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Sign in/ register in your MY ARDMS Portal to apply for an examination today!
Exams
Required Exam
- Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI)
Specialty Exams
- Adult Echocardiography
- Fetal Echocardiography
- Pediatric Echocardiography
How To Obtain the Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) Certification!
Step #1: Sign in/ create your account
Simply sign in, or, create an account by answering a few questions and within minutes and you'll be able to apply for examinations, check the status of your application, and more.
Sign in/ Register My AccountStep #2: Apply for SPI exam
If this is your first time earning an ARDMS certification, you will need to also take the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) exam. If you pass the SPI exam and a cardiac specialty exam, you will obtain the RDCS certification. If this is not your first time earning a ARMS cert, you wont need to apply for the SPI exam.
Step #3: Apply for specialty exam
Lastly, take the SPI examination or specialty examination in any order within 5 years of each other. The specialty exams we offer under the RDCS certification are the Adult Echocardiography (AE), Fetal Echocardiography (FE) and Pediatric Echocardiography (PE) exams.
What To Expect On The Exams
Required Exam
Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI)
The SPI examination assesses the knowledge, skills and abilities in the areas of clinical safety, physical principles, pulsed echo instrumentation, and quality assurance. The exam meets the fundamental physical principles and instrumentation requirements for the RDMS, RDCS, RVT and RMSKS credentials.
You can now take the SPI examination online from home, at any time of the year.
2023 Pass Rates: First-time takers: 72.4% Overall: 64.58%
Specialty Exam
Adult Echocardiography (AE)
The AE examination assesses the knowledge, skills and ability in the areas of normal and abnormal cardiac anatomy, physiology, pathology and hemodynamics as appropriate in the adult patient.
You can now take the AE examination online from home, at any time of the year!
2023 Pass Rate: First-time takers: 77.72% Overall: 70.7%
Specialty Exam
Fetal Echocardiography (FE)
The FE examination assesses the knowledge, skills and abilities in the areas of normal and abnormal fetal cardiac anatomy, physiology, pathology and hemodynamics before delivery.
The FE application opens on June 4, 2024. You can now take your examination online from home.
2023 Pass Rate: First-time takers: 87.61% Overall: 71.51%
Specialty Exam
Pediatric Echocardiography (PE)
The PE examination assesses the knowledge, skills and ability in the areas of normal and abnormal cardiac anatomy, physiology, pathology and hemodynamics as appropriate in the adult patient.
You can now take the AE examination online from home, at any time of the year!
2023 Pass Rate: First-time takers: 82.05% Overall: 88.14%