These organizations administer examinations and award credentials to those who successfully pass the examinations. Once an individual passes the examination, the certification organization awards the "registered" credential. Most organizations require annual registration renewal and require continuing education credit to maintain registration. Certification is voluntary however, many employers often recruit and hire only registered sonographers.
American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS)
1401 Rockville Pike, Ste 600
Rockville, MD 20852
301-738-8401 or 800-541-9754
301-738-0313 FAX
http://www.ardms.org
The ARDMS is a certification body (an independent, nonprofit organization) that administers examinations and awards credentials in the areas of diagnostic medical sonography, diagnostic cardiac sonography, and vascular technology. The three credentials offered by the ARDMS to eligible candidates are:
- Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS®)
- Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS®)
- Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT®)
- Registered Musculoskeletal Sonographer (RMSKS™)
- Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI®)
- Registered in Musculoskeletal Sonography (RMSK®)
As a certifying body, it is the responsibility of the ARDMS to promote the continuing competency of its registrants. To meet the continuing competency requirements of the ARDMS, registrants must accrue continuing medical education (CME) credits. To maintain eligible status, registrants must accrue 30 CME credits per three- year period. For information on certification examinations, submission of continuing medical education credits, or matters related to registry status, contact the ARDMS.
ARDMS is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) which is part of the National Organization for Competency Assurance.
Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)
1500 Sunday Dr, Ste 102
Raleigh, NC 27607
800-326-0268 or 919-861-4539
919-787-4916 FAX
http://www.cci-online.org
CCI is a certification body (an independent, nonprofit organization) that administers examinations and awards credentials in all areas of cardiovascular technology. The sonography-related credentials offered by CCI upon successful examination completion are the:
- Advanced Cardiac Sonographer (ACS)
- Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT)
- Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician (CRAT)
- Registered Cardiac Electrophysiology Specialist (RCES)
- Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS)
- Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS)
- Registered Congenital Cardiac Sonographer (RCCS)
- Registered Phlebology Sonographer (RPhS)
- Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS)
As a certifying body, it is the responsibility of the CCI to promote the continuing competency of its registrants. To meet the continuing competency requirements of the CCI registrants must accrue continuing education units (CEU). To maintain an Active Status registrants must accrue 36 CEUs per three- year period, 30 of which must be cardiovascular related. For information on certification examinations, submission of continuing education units, or matters related to registry status, contact the CCI.
Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) has been awarded program accreditation for its examinations from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). CCI has met the accreditation requirements to earn Accreditation Number 0777 under ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024:2003 General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification Systems of Persons. CCI will now be regarded as an ANSI accredited Certifier – 0777.
American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
1255 Northland Dr
St Paul, MN 55120
651-687-0048
http://www.arrt.org
The ARRT is a certification body (an independent, nonprofit organization) that administers examinations and awards credentials in the following modalities of interest, but are not necessarily limited to: radiography, nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy, cardiovascular-interventional radiography, mammography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, quality management, sonography, bone densitometry, vascular sonography, cardiac-interventional radiography, vascular-interventional radiography, breast sonography and radiologist assistant. The sonography-related credentials offered by the ARRT to eligible candidates are:
- (BS) for Breast Sonography
- (S) for Sonography
- (VS) for Vascular Sonography
The category designation should be inserted between the "R.T." and the "(ARRT)" and should be shown as "R.T.(*)(ARRT)" where the asterisk is replaced by the letter or letters indicated in the list above.
For example, "R.T.(R)(S)(ARRT)" designates the individual as certified and registered in radiography and sonography.
Registered Radiologist Assistants, or R.R.A.s, should list that credential followed by their R.T. Credential. For example, "R.R.A., R.T.(R)(ARRT)."
As a certifying body, it is the responsibility of the ARRT to promote the continuing competency of its registrants. To meet the continuing competency requirements of the ARRT, registrants must accrue continuing education (CE) credits. To maintain eligible status, there are three options for meeting the CE requirements. Only one option must be met to satisfy the requirements. The options are: (1) earn 24 CE credits that meet the criteria set forth by the ARRT; or (2) pass a primary examination in a discipline not previously passed and for which the individual is eligible; or (3) pass one of the post-primary examinations not previously passed and for which the individual is eligible. For information on certification examinations, submission of continuing education credits, or matters related to registry status, contact the ARRT.
Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR)
Suite 1, Level 10
45-47 York St
Sydney NSW 2000
AUSTRALIA
+61 2 9299 9785
http://www.asar.com.au
The ASAR is an ISO 9001 certified organization that maintains a register of Accredited Sonographers and Accredited Student Sonographers in Australia. The ASAR promotes high standards of medical sonography and advises education, government and statutory bodies and professional and scientific societies on any aspect of accreditation of medical sonography.
Sonography Canada
P.O. Box 1220
Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0
CANADA
888-273-6746
888-743-2952 FAX
https://sonographycanada.ca/
Sonography Canada is a certification body (an independent, nonprofit organization) that administers examinations and awards credentials in the areas of diagnostic medical sonography. The three credentials offered by the Sonography Canada to eligible candidates are:
- Canadian Registered Generalist Sonographer (CRGS®)
- Canadian Registered Cardiac Sonographer (CRCS®)
- Canadian Registered Vascular Sonographer (CRVS®)
To meet the continuing competency requirements of the Sonography Canada, registrants must accrue Continuing Professional Development (CDP) credits. To maintain eligible status, registrants must accrue 40 Sonography Based CDP credits per triennium with a minimum of 10 credits per year to demonstrate on-going learning. For information on certification examinations, submission of continuing professional development credits, or matters related to registry status, contact Sonography Canada.
A Sonography Canada credential indicates that sonographers have met national educational and competency requirements of the profession assessed by the accepted standards in the Sonography Canada National Competency Profiles (NCP). The NCP have been accepted by Accreditation Canada for use in the accreditation of sonography education programs.