task EDTFs). The EDTFs survey job functions and practices in various specialties and develop test questions based upon a blueprint of job tasks in sonography. EDTF members or SMEs consist of sonographers, vascular technologists, physicians and scientists who 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 for the RDMS, RDCS and RVT credentials are required to pass two comprehensive examinations to earn a credential: (1) a physical principles and instrumentation examination, and (2) at least one corresponding specialty examination. Applicants for the RPVI credential must successfully complete a four-hour examination, which contains distinct content on physical principles and a variety of relevant clinical areas of practice.As an emerging global organization, ARDMS examinations are also being delivered in Africa, and Hong Kong. Future sites for ARDMS examination delivery will be focused in South Korea, India, China and South America.Fact|date=April 2008

ee also

*Medical ultrasonography

References

External links

*http://www.ardms.org
*http://www.noca.org/Resources/NCCAAccreditation
*http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2003081435_ultrasound25.html