Learn more about the ARDMS echocardiography examinations and credentials!

Thank you for your interest in the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography’s (ARDMS) echocardiography credentials. The ARDMS is the gold standard in ultrasound credentialing and by earning ARDMS credentials you demonstrate your knowledge to employers, colleagues and patients. Our Registrants have said that our credentials have helped them to:

Obtain lab or clinic accreditation from other sonography organizations
Gain and secure employment
Demonstrate knowledge to colleagues and employers
Expand their employment opportunities
Increase their salary

Learn more about our Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer credential by reading the information below.

ARDMS RDCS Credential and Specialty Examinations

To earn ARDMS credentials, sonographers and physicians must take and pass our Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examination. You must then choose and pass a specialty examination to earn an ARDMS credential. If you are looking to specialize in echocardiography, then you may want to earn our Registered in Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer credential but you can also get certified in other areas.

Echocardiography Examinations

Below you will find the specialty examinations you can take to earn the RDCS credential. We surveyed our Registrants and those who participated in the survey reported on which specialty examination they chose to take. You will find a percentage breakdown of our Registrants who took our specialty examinations below.

Adult Echocardiography examination – 91%
Pediatric Echocardiography examination – 8%
Fetal Echocardiography examination – 1%

You can earn the RDCS credential or the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) credential by taking and passing the Fetal Echocardiography examination. If you are a sonographer, you will need to create an MY ARDMS account or sign in to your current MY ARDMS account and apply via our Application Center. If you are a physician, you will need to create an MY APCA account or sign in to your current MY APCA account and apply via our Application Center.

We hope that you have found this information helpful. We look forward to helping you demonstrate your diagnostic cardiac sonography knowledge. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.